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FIU’s homecoming weekend spoiled by Huskies due to turnovers
Welcoming fans into FIU Stadium for homecoming weekend, the Florida International Panthers
hoped to put on a show for the students, alumni and for Golden Panther fans who just saw FIU
finally get back in the win column for the first time in more than 1,000 days.
Unfortunately, in the first drive of the game, sophomore quarterback Grayson James buggled a
snap in shotgun formation as the Panthers inched closer to the red zone early, giving the
University of Connecticut the ball. FIU would never recover again.
The Panthers(2-3, C-USA 0-1) lost to the Connecticut Huskies(3-4, BIG EAST 0-0) 33-12
Saturday, FIU being shut out throughout the entire first half.
After the fumble from the Panthers first drive of the game, the Huskies brought it back to the FIU
side of the field immediately with the running game and capped off the Panthers turnover with a
5-yard running touchdown by freshman running back Victor Rosa.
In a similar fashion, FIU was running the ball down well after a pass to junior wide receiver Jalen
Bracey set up the Panthers at UCONN’s 33 yard line. This would be the only positive part of this
drive for FIU.
James on 4th and 14 tried to roll out right to extend the play and threw a fastball right into the
hands of senior defensive back Tre Wortham, causing a second turnover straight in the first
quarter.
With possession once again, the Huskies scored off another FIU turnover with another rushing
touchdown via Rosa running 4-yards into the endzone in the beginning of the second quarter.
After a 26 and a 35 yard field goal by sophomore kicker Noe Ruelas that was possible by a last
second interception by James, the Panthers went into halftime down 20-0.
However, the offense began on the right foot coming back from the half as junior running back
Lexington Joseph bursted out of the trenches for a 47-yard touchdown on the run to get FIU on
the board for the first time in the game.
For the defensive side of things for the Panthers, they let up 402 yards in this game and 295 of
those yards came from the run alone. Including a 63-yard run play that set up UCONN to score
a touchdown in a “Philly-Philly” style trick play that saw backup redshirt sophomore quarterback
Cale Millen hide as a receiver to then get the ball pitched to him to throw into the endzone for a
5-yard touchdown to starting freshman quarterback Zion Turner.
Even with a 25-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Chase Gabriel, the Panthers offense wouldn't
be able to find any answers to match the Huskies in scoring.
The only points scored in the fourth quarter by FIU was a safety that was a result of a bad snap
around the 10 yard line on UCONN’s side of the field that sailed over the head of the
Connecticut quarterback and past the endzone behind him.
Unfortunately for the fans repping the gold and blue, it didn’t take long for the Huskies to
respond after the safety as Millen ran with it himself for 49-yards for another touchdown.
At the end of it all, turnovers in key offensive drives in the game kept the Panthers from coming
back. A total of three turnovers, two of them were interceptions by James, all led to a UCONN
scoring drive. A total of 17 points allowed off turnovers.
FIU will stay home to host the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners on Friday at 8
p.m.
Written by: Brandon Hernandez
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