DENTON, TEXAS – The FIU football team surrendered 38 unanswered points in the opening 20 minutes of action before falling by a 52-14 margin at North Texas on Saturday afternoon.
 
North Texas quarterback Austin Aune completed 25-of-34 passes for 414 yards and five touchdowns – all five TD passes came in the first half.  He tossed a pair to Jyaire Shorter – who finished with two catches for 92 yards and the two scores.
 
FIU quarterback Grayson James finished with 130 yards after completing 19-of-35 pass attempts.  He completed passes to eight different receivers – including Artez Hooker and Lexington Joseph – who each hauled in five receptions.
 
For the game, North Texas outgained FIU 623-258 and was a perfect 5-of-5 in red zone chances.
 
North Texas (6-4, 5-1 C-USA) got out of the gates fast as Aune connected with Jake Roberts for a 70-yard completion on the opening play from scrimmage.  The Mean Green opened an early 7-0 advantage two plays later on a two-yard touchdown burst by Ayo Adeyi just 50 seconds into regulation.
 
The Mean Green extended the lead to 14-0 with 11:10 left in the first quarter on a 45-yard pass from Aune to Jordan Smart.
 
UNT place kicker Ethan Mooney added a 29-yard field goal on the following North Texas possession to increase the margin to 17-0 with 6:38 remaining in the first.  The field goal was set up by a 33-yard run by Adeyi on drive's opening possession.
 
The Mean Green closed out the first quarter with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 10-yard scoring pass from Aune to Var'Keyes Gummes, that stretched the lead to 24-0.
 
Aunne tossed his third TD pass of the contest at 12:47 of the second quarter when he found Shorter for a 57-yard score to make the score 31-0.
 
North Texas' Kevin Wood intercepted a pass from James on the first play of the next FIU possession to set up the Mean Green at the FIU 18.  Five plays later, Aune threw his fourth scoring pass of the game when he found Ikaika Ragsdale from six yards out.
 
FIU (4-5, 2-3 C-USA) cracked the North Texas red zone on its next possession on a 38-yard completion from James to Rivaldo Fairweather that pushed the Panthers down to the UNT nine-yard line.  Sophomore EJ Wilson Jr. punched it in from two yards out to make the score 38-7 with 8:06 left before the break.
 
The FIU defense got into the scoring column with a big play on the ensuing possession for the Mean Green as sophomore linebacker Reggie Peterson pulled down his first career interception before racing it 75 yards to the UNT four-yard line.  He fumbled at the end of the return, but it was picked up by teammate Adrian Cole, who took it the rest of the way for the touchdown – trimming the margin to 38-14.
 
Aune answered back for North Texas on its following drive as he marched the Mean Green 85 yards on six plays before finding Shorter for a 35-yard TD pass with 1:13 left in the second.  The TD pass marked his second to Shorter, his fifth of the contest and sent to teams into half with the Panthers trailing 45-14.
 
North Texas added a touchdown with 8:22 left in regulation on a one-yard run by Stone Earle, which capped off an 18-play, 97-yard march.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to 'The Cage" for this season's edition of the Shula Bowl vs. Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Nov. 12.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.  The game will be televised on the Stadium Network.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Sophomore defensive back Adrian Cole recorded his first career interception at the 13:10 mark of the opening quarter.
• Cole also recovered a fumble following an interception by teammate Reggie Peterson and ran it in for a touchdown – also the first of his career.
• Sophomore EJ Wilson Jr.'s second quarter rushing TD marked his second of the season and third score overall (2 rush/1 receiving).
• Sophomore Reggie Peterson snagged his first career interception at the 3:44 mark of the second quarter and returned it 75 yards to the UNT four-yard line.
• Peterson's 75-yard return marked the sixth-longest interception return in FIU program history and the longest since 2019 – when Rishard Dames took one back 80 yards vs. Western Kentucky (9/7/19).
• North Texas' 45 points in the first half are the second-most that FIU has ever allowed in a half in program history.
• FIU converted on a 4th and two attempt from its own 33-yard line with just under 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
• Senior Kyan Brumfield recovered a fumble at the 6:00 mark of the fourth quarter.
• FIU freshman running back Antonio Patterson saw the first action of his collegiate career and finished with seven carries for 33 yards.
• FIU played the game without the services of starting outside linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr.

TICKETS
For more information on FIU Football season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU.Football on Instagram and @FIUFootball on Twitter and Facebook.
 
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.