MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The FIU football team received career-best efforts from quarterback Max Bortenschlager, wide receivers Tyrese Chambers and Bryce Singleton, but it wasn't enough as Central Michigan rallied with 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to escape with a 31-27 win over the Panthers at Kelly-Shorts Stadium on Saturday.
 
The Panthers opened a 27-10 lead with 3:17 remaining in the third quarter, but Central Michigan responded with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the decisive score – a 27-yard touchdown pass from freshman Daniel Richardson to Dallas Dixon with 78 seconds left in the contest. 
 
Richardson replaced Central Michigan starting quarterback Jacob Sirmon in the third quarter.
 
FIU had a final chance to reclaim the lead as it drove 72 yards on nine plays over the final 1:11 before coming away empty when a pass by Bortenschlager was intercepted by Donte Kent in the end zone.
 
The loss slips the Panthers overall record to 1-3 in closing out the non-conference portion of the schedule, while the Chippewas even their mark at 2-2.
 
Chambers had a day for the Panthers, hauling in a total of six receptions for a career-best 175 yards and a touchdown.  He averaged 29.2 yards per catch and recorded three grabs that netted at least 30 yards, including a 75-yard catch that set up a third quarter TD run by D'vonte Price – his fifth of the season.
 
Singleton joined Chambers in recording a career-high day in receiving yards with six grabs for 173 yards – an average of 28.8 yards per catch.  The duo became the first FIU wideouts to each tally over 100 yards in a single contest since 2012.
 
FIU signal caller Bortenschlager finished 20-of-37 through the air for a career-high 395 yards along with a pair of touchdowns and an interception.
 
FIU took advantage of an early defensive effort that stiffened numerous times in its own territory to limit Central Michigan just 10 points in the first half, despite the Chippewas garnering 256 yards of total offense in the opening 30 minutes. 
 
The Panthers' offense took control with a run of 21 points over the final six minutes of the second quarter and opening six of the third to post a 27-10 edge.
 
Central Michigan had the game's first scoring chance after each team was forced to punt following a three and out on their opening possession.  The Chippewas put together an 11-play, 59-yard effort, but came away empty when a 44-yard field goal attempt by Marshall Meeder fell short at the 8:25 mark of the opening quarter.
 
FIU junior Rishard Dames shut down a drive on the next Central Michigan possession with an interception at the FIU 31 – which also marked the first turnover recorded by the Panthers this season.

The FIU defense came up big once again on the final CMU drive of a scoreless opening quarter by forcing an incompletion on a fourth down attempt at the FIU 25.
 
Meeder redeemed himself with a 35-yard field goal at 8:36 of the second quarter to put Central Michigan ahead 3-0.  The kick capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive that was keyed by 60 rushing yards and a personal foul penalty on the Panthers' Daniel Jackson, who was ejected for targeting.
 
FIU broke through on its next possession.  Bortenschalger hooked up with Chambers over the middle for a big 45-yard gain to get the Panthers into CMU territory at the 34-yard line.  The duo connected again four plays later via a 31-yard scoring strike to put the Panthers ahead 7-3 with 5:51 remaining until intermission.
 
The big plays kept coming for the Panthers to close out the half as Bortenschlager found a streaking Singleton down the right sideline for a 75-yard gain to put the Panthers at the Central Michigan three-yard line.  Bortenschlager hit Kamareon Williams one play later for the score to increase the FIU edge to 14-3.  The drive started at FIU's own one-yard line and covered 99 yards on eight plays over a span of 1:19.
 
Central Michigan caught a break after being forced to punt on the final drive of the opening half when the kick was muffed by the Panthers, setting up the Chippewas at the FIU seven-yard line with 44 ticks left.  CMU's Sirmon tossed an 11-yard scoring pass 10 seconds later to trim the FIU lead to 14-10 at the break.
 
The second half got off to a start that was similar to the first.  FIU was forced to punt on its opening possession before the Panthers' defense forced a missed 45-yard field goal attempt by the Chippewas.
 
FIU's big play offense then took over.  Chambers snagged a 41-yard catch from Bortenschlager to put the Panthers at the CMU 32.  Chambers came up with another big catch and run on third down as he took a short pass for a 24-yard gain to give FIU a first and goal at the CMU 5-yard line.
 
Price added the finishing touch with a five-yard scoring jaunt for his fifth touchdown on the season, putting the Panthers ahead 20-10 with 9:32 left in the third quarter.  Central Michigan would block the ensuing extra point attempt.
 
The Panthers' special teams got in on the big play party in the third quarter as well.  Rishard Dames blocked a CMU punt, scooped it up and took it six yards to the end zone for a touchdown to increase FIU's lead to 27-10 with 3:17 left in the third.
 
The return of the blocked punt for a score marked the first for FIU since Kenyatta Anderson turned the trick for the Panthers vs. Charlotte on Nov. 7, 2015.
 
Central Michigan added a pair of touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to get within 27-24.  The first came at the 10:57 mark of fourth quarter on a 15-yard TD toss from Richardson to Lew Nichols III, who finished the game with 152 rushing yards on 25 carries.
 
Richardson then connected with JaCorey Sullivan with 7:12 left in regulation from 14-yards out to finish off an 8-play, 76-yard march.
 
Following a missed 28-yard field goal attempt by FIU's Chase Gabriel with 4:06 left, the Chippewas completed a five-play, 80-yard drive over 42 seconds for the winning score.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will play their third consecutive road game next Saturday, Oct. 2 when they travel to face FAU in the annual Shula Bowl.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET from Boca Raton, Fla., and will be aired on Stadium and the FIU Football Radio Network.
 
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