FIU’s MVP has Panthers in control of their destiny as they chase Conference USA crown

If the FIU Panthers win their remaining two scheduled games, they will set a school record for most victories in a season while also clinching a berth in the Conference USA championship for the first time.

FIU (7-3, 5-1) defeated host Texas-San Antonio 45-7 late Saturday night, coming very close to what would’ve been just the second shutout in Panthers history.

UTSA scored with just 22 seconds left in the game, at which point FIU had second- and third-stringers on the field. The only shutout in FIU history came in 2002, when the Panthers blanked Butler 42-0.

Up next, FIU will play at Charlotte on Saturday and home against Marshall on Nov. 24.

Here are four takeaways regarding FIU football:

▪ 1: Captain Morgan: According to 247 Sports, FIU had the No. 1 recruiting class in C-USA this year, and that list doesn’t even include the player who has been the Panthers’ best newcomer.

That’s quarterback James Morgan, who leads the league with 24 touchdown passes, which is also a new Panthers record, breaking the mark of 21 set last year by Alex McGough.

Morgan arrived in the summer as a graduate transfer, meaning he missed spring practice and fell behind Christian Alexander.

But there was/is a stark difference in the resumes of those two quarterbacks. Alexander has still never started a college game. Morgan started 13 games at Bowling Green and now has opened 23 collegiate games, including his time at FIU.

Morgan is no doubt better now than he was before due to his experience. For example, he threw 18 interceptions in 22 games at Bowling Green, an exceptionally high number since he was used as a reserve in nine of those contests.

This year, Morgan has been intercepted just five times. He has been FIU’s MVP — without question.

▪ 2: Dandy Defense: The Panthers forced five punts, grabbed four interceptions and came up with three sacks in a nice bounce-back performance after last week’s loss against Florida Atlantic. FIU also got a stop on fourth down.

It was a dominant performance, but — to be fair — UTSA (3-7, 2-4) is not a good team, especially on offense. The Roadrunners are last in the league in all these offensive categories: points per game (14.9); rushing yards (94.7); passing yards (148.6); yards per rush (3.1); and completion percentage (49.6).

Even so, credit freshman linebacker Rocky Jacques-Louis, graduate-transfer linebacker Edwin Freeman and redshirt freshman safety Dorian Hall as they each had one interception and one tackle for a loss.

Rishard Dames had FIU’s other interception, and middle linebacker Sage Lewis, as usual, led the Panthers in tackles with 10.

▪ 3: Road Finale: Saturday’s game at Charlotte (4-6, 3-3) closes out FIU’s road schedule this year.

Charlotte leads the league in fewest rushing yards allowed (88.5 per game). The 49ers brought in a new coordinator, Glenn Spencer, and his 5-2-4 base defense has made an impact.

Still, FIU has gone 3-0 outside of South Florida this season, beating Old Dominion, Western Kentucky and UTSA.

▪ 4: Familiar Name: Evan Shirreffs, who transferred out of the University of Miami after he failed to win a starting job, is now Charlotte’s quarterback.

Shirreffs, a 6-foot-5 native of Georgia, graduated from UM in just three years and arrived at Charlotte this past spring. He’s completing 51.9 percent of his passes and has two touchdowns and four interceptions since taking over as the starter the past four games, replacing injured Chris Reynolds.

Charlotte is just 1-3 since Shirreffs became the starter.