BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — FIU's football program notched an impressive 25-6 road victory in Conference USA (CUSA) play over Western Kentucky on Tuesday night.
The Panthers (3-3, 1-1 CUSA) produced a convincing 19-point road victory over the Hilltoppers (5-2, 3-1 CUSA) for their first CUSA victory of 2025, leading for the entirety of the game.
Kejon Owens ripped off an 84-yard run early on and finished with a career-high 195 yards on 22 carries, of which included a game-sealing score late in the third quarter.
Keyone Jenkins had an efficient day through the air, totaling 17 completions for 184 yards and one touchdown.
Jackson Verdugo caught his first career touchdown from Jenkins in the second quarter and ended his day with three catches and 13 yards.
Alex Perry led the receiving effort with 86 yards on three catches, including two big plays on FIU's first drive. Kicker
Noah Grant accounted for 12 of the Panthers' points, making 4-of-4 field goals.
FIU dominated every phase of the contest, racking up 453 yards to WKU's 341. The Panthers were especially successful in the run game with 249 rushing yards, an average of 6.4 yards per rush. Defensively, FIU forced three turnovers from WKU, led by
Jessiah McGrew's two interceptions.
Mister Clark had an interception as well, making a crucial, diving play to stop WKU from scoring on its first drive.
Xion Chapman accounted for the Panthers' lone sack on the evening.
Percy Courtney Jr. and
Josiah Taylor each totaled a team-high eight tackles. As a unit, FIU's defense held WKU scoreless in the second half.
QUICK NOTES
⁃ The win was FIU's first road win since Oct. 18, 2023, snapping a streak of ten-straight road losses.
⁃ The victory doubled as
Willie Simmons' first road FBS win.
⁃ The win was FIU's first win over Western Kentucky since 2018, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Hilltoppers.
⁃ The win marked FIU's first win in its first road conference game of a season since 2018.
⁃ McGrew's second interception of the night ties the program single-game record and marks the first two-INT performance by a Panther since Richard Dames vs. Marshall (Nov. 24, 2018).
⁃
Noah Grant's 51-yard field goal is the longest by a Panther since Oct. 25, 2023, when
Chase Gabriel connected from 50 yards.
⁃ Owens eclipsed 100 yards in the first half — becoming the first FIU player since D'Vonte Price in 2021 with multiple 100-yard rushing games in a single season.
⁃ Owens' 84-yard run at WKU was the longest offensive play of the season and the second-longest rush from scrimmage in FIU history.
⁃ Owens' 195 total yards is the most by any FIU player since Rashod Smith totaled 199 yards at Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 9, 2004. Owens' total is the fifth-highest in school history.
⁃ Owens now has 1,586 yards for his career, moving him into eighth all-time in school history.
⁃ Owens now sits sixth-nationally with 109.7 rushing yards per game and seventh-nationally with 658 total rushing yards.
⁃ Verdugo's touchdown was the first by a true freshman this season and the first by a freshman tight end since Rivaldo Fairweather scored on Nov. 13, 2020 vs. Fla. Atlantic.
- McGrew's interceptions were his second and third of the season, making him the co-CUSA leader in that category.
- Grant's field goal was the longest of his career. He is now 5-for-6 on field goal attempts this season after entering the year with zero career attempts.
- Road teams are now 9-9 in the matchup between WKU and FIU all-time.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCES
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UP NEXT
The Panthers take on Kennesaw State at 7 p.m. for their annual Vice Night on Tuesday, Oct. 21 inside Pitbull Stadium.
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