Here are five takeaways from FIU football’s loss to Texas-San Antonio on Friday
With star wide receiver Tyrese Chambers out due to injury, a young quarterback making just his fifth career start and a banged-up offensive line running extremely low on depth, it’s no wonder the FIU Panthers were held down on Friday night.
Texas-San Antonio, the reigning Conference USA champions and winners of 20 of their past 25 games, defeated host FIU 30-10.
It was a “moral victory” for the Panthers, who entered the game as 33-point underdogs. In fact, FIU played UTSA to a scoreless draw in the first quarter.
But moral victories don’t count in the standings, where the Panthers are 2-4 overall and 0-2 in C-USA.
Here are five takeaways for the Panthers, who have now lost 21 of their past 22 games against FBS teams.
1. BLOCKERS NEEDED
On Friday, FIU listed just one non-starter on its two-deep offensive line, and that was true freshman John Bock.
Then, early in Friday’s first half, center Julius Pierce went down with an ankle injury that has troubled him most of this season.
“He’s going to be OK,” FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said of Pierce. “He just tweaked that ankle.”
Bock went in to play center, joining the four healthy starters: left tackle Shamar Hobdy-Lee, left guard Wyatt Lawson, right guard Jacob Peace and right tackle Lyndell Hudson Jr.
Lawson is one of five freshmen who started for FIU on Friday, a list that includes cornerback Hezekiah Masses, safety Demetrius Hill, defensive end Keegan Davis and wide receiver Dean Patterson.
As for the offensive line, MacIntyre said “they keep fighting”.
Due to the injuries, FIU used linemen on Friday who had been further down the depth chart, including guard Sam Hill, a transfer from an NAIA school, Reinhardt University; and redshirt freshman center Ming Tjon, who arrived as a walk-on last year and did not play.
2. SHADES OF GRAYSON
FIU sophomore quarterback Grayson James, making his fifth straight start, completed 18-of-36 passes for 174 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked three times.
With Opening Day starter Gunnar Holmberg still out due to a shoulder injury, redshirt freshman Haden Carlson got some playing time late in Friday’s game, leading FIU to its only touchdown.
Carlson completed 2-of-3 passes for 12 yards, and he took one sack on a play in which the defensive end had a free run at him.
“Both of them did some good things,” MacIntyre said of his QBs. “We also did some not-so-good things.
“Gunnar, we’re hoping he’ll be able to go next week.”
Whether Holmberg returns as a starter or backup is open to debate.
3. THE LEX FLEX
FIU running back Lexington “Flex” Joseph had six carries for 56 yards, including a 35-yarder.
Counting his four kickoff returns, Joseph finished with 138 all-purpose yards.
For the season, Joseph leads FIU in rushing (291 yards), rushing average (5.9), scrimmage yards (396), kickoff-return yardage (380) and all-purpose yards (776).
4. FOR THE RUN DEFENSE
Panthers linebacker Gaethan Bernadel made a career-high 15 tackles on Friday, the most by any FIU player this season.
However, UTSA’s Kevorian Barnes, who entered Friday with just 20 yards rushing on the season, ran 20 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns against FIU.
It was the third time this season FIU has allowed a running back to rush for more than 100 yards, and that includes a 195-yard effort by Texas State’s Calvin Hill.
5. FOR THE PASS DEFENSE
The Panthers struggled to stop UTSA quarterback Frank Harris, who entered the weekend leading FBS in total offense per game (375.2).
The lefty thrower completed 24-of-35 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns in just three quarters, and he was not intercepted.
It was the fourth time this season that FIU has allowed a rival QB to pass for more than 200 yards. In fact, Western Kentucky’s Austin Reed burned FIU for 381 yards.
