MIAMI – The FIU football team was outlasted in a tightly contested contest as they were defeated by a 10-7 margin on Tuesday night at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.
 
The game saw both defenses hold play for the majority of the game – with all 17 points scored coming after the 6:38 mark of the third quarter.
 
Sam Houston broke a 7-7 deadlock on a 20-yard field goal by Christian Pavon with 1:57 left in regulation for the decisive score.
 
The Panthers had one last chance to tie the game and converted a fourth down attempt that put them near field goal range, but the third of three holding penalties called on the drive nullified the conversion and forced FIU into a fourth and 18 which ended the final drive.
 
Sam Houston's lone touchdown of the game came following a blocked FIU punt that set them up at the FIU 3.
 
FIU replaced starting quarterback Keyone Jenkins late in the first half with junior Chayden Peery.  Peery in his first collegiate action completed 7-of-12 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
 
Junior running back Shomari Lawrence led the rushing attack with 44 yards on 18 carries.  Eric Rivers caught three passes for 42 yards and a touchdown.
 
The teams combined for only 406 yards overall – FIU finished with 199 and Sam Houston tabbed 207.
 
Sam Houston (6-2, 3-1 CUSA) was led by Jase Bauer who completed 14-of-21 passes for 76 yards and rushed 15 times for 72 yards.
 
FIU (2-6, 1-3 CUSA) committed a turnover on the first play from scrimmage as Jenkins tossed an interception that set up Sam Houston at the Panthers' 27-yard line.  The FIU defense was up to the task as they stiffened and held the Bearkats without any points when a 41-yard field goal attempt clanged off the right upright.
 
The teams opened with 15 consecutive scoreless possessions combined – the best opportunity for Sam Houston came late in the second quarter but it came away empty after a 17-play drive that went 61 yards and took 8:03 off the clock.  The FIU defense held the Bearkats out of the endzone on seven plays from inside the Panthers' seven-yard line.
 
The Bearkats special teams made the game's big play when Jaylon Jimmerson blocked a punt by FIU's Daton Montiel at 7:22 of the third quarter – setting up Sam Houston at the FIU three-yard line.  DJ McKinney scored from one yard out two plays later to make the score 7-0 with 6:38 left in the third.
 
The Panthers answered immediately with a 12-play, 65-yard march that resulted in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Peery to Rivers – which represented his team and CUSA leading fifth scoring reception and deadlocked the score at 7-7 with 14:59 left in regulation.
 
Sam Houston took the lead with a drive that covered 79 yards on 12 plays before resulting in a 20-yard field goal by Jay Ducker to put Bearkats ahead 10-7 with two minutes left.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers continue their current homestand next week when they host New Mexico State on Tuesday, Oct. 29 in a 7 p.m. ET kickoff that will be broadcast to a national audience on CBS Sports Network.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Tonight's game marked FIU's third consecutive weeknight primetime game this month.
• FIU sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw an interception (seventh of season) on the first play from scrimmage and escaped without any damage as Sam Houston clanged a 41-yard field goal attempt off the right upright.
• The teams played to a scoreless opening quarter.  It marked the first FIU game this season that has seen both teams finish without a point in the opening 15 minutes.
• The last time FIU and its opponent played a scoreless quarter was Oct. 14, 2022 vs. UTSA.
• Both teams finished scoreless in the opening half – the first scoreless first half for both teams in an FIU football game since Nov. 4, 2017 vs. UTSA.
• The teams opened with 15 consecutive scoreless possessions before the game's first points were scored by Sam Houston at the 6:38 mark of the third quarter.
• FIU junior quarterback Chayden Peery entered the game in the second quarter for his first collegiate action.
• Peery completed his first collegiate pass for nine yards to Eric Rivers with 1:39 left in the second quarter.
• Peery tossed his first collegiate TD pass with 14:59 left in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard strike to Eric Rivers.
• Sam Houston blocked an FIU punt at the 7:22 mark of the third quarter – it marked the first blocked punt allowed since Nov. 24, 2018  vs. Marshall.
   

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.
 
2024 FIU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 31	at Indiana (Saturday)	Big Ten Network	L, 7-31
Sept. 7	CENTRAL MICHIGAN (Saturday)	ESPN+	W, 52-16
Sept. 14	at Florida Atlantic (Saturday)	ESPN+	L, 20-38
Sept. 21	MONMOUTH (Saturday)	ESPN+	L, 42-45
Sept. 28	LOUISIANA TECH* (Saturday)	ESPN+	W, 17-10
Oct. 8	at Liberty* (Tuesday)	CBSSN	L, 24-31 (OT)
Oct. 16	at UTEP* (Wednesday)	CBSSN	L, 21-30
Oct. 22	SAM HOUSTON* (Tuesday)	ESPNU	L, 7-10
Oct. 29	NEW MEXICO STATE* (Tuesday)	CBSSN	7 p.m.
Nov. 16	at Jacksonville State* (Saturday)	ESPN Platforms	2 p.m.
Nov. 23	at Kennesaw State* (Saturday)	ESPN Platforms	3 p.m.
Nov. 30	MIDDLE TENNESSEE* (Saturday)	ESPN Platforms	2 p.m.

 
HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS                                          
ALL TIMES LISTED ARE EASTERN (ET)
* CONFERENCE USA GAME