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FIU vs Louisiana Tech
The 2023 campaign has finally arrived for the FIU Panthers in the second year under head coach Mike MacIntryre. The Panthers posted a (4-8) overall record in 2022 missing out in a bowl game for the third straight year. The Blue and Gold open up the season at Ruston, Louisiana a place where they have not had success in recent years.
The Panthers established the run game early with Shomari Lawerence finding a gap in the defensive line and clearing for a 67-yard run to the house to open the scoring following a successful Chase Gabriel extra point to make it 7-0.
FIU would have 103 rushing yards just in the first quarter which turned out to be a pretty dominant one which is the perfect way to start the season. Antonio Patterson would follow that with a six-yard run into the end zone followed by a successful Gabriel extra point to make it 14-0.
Charvis Thornton would dominate the FIU defense with an impressive drive late in the first quarter that would result in a 40-yard field goal by Jacob Barnes to make it a 14-3 ballgame.
Between Grayson James, Lawrence, and Patterson they would combine on the run game on this drive bringing it all the way to the Tech 26 which would set up a 45 yard field goal for Gabriel in which he nailed to make it 17-3. That would be the final time the Panthers would score in this ballgame.
Right before the end of the half the Bulldogs kicker Barnes would struggle with a missed field goal from 37 yards. Tech would respond with a 64-yard touchdown with QB Hank Bachmeier connecting with WR Smoke Harris making it a 17-10 ballgame.
Two more field goals from Barnes would bring the game to in point 17-16 with the Bulldogs offense controlling the game in the second half. The run game for the Panthers was shut down and only 4 passing yards in the whole game. The Bulldogs would earn a touchdown off a 30-yard run from Jacob Fields giving Louisiana Tech a 22-17 lead.
The dagger was James throwing a long ball down the middle from their own 20 and was deflected and into the hands of a Bulldogs defender for the interception. Louisiana Tech comes from behind and defeats FIU 22-17 for the first victory of the season.
Next up for the FIU Panthers is a home game welcoming Maine to FIU Stadium at the weekend.
Written by: Daniel Torres
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