MIAMI – The FIU football team opened up an early 28-7 lead and never trailed as it cruised to a 35-24 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon in the season finale at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.
 
The win also saw junior wide receiver Eric Rivers become the program's single-season leader in receiving yardage with his total of 1,172 following a 117-yard effort in the win over Middle Tennessee which included a 50-yard touchdown reception.
 
Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins completed 19-of-27 passes for a total of 319 yards and three touchdowns.  He ends the season with the second-highest total for passing touchdowns in FIU history with 22.
 
Junior wide receiver Dean Patterson finished the contest with four catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns.  Freshman running back Devonte Lyons posted 101 yards on 15 rushes and a touchdown.  The first 100-yard rushing effort of his career and the first by FIU this season.  He averaged 6.7 yards per carry.
 
The defense was led by junior Travion Barnes who registered nine tackles and his second interception of the season.  He finishes the season with 129 tackles – which ranks as the second-highest season total in FIU annals.
 
FIU raced out to an early lead on its opening drive as Jenkins completed three of his first five pass attempts for 60 yards before Joseph punched it in from two yards out to give the Panthers a 7-0 advantage at 9:48 of the first.
 
The Panthers ate up seven minutes on their next possession as it increased its lead to 14-0 on a march that covered 68 yards on 13 plays and resulted in a 21-yard rushing touchdown by Lyons – the second of his career with 2:02 left in the first.
 
Following a FIU punt, Middle Tennessee used a big play to break through on the scoreboard when Nicholas Vattiato connected on a 56-yard strike down the sideline to Holden Willis which trimmed the margin to 14-7 with 10:40 left before half.
 
FIU answered right back to extend the lead back to two touchdowns at 21-7.  Jenkins found Patterson for a 19-yard scoring grab at 8:04 of the second quarter to close out a drive that covered 76 yards in just over two minutes.
 
The Panthers struck again quickly on their next opportunity as Jenkins once again found Patterson for a touchdown toss – this one from 38 yards – to extend the lead to 28-7 with 6:14 left before intermission.
 
Willis hauled another big catch for a score to trim the advantage to 28-14 with 3:34 left before half.  Vattiato found him from 37 yards out on a quick four-play, 76-yard march.
 
Middle Tennessee added a field goal with 26 seconds left – a 36-yarder by Zeke Rankin to send the teams into the break with FIU leading 28-17.
 
After a scoreless third quarter, the Panthers extended their lead to 35-17 on a 50-yard touchdown strike to Rivers with 11 minutes left in regulation.  Rivers became the program's single-season receiving yardage leader earlier in the drive.
 
Middle Tennessee got within 35-24 with 7:23 left on a one-yard rushing touchdown by Jekail Middlebrook.
 

UP NEXT
The Panthers shift their focus to the first national signing period which is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 3.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• FIU honored its 2024 senior class prior to Saturday's season finale vs. Middle Tennessee.
• Junior wide receiver Eric Rivers finished with 117 receiving yards to become the program's single-season leader in receiving yards with his current total of 1,172 – surpassing Kris Mitchell's previous mark of 1,118 set in 2023.
• Wide receiver Ross Fournet hauled in four catches for a career-best 64 receiving yards.
• Graduate running back Lexington Joseph scored his third rushing touchdown of the season and the ninth of his career in the first quarter.
• Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins became the first FIU quarterback with 20 passing touchdowns in a single season since Alex McGough in 2015 (21).
• Jenkins finished with three touchdowns passes in Saturday's season finale to give him 22 on the season – which ranks second among the program's single-season leaders.
• Jenkins' 33 career touchdown tosses currently rank as the fifth-highest total in program annals.
• Junior wide receiver Dean Patterson caught his sixth touchdown pass of the season and the seventh of his career.
• Junior linebacker Travion Barnes recorded his second interception of the season in the third quarter.
• Barnes finished the game with nine tackles to run his season total to 129 which ranks as the second-best total in FIU history.
• 232 of Jenkins' 319 passing yards came in the opening 30 minutes.
   

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	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+	W, 35-24

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