KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State kicked a 19-yard field goal with 1:04 remaining in regulation to escape with a 27-26 win over the FIU football team on Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Stadium in Kennesaw.
 
The winning score was set up by a critical fumble by FIU with 3:35 left - which gave the ball to the Owls at the FIU 33 with the Panthers ahead 26-24.
 
The loss wasted a solid effort by the Panthers which saw them score two touchdowns over a span of 72 seconds late in the first half and posted 20 unanswered points to erase an early 11-point deficit.
 
The Panthers had one last chance to take the lead but an interception by Kennesaw State after the intended receiver fell down ended the chance.
 
Junior wide receiver Eric Rivers broke the program's single-season record for touchdown catches as he hauled in a pair of scores to run his season total to 11 – which shattered the previous total of nine set by Tyrese Chambers in 2022.
 
Rivers finished with 125 receiving yards on seven catches – he also became the fifth player in FIU history to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season with his current total of 1,055 – just 63 shy of the single-season record of 1,118 set by Kris Mitchell in 2023.
 
Junior wide receiver Dean Patterson added two catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
 
FIU signal caller Keyone Jenkins directed the offense by completing 12-of-22 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns.  Jenkins now has thrown a total of nine touchdown passes over the last three games and has 19 on the season.
 
Freshman running back Devonte Lyons led the rushing attack with 16 carries for 99 yards.
 
Junior linebacker Travion Barnes paced the defense with 11 tackles.  The game also saw him become FIU's single-season leader in assisted tackles with his current total of 67.
 
Kennesaw State cracked the scoreboard first with a 36-yard field goal by Austin Welch on its opening possession.  The field was set up by a 44-yard run on a reverse on the Owls' first play from scrimmage.
 
FIU answered quickly with Jenkins connecting with Patterson for a 52-yard completion to get the Panthers down to the KSU 19-yard line on its second play of the game.  Unfortunately, FIU came away without any points when Alejandro Prado came up short on a 24-yard field goal try.
 
The Owls extended the lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by Davis Bryson to cap a nine-play, 82-yard drive with 10:19 to play before the break.
 
The Panthers used some trickery on their next possession as Ross Fournet executed a fake punt to perfection with a 49-yard burst on fourth and two to set up FIU at the KSU 18.  One play later, Jenkins hooked up with Rivers from 18 yards out for a touchdown that trimmed the lead to 10-6 after the extra point attempt failed.
 
The touchdown catch by Rivers marked his 10th of the season which snapped the FIU single-season record for most touchdown catches in a season – surpassing Tyrese Chambers' total of nine set in 2022.
 
Kennesaw State got a 37-yard kickoff return on the following kickoff attempt that set them up at its own 40.  The Owls took it the remaining 60 yards over the next seven plays, the final of which was a three-yard touchdown rush by Preston Daniels to increase their lead to 17-6 at 3:48 of the second.
 
The Panthers followed with a pair of touchdowns in a span of 78 seconds.
 
Rivers snagged a key 39-yard reception on the next FIU possession, which moved him over 1,000 receiving yards on the season, before Jenkins connected with Patterson a play later for a 20-yard score which trimmed the deficit to 17-13 with 2:18 remaining prior to half.
 
After the FIU defense forced a Kennesaw State punt, Jenkins once again connected with Rivers for a big play – this once covered 42 yards for a touchdown – to put the Panthers in front for the first time at 20-17 with one minute left in the second.
 
FIU pushed the lead to 23-17 on its opening possession of the second half as it increased its stretch of unanswered points to 17 straight.  Lyons rushed for a total of 44 yards on the march after C'Quan Jnopierre set up the offense with a 49-yard kickoff return.  Freshman kicker Robert Czeremcha booted his first career field goal from 36 yards out to cap the drive with 11:23 to go in the third.
 
Kennesaw State fumbled the ensuing kickoff and it was recovered by Jaden Williams for the Panthers at the KSU 23.  Czeremcha knocked in his second field goal of the game and collegiate career – from 34 yards to put FIU ahead 26-17 with just over nine minutes left in the third.
 
The teams traded scoreless possessions in the second half until Kennesaw State scored on a 19-yard run by Bryson to trim the FIU lead to 26-24 with 5:59 left in regulation.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will close out the 2024 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 30 at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium against Middle Tennessee.  Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN+.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• FIU scored 20 unanswered points from late in the second quarter to early in the third after trailing by as many as 11 in the first half.
• FIU junior linebacker Travion Barnes finished with nine assisted tackles – and became the program's all-time single-season leader in that category with his current total of 67.  He passes Lance Preston (60/2003) for the top spot on the list.
• Barnes finished with 11 total tackles – upping his season total to 120 – which ranks third among the program's single-season leaders and is 12 behind Sage Lewis (132/2018).
• FIU junior Eric Rivers caught his 10th touchdown pass of the season at the 6:54 mark of the second quarter to become the program's all-time leader in touchdown catches in a season.  He surpasses Tyrese Chambers' total of nine set in 2022.
• Rivers added his 11th scoring grab of the season late in the second quarter on a 42-yard reception.
• Rivers also became the fourth player to record over 1,000 yards in a season with his 39-yard grab in the second quarter.  He currently has totaled 1,055 yards this season – which ranks third among FIU's all-time leaders. He is just 63 shy of the single-season record of 1,118 set by Kris Mitchell in 2023.
• FIU scored a pair of touchdowns in a span of 78 seconds late in the second quarter.
• Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins finished with three TD passes – upping his career total of 30, which ranks tied for fifth among FIU's all-time leaders.
• Rivers finished with 125 receiving yards – his fourth 100-yard effort of the season.
• Freshman place kicker Robert Czeremcha blasted the first two field goals of his career.  The first from 36 yards and the second from 34 – both came in the third quarter.
• Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins tossed three touchdown passes – give him 19 on the season which ranks as the tied for the third-highest single season total at FIU.
• Senior safety CJ Christian registered his first interception of the season and fifth of his career on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
   

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+	L, 26-27
Nov. 30	MIDDLE TENNESSEE* (Saturday)	ESPN+	2 p.m.

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