MIAMI – The FIU football team came out fast and furious in all three phases as it cruised to an early 28-0 lead before finishing off a convincing 52-16 victory over Central Michigan in the inaugural game at newly branded South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium on Saturday night.
 
The Panthers forced the Chippewas into a total of six turnovers – a program-tying record five interceptions and a fumble recovery on a punt.  FIU made Central Michigan pay for the miscues as they turned them into 32 points.
 
The victory marked the Panthers' fourth consecutive win in a home opener – dating back to 2021.
 
The 52 points for FIU represented its highest single-game scoring total since posting 66 vs. UMass on Sept. 15, 2018.
 
A total of five different players recorded picks for the Panthers on defense and the unit limited the Chippewas all evening as it forced a combined total of 22 third and fourth down plays.  Linebacker Travion Barnes paced the defense with 13 tackles, while Jamal Potts added nine and the first interception of the game.
 
FIU sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins finished 10-of-18 through the air for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  He was also a factor on the ground as he rushed for 42 yards and a score on five carries.
 
Running back Kejon Owens led the ground attack with 60 yards and a touchdown run from 26 yards out.
 
The defense gave the offense tremendous field position following the first career interception by Potts with 8:54 left in the first – which set up the Panthers at the CMU 33.  Jenkins followed by hitting tight end Josiah Miamen for a 23-yard gain, before capping off the drive with a four-yard scoring run to make the score 7-0.
 
The Panthers struck fast two possessions later on the strength of a pair of big plays.  First Jenkins scrambled for a career-long 34-yard run and followed two plays later with a 36-yard strike to Eric Rivers for a touchdown to increase the lead to 14-0 with 7:45 left before the break.
 
Special teams got in on the act to set up the offense with its third touchdown of the contest – following a muffed punt by Central Michigan that was recovered by Percy Courtney Jr., to set up the Panthers at the CMU 43.  The ensuing drive resulted in a 17-scoring catch by Nazeviah Burris, his first as a Panther, to up the margin to 21-0 with 3:23 left before the break.
 
Junior Brian Blades II notched his first career interception on the next Central Michigan possession and took it 21 yards to the house for a touchdown to extend the score to 28-0 with just under two minutes remaining before half.
 
Central Michigan avoided being shutout over the opening 30 minutes with a touchdown and two-point conversion with just 19 ticks left.  Joe Labas connected with Gavin Harris for a 12-yard touchdown to trim the margin to 28-8 following a successful two-point conversion attempt.
 
FIU continue to add on in the second half, when a third interception by the Panther defense, this one by JoJo Evans, set up the offense at the CMU 36.  Two plays into the possession, Owens broke free for a 26-yard touchdown burst.  Jenkins followed with a successful run for the two-point conversion to up the lead to 36-8 with just over six minutes left in the third.
 
Labas tossed his second scoring pass of the contest with 39 seconds remaining in the third on a 44-yard connection with Chris Parker to trim the FIU lead to 36-16, following another successful two-point try.
 
FIU graduate running back Lexington Joseph pushed the lead back to 42-16 with a 35-yard touchdown burst with 12:39 left in the fourth.  It marked his first score since Oct. 28, 2022 vs. Louisiana Tech after missing the entirety of last season due to a knee injury.
 
FIU kicker Chase Gabriel added a 42-yard field goal with 6:32 left in regulation before sophomore Antonio Patterson set up another score with the Panthers' fifth interception of the contest, which eventually led to a 15-yard run by Luby Maurice Jr. – to account for the final 52-16 margin.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will head north to Boca Raton for this year's edition of the Shula Bowl next Saturday, Sept. 14 against Florida Atlantic.  The game will kick off at 6 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN+ and The Panther Online Network.

POSTGAME NOTES

• FIU held a 21-point lead or better in a game for the first time since Oct. 12, 2019 vs. Charlotte – a contest it won 48-23.
• Junior JoJo Evans notched his first interception at FIU and the second in his collegiate career at the 6:34 mark of the third quarter – it marked the Panthers' fourth forced turnover of the contest.
• Sophomore linebacker Percy Courtney Jr. recovered a muffed punt at the CMU 43 at 3:23 of the second quarter.
• Junior Brian Blades II recorded the first interception of his career and took it back 22 yards for his first collegiate touchdown with 1:54 left in the first.
• Senior Jamal Potts recorded his first career interception at the 8:54 mark of the first quarter.
• Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins scored on a four-yard touchdown run at the 6:55 mark of the first quarter – his first rushing TD of the season and seventh of his career.
• CMU's Tristan Mattson missed a 46-yard field goal attempt at the 9:06 mark of the second quarter.
• Sophomore Keyone Jenkins scrambled for a career-best 34-yard run in the second quarter.
• The two teams combined for a total of three successful two-point conversion attempts (2 by CMU, 1 by FIU.
• FIU won its fourth consecutive home opener (dating back to 2021) and moves to 10-13 all-time.
• Junior Kejon Owens TD run in the third quarter marked his first rushing touchdown of the season and the seventh of his career.
• Graduate running back Lexington Joseph scored on a 35-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, his first score since Oct. 28, 2022 vs. Louisiana Tech after missing the entire 2023 season due to a knee injury.
• Redshirt sophomore Percy Courtney Jr. recorded his first career interception with 10:07 left in regulation and FIU fourth of the game and fifth forced turnover overall.
• FIU's five interceptions tie for the highest single-season total in program history – it had been done once previously – most recently on Nov. 26, 2005 vs. Florida Atlantic.
• Sophomore Antonio Patterson notched the first interception of his career late in the fourth quarter and FIU record-tying fifth of the game.
• FIU's 52 points are its most in a game since scoring 63 vs. UMass on Sept. 15, 2018.
   

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+	6 p.m.
Sept. 21	MONMOUTH (Saturday) (Homecoming)	ESPN+	6 p.m.
Sept. 28	LOUISIANA TECH* (Saturday)	ESPN Platforms	6 p.m.
Oct. 8	at Liberty* (Tuesday)	CBSSN	7 p.m.
Oct. 16	at UTEP* (Wednesday)	CBSSN	9 p.m.
Oct. 22	SAM HOUSTON* (Tuesday)	ESPNU	7:30 p.m.
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