MIAMI – FIU true freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins made his first career start and junior wide receiver Kris Mitchell hauled in 12 passes while matching the program's single-game receiving record with 201 yards, as the Panthers posted a 14-12 win over Maine in their home opener on Saturday night at The Cage in Miami.
 
Jenkins became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Panthers since the 2014 season – a span of 93 games – and he finished with the most passing yards by a true freshman in FIU program history with 292 on 15 completions, while adding two touchdowns.
  
Mitchell matched Tyrese Chambers (2021) and T.Y. Hilton (2011) for the most receiving yards in a single game in program history with 201 on nine receptions – the catch total also marked a career-best for Mitchell.
 
Defensively the Panthers had a pair of players with double-digit tackles including senior linebacker Donovan Manuel who tabbed 14 stops (tied career high) and senior defensive back D'Verilk Daniel, who finished with a career-best 11.  Senior Alex Nobles also posted 1.5 sacks in the victory.
 
FIU never trailed in the victory after opening up an early 14-3 first half advantage and withstanding a couple deep drives by Maine that the FIU defense was able to limit to just six second-half points.
 
The Panthers defense made the first big play of the evening as sophomore Brian Blades recovered a Maine fumble just under four minutes into the contest to set up the offense at the Maine 25.
 
The FIU offense took advantage of the miscue by marching 75 yards on eight plays before capping off the drive with a 19-yard touchdown toss from Jenkins to Mitchell at the 8:12 mark of the opening quarter.
 
Maine (0-1) trimmed the margin to 7-3 on a 39-yard field goal by Cody Williams with 4:03 left in the first.
 
Williams added a second field goal, this time from 28 yards out with 2:04 left before half.  The score was set up after a fumble by FIU's Dean Patterson set up the Black Bears at the FIU 37 on the preceding drive.
 
FIU (1-1) answered quickly with a final score before the break as Jenkins connected with Mitchell once again – this time on a 65-yard strike that marked the longest reception in Mitchell's career and upped the Panthers' lead to 14-6 with 97 seconds before half.
 
Maine got within two points at 14-12 on a five-yard scoring run by Tristen Kenen at the 9:05 mark of the third.  The touchdown capped a 13-play, 81-yard drive.
 
The Black Bears had a chance to take the lead later in the third as they drove down to the FIU six-yard line before the Panthers' defense stiffened and made a critical stop on a fourth and three attempt with 4:57 left, allowing the offense to take over hanging onto the two-point edge.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will be home for the second straight weekend and will host North Texas on Saturday, Sept. 9 in a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff from FIU Stadium in Miami.
 
The game is slated to be aired live in ESPN+.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Sophomore Brian Blades recovered a fumble at the 11:17 mark of the first quarter – the first of his career.
• Junior Kris Mitchell caught his first touchdown pass of the season and the sixth of his career on a 19-yard reception at the 8:12 mark of the opening quarter.
• True freshman Keyone Jenkins became the first true freshman to start a game at quarterback for FIU since Nov. 22, 2014 when Alex McGough opened under center at North Texas – he started 11 games as a true freshman in 2014.
• Jenkins 292 passing yards eclipsed the FIU program record for the most passing yards ever by a true freshman surpassing Jamie Butler, who tossed for 258 yards vs. Butler on Sept. 14, 2002 – the inaugural season of the program.
• Saturday's game marked the first in a span of 93 games which saw a true freshman start at quarterback for the Panthers.
• Jenkins tossed the first touchdown pass of his collegiate career at 8:12 of the first quarter on a 19-yard toss to junior Kris Mitchell.
• Junior Kris Mitchell's 62-yard touchdown catch was the longest of his career – besting a 55-yard grab vs. UTSA on Oct. 14, 2022.
• Mitchell finished with 201 yards on nine catches – it tied the highest single-game receiving yards total in FIU history – matching Tyrese Chambers (vs. Charlotte/10-8-21) and T.Y. Hilton (at Louisville/9-9-11).
• Mitchell's two touchdown catches tied a single-game career best.

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
 
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