FIU Panthers Pounce Middle Tennessee

On Saturday in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the FIU Panthers secured a decisive 56-30 road victory over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in a game that shifted momentum in the Conference USA standings. FIU improved to 4-5 overall, 2-3 in CUSA. Middle Tennessee fell to 1-8, 0-5 in CUSA. The Panthers scored 56 points, marking one of the highest outputs in program history.

The Blue Raiders struck first, with a 48-yard pass from their QB to open the game and take a 7-0 lead. FIU responded strongly in the 2nd quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points to take a 21-7 lead into the half. After halftime, FIU maintained the momentum, combining a balanced offense with opportunistic defense to pull away. Middle Tennessee kept fighting but could not close the gap, and FIU's late surge sealed the victory.

Joe Pesansky passed for 257 yards and four touchdowns, plus added a rushing TD- became the first Panther in program history to account for five total touchdowns in a game. Kejon Owens ran for 68 yards and two touchdowns, including a key 32-yard score late in the game. Alex Perry caught five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns- a career-high in scoring catches for the season. QB Nicholas Vattiato threw for 242 yards and three TD's, but the rushing attack was nearly non-existent.

For FIU this victory is a major boost. With the roster gaining confidence, the Panthers now sit at 4-5 and still have room to push for a winning record in CUSA. For Middle Tennessee the loss deepens their struggles- still 0-5 in conference play and seeking answers both offensively and and defensively against explosive teams. From a narrative standpoint FIU's passing-game explosion and turnover creation were key themes. Meanwhile, MTSU's inability to sustain drives and produce on the ground proved costly.

Written by: Daniel Torres

FIU Panthers Pounce Middle Tennessee