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UConn Final
24
Winner FIU FIU 3-1 , 0-1
17
UConn UCO 0-3 , 0-0
Winner
FIU FIU
3-1 , 0-1
24
Final
17
UConn UCO
0-3 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
FIU FIU 7 17 0 0 24
UCO UConn 3 0 7 7 17

Game Recap: Football |

Explosive First Half Leads FIU Football to 24-17 Victory at Connecticut

Panthers run win streak to three games for the first time since 2019

EAST HARTFORD, CONN. – The FIU Football team jumped out to a 24-3 lead in the first half before withstanding a second-half push by Connecticut to post a 24-17 road win on Saturday afternoon in East Hartford.
 
The victory extends the Panthers' current winning streak to three consecutive games – its longest such stretch since 2019.
 
UConn rallied with 17 unanswered points in the second half before the FIU defense stiffened and forced a turnover on downs after the Huskies got to the Panthers' 11-yard line.  Connecticut was forced to go for a fourth and 14 attempt, with less than a minute remaining in regulation, and came up two yards short following a completion and tackle by FIU junior Jamal Potts.
 
FIU true freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins improved to 3-0 as a starter following a performance that saw him complete 15-of-27 passes for 284 and two touchdowns.  He also rushed for 24 yards and added a touchdown on the ground.
 
Junior Jalen Bracey enjoyed a career afternoon as he snagged five passes for a career-high 90 yards and a touchdown.  He scored on a 45-yard completion in the second quarter – the longest catch of his career.
 
The FIU defense limited the Huskies to just 119 yards in the first half to set the tone.  Senior linebacker Donovan Manuel recorded a team-best 10 tackles – marking the fifth consecutive game he has recorded at least nine stops and fourth in last five games with double-figure totals.
 
FIU (3-1) came out of the gates fast with an efficient opening drive that saw the first four plays each gain a minimum of 12 yards – with the big chunks coming on a 23-yard completion from Jenkins to Jackson McDonald and a 21-yard rush by Lawrence.  Three plays later Jenkins pushed through the line of scrimmage for a one-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak – giving the Panthers an early 7-0 edge just over two minutes into the contest.
 
Following a UConn field goal on its opening drive from 26-yards by Joe McFadden, the Panthers connected on a 48-yard completion from Jenkins to sophomore Eric Rivers – which set up FIU at the UConn 15.  Junior place kicker capped off the drive with a 27-yard field goal two seconds into the second quarter to extend the lead to 10-7.
 
Jenkins tossed his second scoring pass of the day on the Panthers next possession as he connected on a 45-yard strike to junior Jalen Bracey at the 11:46 mark of the second to make the score 17-3.
 
After each team traded a pair of punts, Jenkins hit on another long ball to close out the opening half when he found Mitchell streaking down the sidelines and dropped in a perfect pass that resulted in a 64-yard touchdown – sending the Panthers into the break holding a 24-3 edge.
 
UConn (0-3) came out of the break and put together an eight-play, 82-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by defensive lineman Jelani Stafford – who entered the game at running back for the goal line attempt. The drive was keyed by a 40-yard pass from Ta'Quan Roberson to Brett Blackman – which set up the Huskies at the FIU 31.
 
The Huskies scored their second touchdown of the second half on a 37-yard pass from Roberson to Devontae Houston Jr. to trim the FIU lead to 24-17 just 56 seconds into the fourth quarter.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to The Cage in Miami for their homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 23 against Liberty in a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff that will air live on ESPN+.


 
POSTGAME NOTES
  • Junior wide receiver Jalen Bracey snagged five catches for a career-best 90 yards – including a career-long catch of 45 yards that went for a touchdown in the second quarter.
  • True freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins posted 240 passing yards and two TDs (11-of-14) in first half of Saturday's win at UConn.
  • FIU's 24 points in the first half marked its highest first-half total since scoring 28 vs. Charlotte on Oct. 12, 2019.
  • Saturday's game marked FIU's second-ever meeting with Connecticut and the first that was played in East Hartford.
  • Freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins completed passes to seven different receivers in the win at Connecticut.
  • Jenkins won his first-ever road start and is now 3-0 when opening under center for FIU.
  • FIU outscored UConn 17-0 in the second quarter and 24-3 in the first half.
  • The Panthers posted 294 yards of total offense in the opening half – while limiting Connecticut to 119 in the first 30 minutes.
  • UConn's Mumu Bin—Wahad was ejected for targeting in fourth quarter.
  • UConn place kicker Chase Gabriel missed a 33-yard field goal with 9:44 left in fourth quarter.
  • Neither team committed a turnover in Saturday's game.
  • FIU's 3-1 start to the 2023 campaign matches its best since 2017 when it also opened 3-1.
 
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.
 

 
 
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