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FIU vs North Texas
The FIU Panthers returned to FIU Stadium this weekend after winning the home opener by a narrow margin against the Maine Black Bears. The Panthers would welcome the North Texas Mean Green for a conference matchup in which the blue and gold were predicted to lose. A win for FIU would be a major upset in the conference.
RB Kejon Owens was showing off on Saturday night running for three touchdowns as well as QB Keyone Jenkins completing 20 out of 32 passes for 291 yards and one touchdown. The switch to Jenkins has been the right answer for the FIU offense.
Owens would go for 101-yards on 10 carries making it 223 yards rushing on the evening for the Panthers with four rushing touchdowns making it the most since 2020. FIU entered the dressing room down 20-17 at the half.
This was a back and fourth game that started with a North Texas touchdown followed by a Shomari Lawrence run for 28 yards that would set up the Jenkins-Mitchell connection. The duo would combine for 38 yards on the scoring play making it 7-7.
The Panthers defense would play a big part in this game forcing three turnovers including one interception and several key stops on fourth down.
Owens would give the Miami team the lead on a 21-yard run in the second half making it 24-20 after only eight plays ran on that drive.
The back and fourth continued but it would be Dean Patterson who went for 75 yards on the night with a big 40-yard catch setting up the game winner. Kris Mitchell would get a nine yard touchdown his third on the year.
The Panthers would complete the upset defeating North Texas 46-39 improving to 2-1 on the season 1-1 in the conference and 2-0 at home.
Next up for FIU is a road trip up to the northeast visiting UCONN who is currently 0-2 this season.
Written by: Daniel Torres
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