Four takeaways from FIU football’s loss to Jacksonville State

Forget Freddy Krueger.

Call FIU’s first quarter on Wednesday night: “Nightmare on Tamiami Trail.”

By the time the host Panthers woke up from that fright, the game was virtually over, and Jacksonville State cruised to a 41-16 victory on Wednesday night.

The first-quarter numbers were as scary for FIU as anything Panthers fans will see on Halloween next week.

Jacksonville State rushed for 122 yards to minus-13 for FIU.

Jacksonville State had 39 passing yards to zero for FIU.

And Jacksonville State went 2-for-2 on third down. FIU went 0-for-3 on third down, and the Panthers’ only first down came with 70 seconds left in the quarter … on a roughing-the-passer penalty.

Not surprisingly, Jacksonville State led 21-0 after that Freddy Krueger Nightmare off the Tamiami Trail first quarter.

And, not surprisingly, Jacksonville State improved to 7-2 overall and 5-1. FIU dropped to 4-5, 1-5.

Here are your four takeaways:

1. JENKINS BENCHED

With FIU trailing 24-3 early in the third quarter, Panthers freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins was benched.

Grayson James, who started the season opener before he was benched in favor of Jenkins, gave the Panthers a spark. James completed 12-of-20 passes for 200 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

Jenkins completed just 2-of-8 passes for 18 yards. He was not intercepted, but that’s only because a JSU defender dropped a throw right at him.

FIU coach Mike MacIntyre, however, hinted that Jenkins will be back in the starting lineup when the Panthers return to the football field on Nov. 11 at Middle Tennessee.

“I don’t know about that,” MacIntyre said when asked if the QB job is now open. “Keyone has played well in the other games.”

To the credit of Jenkins, he was seen with both arms lifted in celebration when James floated a perfectly thrown 60-yard completion to Kris Mitchell, which led to a third-quarter touchdown.

“Keyone is a phenomenal young man,” MacIntyre said. “He cares about the team. He cares about the other quarterbacks.”

2. DUBIOUS CALL HURTS FIU

With FIU trailing 27-16 and just 12:04 left in the fourth, FIU’s Larry Preston recovered a fumble by JSU punt returner Sterling Galban.

However, the officials negated the fumble and penalized FIU’s Percy Courtney Jr. 15 yards for supposedly interfering with Galban’s ability to catch the ball.

TV replays showed that nobody touched Galban as he tried to make the catch. MacIntyre said that the rule is that defenders must give the returner an “arm’s length” of space to make the catch.

MacIntyre was asked if he felt FIU would’ve won the game had that flag not come out of the ref’s pocket.

“We had all the momentum – I mean, all of it,” he said. “I definitely feel like we would’ve had a great chance to score there. It would’ve put a lot of pressure on (JSU), and our kids would’ve been sky high.”

Instead, three plays later, JSU scored a touchdown, and that was FIU’s last best chance to get back in the game.

3. FINDING FOCUS

MacIntyre said he didn’t see FIU’s slow start coming.

“Our players were geared up, focused and ready to play,” MacIntyre said. “They were chanting before I even starting talking to them.”

FIU has three games left on its schedule, and the Panthers – who have to win two to become bowl eligible – can’t afford more poor opening quarters or halves.

As it is, FIU will be heavy underdogs at Arkansas and at home against Western Kentucky. FIU will have its best chance at a win against 2-6 Middle Tennessee.

4. FIU BRIGHT SPOTS

There were a few.

Chase Gabriel made a season-long 50-yard field goal. The fourth-year junior is having his best season with just two misses on 29 kicks. He is 20-for-21 on extra points and 7-for-8 on field goals. His career high in field goals is eight, which he achieved in 2021.

Wide receiver Kris Mitchell caught five passes for 109 yards and one touchdown, although he did lose a fumble. Still, he has 48 catches for 820 yards. With three games left, Mitchell could get to the 1,000-yard milestone. He also has a reception of at least 25 yards in each of FIU’s nine games this year.

Middle linebacker Donovan Manuel had a game-high 11 tackles. He has 90 tackles for the season after making 97 stops in his FIU debut year in 2022.

Outside linebacker Reggie Peterson, who had 10 tackles and one interception as he was named C-USA’s Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, had another strong effort. This time, he made eight tackles.

Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Steven Shannon got the start over Jeramy Passmore, who is injured. Shannon, the son of former Miami Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon, made his first career start.

“Steven’s been playing well,” MacIntyre said. “Jeramy should be back for our next game.”