JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — FIU's football program battled in a back-and-forth contest at Conference USA (CUSA) leading Jax State on Tuesday, falling 27-24 via a made field goal from the Gamecocks late in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers had a chance at a game-tying field goal as time expired, but Robert Czeremcha's attempt missed narrowly to the right, sealing the FIU (3-3, 1-1 CUSA) defeat to Jax State (5-2, 3-0 CUSA). Maguire Anderson connected with JJ Kohl on two highlight-reel touchdown catches in the first half, finishing the day with eight catches for 133 yards.
Kohl passed for 278 yards and had 24 completions with those two touchdowns as the Panther aerial attack was especially effective in the game. Devonte Lyons added a score on the ground, his first of the season, and racked up 73 yards on 15 carries. James Resar posted a solid day in the receiving department along with Anderson, adding five catches for 46 yards.
Defensively, Josiah Taylor forced the lone Panther takeaway, intercepting a Jax State pass late in the first half. RJ Moss Jr. had a sack to lead the defensive line's effort.
The Panthers trailed 7-0 as Jax State scored on its opening drive, but after a Gamecock missed field goal on their next possession, FIU tied the game at 7-all, capping its drive with the first TD from Kohl to Anderson of the half. Facing 3rd and 15 around midfield, Kohl evaded pressure and launched a deep ball to Anderson, who came down with a spectacular catch between two defenders at the Gamecock 21-yard line and then raced to the end zone.
Jax State, however, answered immediately on its next drive with a long TD pass of its own, re-gaining the lead, 14-7. The Gamecocks tacked on a field goal early in the second quarter, extending their advantage to 10 points at the midway point of the frame. FIU built its momentum with two scoring drives to end the half, the first of which was capped by another Kohl-Anderson connection for a 30-yard touchdown with 1:44 to go. Taylor then intercepted a pass with 1:20 left and Czeremcha banged in a field goal with no time remaining in the first half to tie the game at 17-all at the break.
On FIU's first drive of the second half, the Panthers attempted a fake punt on fourth down, but were stopped by the Gamecocks, setting up a quick scoring drive. Jax State took the lead once again in just five offensive plays, plunging in from four yards out to go up, 24-17. FIU answered immediately with a perfectly-executed drive of 12 plays and 75 yards, that ended with Lyons' TD run to the edge from eight yards out, tying the score at 24-all.
Both defenses stood tall from there, not allowing a point in the fourth quarter before Jax State mounted its final drive, which proved to be the game-winner. From their own nine yard line, the Gamecocks drove down deep into Panther territory, converting a key 34-yard pass on 3rd and 13 to keep the drive alive. With 44 seconds remaining, Jax State kicked its 26-yard field goal to go on top, 27-24.
Kohl completed four consecutive passes on the final drive, including a 24-yard connection to Anderson, to set up FIU at the Jax State 32-yard line with 10 seconds left. After an end zone shot that was nearly completed to win the game, Czeremcha came on and could not convert the 49-yard attempt to send the game into overtime.
FIU will be back in action next Tuesday, Oct. 20 at home against Middle Tennessee, facing off with the Blue Raiders at 7 p.m. inside Pitbull Stadium.
Quick Notes to Come…
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