JACKSONVILLE, ALA. – Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins completed 21-of-34 passes for 258 yards and junior wide receiver Dean Patterson posted a career-high 116 receiving yards in a back-and-forth affair at Jacksonville State which resulted in a 34-31 loss for the Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Panthers led with 12:55 left in regulation following a 39-yard touchdown pass from Jenkins to redshirt freshman Antonio Ferguson, before the Gamecocks rallied to reclaim the lead with just under 10 minutes lef0 on a 56-yard touchdown run by Tre Stewart.
 
FIU had one final chance to tie or take the lead on its final drive that began with 2:58 left in the fourth but were unable to pick up a first down after starting on its own 18-yard line allowing Jax State to run out the remainder of the clock.
 
The game featured a total of three ties and five lead changes.  The Panthers didn't trail in the contest until 4:44 of the second quarter.
 
Patterson hauled in nine passes while totaling a career-best 116 receiving yards.  Jenkins tossed a pair of touchdowns in the win – to Ferguson and junior Eric Rivers, which marked his team-best and Conference USA leading ninth of the season.
 
Junior Eddie Walls II led the FIU defense with a career-best two sacks and junior Jamal Potts tabbed a team-best 14 tackles.  CJ Christian added 12 and JoJo Evans tabbed 10.
 
Tyler Huff directed the Gamecocks' offense by completing 15-of-28 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown.  He also rushed for 76 yards on 18 carries and ran for a score.  Stewart paced the rushing attack with 136 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns.
 
Overall, FIU finished with 431 yards of offense, while Jax State posted 445.  The game had only one turnover – an FIU fumble in the first half.
 
The Panthers raced out to an early 3-0 on their first possession on a 36-yard field goal by Alejandro Prado just under six minutes into the contest.  The drive saw Jenkins complete 5-of-8 pass attempts for 47 yards and covered a total of 57.
 
Jacksonville State answered with a 31-yard field goal by Garrison Ripa on its opening drive – which covered 62 yards on 12 plays before deadlocking the score at 3-3 with 4:20 left in the first.
 
Lyons scored his first career touchdown on the ensuing FIU drive on an 11-yard burst that capped a well-balanced nine-play, 75-yard push.  The Panthers tabbed 38 passing and 37 receiving yards while making the score 10-3 at 14:54 of the second.
 
Once again, the Gamecocks responded as it tied the game at 10-10 on a 10-yard scoring run by Huff with 11:16 left in the second.
 
Jacksonville State took its first lead at 17-10 with 4:44 left in the second on a three-yard touchdown run by Stewart on a drive that began following a fumble by Lyons that was recovered by JSU's Zechariah Poyser at the Jax State 32.  The Panthers' defense forced the Gamecocks into a fourth and 16 attempt after they reached the FIU 39, but Jax State converted following a pass interference call on FIU.
 
Jenkins and running back Shomari Lawrence led the way for a tying touchdown on the next FIU drive which made the score 17-17 with under two minutes left before halftime.  Lawrence, who totaled 26 yards on the march, scored from three yards out for his first rushing score of the season.  Jenkins passed for 46 yards and rushed for 13 on the 75-yard drive.
 
Jax State took full advantage of the final 1:47 of the first half as Huff completed four passes for 50 yards to set up Rippa for his second field goal of the game, this one good from 42 yards out, on the final play of the second quarter, giving the Gamecocks a 20-17 advantage at the break.
 
After the FIU defense forced a three and out on Jacksonville State's opening possession of the second half, The Panthers' offense drove 74 yards before Eric Rivers hauled in his team and Conference USA leading ninth touchdown catch of the season from five yards to put FIU ahead once again by a 24-20 margin at 7:37 of the third quarter.
 
After the FIU defense forced punts on the first three JSU possessions of the second half, the Gamecocks had a quick strike to reclaim a 27-24 lead early in the fourth as Huff connected with tight end Sean Brown for a 56-yard score on a quick two play drive that lasted only 31 seconds.
 
The Panthers answered with a quick strike of their own as Jenkins connected with Antonio Ferguson on a successful reverse, flea flicker for a 39-yard touchdown strike that reclaimed the lead for FIU at 31-27 with 12:25 left in regulation.
 
Jax State followed with a 56-yard touchdown burst by Stewart that put them ahead for good at 34-31 with 9:55 left in the fourth.  The scoring run came on a fourth and one attempt from the JSU 44.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers continue their current road stretch with a game at Kennesaw State on Saturday, Nov. 23.
 
The game is slated for a 3 p.m. ET kickoff and will be televised on ESPN+
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• FIU freshman running back Devonte Lyons made his first start and recorded the first rushing attempt of his collegiate career.
• Lyons tabbed the first rushing touchdown of his career on a 11-yard run at 14:54 of the second quarter.
• Lyons finished with a team-high 88 rushing yards and a touchdown.
• Junior offensive lineman John Bock II saw his first action of the season and started at center.
• Each team scored on their opening two possessions of the game.
• FIU running back Shomari Lawrence scored his first rushing touchdown of the season in the second quarter.
• Each team only punted once in the first half.
• Junior wide receiver Dean Patterson finished with a season and career-high 116 receiving yards.
• Patterson recorded his first 100-plus yard receiving effort of the season and the second of his career.
• Junior wide receiver Eric Rivers caught his team and Conference USA leading ninth touchdown pass of the season at 7:37 of the third quarter.
• FIU didn't trail until the 4:44 mark of the second quarter and as late as 9:56 of the fourth.
• FIU junior linebacker Eddie Walls II finished with a career-best two sacks.
• Redshirt freshman tight end Antonio Ferguson hauled in a 39-yard scoring catch for his first career touchdown reception in the third quarter.
• The Panthers played the game without starting linebacker Travion Barnes.
• The game featured three ties and five lead changes.
   

TICKETS
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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	W, 34-13
Nov. 16	at Jacksonville State* (Saturday)	ESPN+	L, 31-34
Nov. 23	at Kennesaw State* (Saturday)	ESPN+	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