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FIU vs UTEP
After the loss on the road against Liberty it was time for the FIU Panthers to hit the road once again. The Panthers would be traveling to El Paso to face a UTEP team that has not won this year. Surely FIU are the favorites and a loss to the Miners would be total embarrassment. FIU have a chance with a win to be on track to clinch a bowl appearance. They have not reached a bowl game since 2019 when Butch Davis was the head coach and they faced Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl. A loss would derail those plans and put those chances in jeopardy.
FIU QB Keyone Jenkins was 7/11 for 73 yards while having one interception and one touchdown. Jenkins would not play in the second half due to an injury. His backup Amari Jones would go 6/11 for 92 yards with one interception and one touchdown also. Haden Carlson also got some reps going 4/6 on 37 yards throwing two interceptions. Kejon Owens led rushing with 36 yards on nine carries with one touchdown. Eric Rivers led receiving with 91 yards off of five receptions and one touchdown.
For UTEP it was QB Skyler Locklear going for 161 yards on 14/23 with one interception and one touchdown. Jevon Jackson on the rushing end had 26 carries for 148 yards and one touchdown. Locklear lone touchdown was a rushing touchdown. For receiving it was Kenny Odom with four receptions for 95 yards and would not have any touchdowns. Jacksons lone touchdown of the game would be a receiving touchdown.
Jackson would take a snap in the fourth quarter scoring a one-yard touchdown to give the Miners a 26-21 lead. A two-point conversion was brought back because of a chop block penalty with the UTEP coaching staff electing to go for the kick making it 27-21. With both FIU quarterbacks going down to injury it was up to Carlson to lead his team back against the Miners. He would throw his second interception with four minutes remaining in the game.
The Miners would take the ball down the field and would not be able to convert but would set up a 39-yard field goal. It barely went through the sticks but nonetheless it did and it would be three more points for the home team. UTEP would go on to defeat FIU 30-21 snapping a nine-game losing streak that went back to last season. The Panthers would fall to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the conference. Many FIU fans and former players voiced their displeasure on social media following the loss.
Next up for the FIU Panthers is a home game welcoming Sam Houston to Pitbull Stadium.
Written by: Daniel Torres
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