HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Sophomore Tyrese Chambers broke the FIU single-season records for receiving yards and touchdown receptions, while senior quarterback Max Bortenschlager eclipsed the mark for the highest single-season passing yard total, as the Panthers dropped their season finale on the road by a 37-17 score at Southern Mississippi.
 
FIU battled back after falling behind 21-0 due to a pair of costly turnovers to get within 24-17 in the third quarter, but Southern Mississippi would outscore the Panthers 13-0 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
 
Chambers finished the game with five catches for a total of 155 and a touchdown.  He moved past T.Y. Hilton (1,038/2011) into first place on the single-season receiving yard chart with his current total of 1,074.  Chambers also eclipsed the FIU record for touchdown catches in a season with his ninth – which came on a 91-yard reception from Bortenschlager in the second quarter.
 
Bortenschlager also cemented his name among the Panthers' all-time leaders.  His 231 passing yards increased his season total to 2,935 which pushed him past Alex McGough (2,798/2017) into first place among FIU annual leaders.
 
The 91-yard touchdown completion from Bortenschlager to Chambers also was the longest play from scrimmage in the history of FIU football.  Each of the previous mentioned records were broken on the 91-yard scoring play.
 
In addition, senior punter Tommy Heatherly closed out his career as the most accomplished punter in FIU annals.  His average per punt of 46.8 yards is the top mark in program history – surpassing his own previous best total of 44.38 in 2020.
 
The Panthers started strong offensively with a nice opening drive that saw it push down to the USM 8-yard line before a fumble by Bryce Singleton gave the ball to the Eagles following a 25-yard reception.  
 
Southern Mississippi's Eric Scott recovered the fumble and the Eagles proceeded to march 92 yards to take a 7-0 edge on a 29-yard TD run by Dajon Richard, with 6:26 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
Turnovers continued to haunt the Panthers, as Bortenschlager had a pass intercepted by Jay Stanley on the first play of the next FIU possession.  One play later, Gore Jr. hit Jason Bromley with a 34-yard TD pass to increase the lead to 14-0.
 
The Eagles extended the lead to 21-0 following a two-yard scoring run by Gore Jr., which came one play after a 77-yard punt return by Reggie Peterson, that set up USM at the FIU two-yard line.
 
The FIU defense forced a turnover of its own on the ensuing drive for the Eagles on an interception by senior Richard Dames with 1:49 left in the first.  The Panthers capitalized quickly with their biggest offensive play of the season (and history) as Bortenschlager connected with Chambers for the 91-yard record-setting touchdown – which trimmed the deficit to 21-7 with 58 ticks left in the opening quarter.
 
The Panthers' offense answered again on its next possession as they utilized 54 rushing yards to key a 79-yard march which culminated in an eight-yard scoring burst by Lexington Joseph, to get FIU within 21-14 with 11 minutes left in the first half.
 
The second half opened with Southern Mississippi tacking on a 25-yard field goal by Briggs Bourgeois on its first possession to up its advantage to 24-14 at 9:59 of the third.
 
The ground attack was grinding for the Panthers on its initial drive of the second half – as Wilson and Joseph combined for 58 yards to spur an 11-play, 66-yard march that led to a 26-yard field by Chase Gabriel to make the score 24-17.
 
FIU had a chance to add points immediately as Gio Richardson recovered a fumble by USM's Camron Harrell on the ensuing kickoff that set up the Panthers at the Eagles' 31-yard line.  FIU came away empty when Gabriel pushed a 42-yard field goal attempt wide.
 
Southern Mississippi responded to the missed field goal with a 12-play, 75-yard drive which melted a total of 7:29 off the clock and culminated with a five-yard TD burst by Gore Jr.  The score increased the USM lead to 31-17 with just over 10 minutes left in regulation.
 
A failed fourth and one attempt by FIU set up the Eagles at the Panthers 34-yard line.  Gore Jr. fired a touchdown pass on the next play to Jason Brownlee to put USM up 37-17, after the PAT attempt was blocked by the Panthers.
 
 
NOTABLES

• Sophomore Tyrese Chambers finished with 155 receiving yards – pushing him past T.Y. Hilton (1,038) for the top single-season receiving yard performance in FIU annals with his current total of 1,074.
• Chambers 91-yard TD catch with 58 seconds in the opening quarter marked FIU's longest play from scrimmage in program history.
• The 91-yard TD catch by Chambers also marked his ninth TD of the season – snapping the single season record that was previously jointly held by Thomas Owens (8/2015) and Jonnu Smith (8/2014).
• Senior punter Tommy Heatherly finished the 2021 season with the top punting average in FIU annals at 46.8. 
• Heatherly snaps his previous record which he set during the 2020 season (44.38). 
• Heatherly now owns the top two punting seasons in FIU history.
• Senior quarterback Max Bortenschlager finished the 2021 season with 2,935 passing yards – which ranks as the top single-season performance in FIU history – besting Alex McGough Previous best total of 2,798 set during the 2017 season.
• Senior Richard Dames nabbed an interception at the 1:49 mark of the first quarter – his first of the season and fourth of his career.
• Sophomore running back Lexington Joseph recorded a career-best 105 rushing yards.
• Freshman EJ Wilson Jr. finished the contest with a season-best 56 rushing yards.
• FIU forced two turnovers on special teams.  First in the third quarter on a hit by Josh Powell.  The fumble was recovered on the kickoff for the Panthers by Gio Richardson.
• The Panthers also forced a fumble following a punt in the fourth quarter that was recovered by EJ Wilson Jr.
• FIU special teams also blocked an extra point in the fourth quarter following the final touchdown of the game by Southern Mississippi.  Defensive lineman Davon Strickland recorded the block for the Panthers.

 
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