MIAMI – Junior wide receiver Kris Mitchell broke the FIU single-season record for receiving yards in the Panthers' 41-28 loss to Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale for both programs.
 
Mitchell finished Saturday's contest with eight catches for a total of 116 yards – increasing his season total to 1,118 yards and pushing him past Tyrese Chambers (1,074/2021) for the top spot the FIU record book.
 
The Jacksonville, Fla., native also finished the season with a total of 64 receptions – setting a new mark for the most by an FIU junior.
 
In addition, senior linebacker Donovan Manuel forced his fifth fumble of the season, putting him at the top of the program's single-season chart in that category.  Manuel also posted double-figure tackles (10) for the sixth time in 2023 and upped his season total to 121 – which ranks as the second-highest single season total at FIU.
 
Manuel's 68 solo tackles are tied for the fourth-best season total in FIU annals and his 15.5 tackles for loss rank fifth.
 
Freshman quarterback Keyon Jenkins completed 27-of-49 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns.  He threw a pair of interceptions and was sacked once.
 
The Panthers rallied to outscore the Hilltoppers 21-7 over the final 30 minutes and had an opportunity to get even closer following a successful onside kick with under a minute remaining in regulation.
 
The rally started in the third quarter when sophomore wide receiver Eric Rivers snagged the first touchdown pass of his collegiate career on a five-yard connection with Jenkins to trim the deficit to 34-14.
 
Defensive back Adrian Cole then returned a fumble forced by Manuel 84 yards for a touchdown with 8:46 remaining in regulation to make the score 41-21. 
 
Jenkins tossed his third touchdown pass and second to Rivers on the Panthers' next possession to trim the lead to 41-28 with 3:05 left.  FIU followed with the recovery of the ensuing onside kick but would be unable to get any closer.
 
Western Kentucky took the lead on a two-yard scoring toss from Reed to Corley just over five minutes into the contest, which capped a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
 
The Hilltoppers (7-5, 5-3 CUSA) extended the lead to 14-0 on Reed's second touchdown pass, this one went for 39 yards to Jimmy Holiday with 2:52 left in the opening quarter.
 
The WKU defense added a score on the next series for the Panthers when Kendrick Simpkins posted a strip sack of Jenkins and teammate Upton Stout recovered the fumble and raced 16 yards for a touchdown, making the score 21-0.
 
FIU (4-8, 1-7 CUSA) broke through on a three-yard TD catch by sophomore Rocky Beers, the first of his career, to make the score 21-7 at 10:28 of the second.
 
Reed tossed his third touchdown pass of the opening half with 6:58 before half to up the lead to 28-7.  Easton Messer hauled in the pass to cap a nine-play, 75-yard march.
 
The Hilltoppers stretched the margin to 34-7 on a 32-yard flea flicker pass from Dalvin Smith to Craig Burt Jr., with just over three minutes left before intermission.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will open the 2024 season on the road at Big Ten member Indiana on Saturday, August 31.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• FIU honored its 13-member 2023 Senior Class prior to the start of Saturday's season finale.
• The honorees included Donovan Manuel (LB), Kris Mitchell (WR), Jalen Bracey (WR) Adrian Cole (DB), Lucas Mattias (K), Jack Daly (DL), D'Verick Daniels (DB), Sam Hill (OL), Avery Huff (LB), AJ Mathis (LB), Jackson McDonald (TE), Alex Noble (LB) and Michael Williams (DB).
• Junior wide receiver Kris Mitchell became FIU's all-time leader in receiving yards with his final 2023 total of 1,118 receiving yards – moving him past Tyrese Chambers (1,074/2021) for the top spot in FIU annals.
• Senior linebacker Donovan Manuel forced his fifth fumble of the season in the fourth quarter – moving him out of a tie and into sole possession of the top spot in that category.
• Manuel also finished the season in second place on the FIU single-season tackles list with his total of 121 in 2023.
• Manuel's 68 solo stops also rank tied for fourth among FIU single-season leaders and his 15.5 tackles for loss sit fifth among the program's single-season leaders.
• Sophomore Rocky Beers caught his first career TD pass at the 10:28 mark of the second quarter from three yards out.
• Sophomore wide receiver Eric Rivers' touchdown catch at 9:27 of the third quarter was the first TD reception of his collegiate career.
• FIU recovered an onside kick in the fourth quarter – its second of the season.
• Defensive back Adrian Cole returned a fumble 84 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter – the first since Alex Nobles returned on at UTEP for a 15-yard score on Nov. 19, 2022.
• The 84-yard return is the third-longest fumble return in FIU history.
   

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