MIAMI – Despite finding itself facing an early deficit, the FIU football team put together a second-half rally before coming up on the short end of a 27-14 decision against UTEP on Saturday night.
UTEP opened the contest with 21 unanswered points in the opening quarter – which proved to be just enough to keep the Panthers at bay as it hung on for the victory in the meeting of Conference USA foes.
The Panthers began the second half with new energy as they put together a solid drive on their opening possession, that saw freshman quarterback
Keyone Jenkins complete passes of 19 yards or more to three different receivers before finishing the eight-play, 84-yard drive with his fourth rushing touchdown of the season – from one yard out – to trim the deficit to 24-14 at 10:28 of the third.
FIU's special teams kept the momentum going for the Panthers as it recovered an onside kick for the first time this season following the score but came away without points following a failed fourth and six attempt from the UTEP 46.
That was as close as the Panthers would get as the Miners added a late 20-yard field goal with less than six minutes remaining to account for the final margin.
FIU junior running back
Kejon Owens was a bright spot in the loss for the Panthers as he totaled 82 rushing yards on 10 carries, while averaging a solid 8.2 yards per attempt. He also scored on an 11-yard run.
Jenkins finished the contest 12-of-24 overall for 216 yards. He also rushed for a score for the fourth consecutive game.
UTEP was led by wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi who snagged eight catches for a career-high 223 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions.
Miner signal caller Cade McConnell completed 11-of-17 passes for 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns. UTEP was led on the ground by Torrance Burgess Jr., who tabbed 86 yards.
The Miners used 41 rushing yards, including a one-yard scoring rush by Hankins, to claim a 7-0 edge exactly six minutes into the contest on their opening possession.
UTEP increased the margin to 14-0 on its following possession via an 80-yard scoring strike from McConnell to Akharaiyi at 6:44 of the first.
Akharaiyi stretched the Miners' lead to three touchdowns at 3:28 of the opening quarter, with his second scoring grab of the evening, this one from 23 yards out.
Owens got the Panthers on the board with an 11-yard scoring burst, his fourth rushing touchdown of the season, to cap a nine-play, 94-yard push that made the score 21-7 with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.
UTEP added a 37-yard field goal with 63 seconds left before halftime off the leg of Buzz Flabiano to make score 24-7.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will take to the road next week as they trek to Huntsville, Texas, for a Wednesday night Conference USA showdown at Sam Houston State on Oct. 18. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS Sports Network.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Tonight's game vs. UTEP marked the first Wednesday night home game in FIU Football history.
- Freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins scored a rushing touchdown for the fourth consecutive game – his four rushing scores are the most by an FIU signal caller since Alex McGough scored five in 2017.
- FIU recovered an onside kick early in the third quarter – its first since it turned the trick vs. Louisiana Tech on Oct. 28, 2022.
- UTEP missed a 33-yard field goal at the 14:14 mark of the fourth quarter.
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.
