Pass protection and pass defense among issues in FIU football team’s loss to UTEP

Texas-El Paso quarterback Cade McConnell – making his first Division I college football start – completed 5-of-5 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone.

FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins – for the second straight week – was unable to finish the game due to an injury.

Given just that little bit of information, it should come as no surprise that the UTEP Miners defeated the host FIU Panthers, 27-14, on Wednesday.

FIU (3-4) lost its third straight game, and the Panthers are in last place in Conference USA at 0-4.

UTEP (2-5, 1-2) won its first league game of the year, beating FIU for the second straight season.

Jenkins, who limped off the field with 4:34 left in the fourth quarter, does not appear to be seriously injured.

“I think he’s OK,” FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said.

Here are your four takeaways regarding FIU football:

1. THIS ONE HURT

MacIntyre, normally mild mannered, said it all with this post-game quote:

“They beat us with a fourth-team quarterback,” MacIntyre said of McConnell. “It’s really embarrassing.”

McConnell, a 6-1, 195-pounder from California, is a junior-college transfer who sat out last season as a red-shirt. Prior to Wednesday, he had played in just one game for UTEP, completing 4-of-11 passes for 48 yards.

He was a lot better than that against FIU, completing 11-of-17 passes for 262 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.

McConnell got the start because starter Gavin Hardison missed his second straight game due to injury.

2. POINTS NEEDED

MacIntyre said he is “real concerned” about FIU’s offense.

“In today’s football, if you don’t score in the 30s,” MacIntyre said, “you’re going to have a hard time winning.”

FIU got good news with the return from injury of starting right guard Jacob Peace.

“When (Peace) was in there,” MacIntyre said, “it helped us.”

However, the Panthers still allowed six sacks on Wednesday, crushing FIU’s offense.

MacIntyre said he often kept a running back and a tight end at the line of scrimmage for blocking.

“Our pass protection wasn’t good,” MacIntyre said. “We’re doing a lot of seven-man protections (with the running back and tight end), and that helping us quite a bit. But you can’t do that all the time.

“We have a hard time when we don’t do seven-man protection, and anyone can see that on film.”

3. PASS DEFENSE GETS BURNED

The Panthers fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter, and that was all the points the Miners needed.

FIU did adjust its pass defense, allowing 215 yards in the first quarter -- including a 40-yarder to backup QB Kevin Hurley – but just 87 yards in the final three periods.

MacIntyre said FIU played more “Cover Two” defense in the final three quarters, with a pair of safeties in a deep zone.

But he said that defense can’t always be employed because safeties are needed for run support, too.

FIU safety D’Verik Daniel was burned for two long passes, including the biggest play of the day, an 80-yard TD throw over the top.

“We were right there,” MacIntyre said of the play. “But we misjudged the ball.”

4. STAR OF THE GAME

Miners wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi caught eight passes for a career-high 223 yards and two touchdowns. He became the seventh player in UTEP history to have a 200-yard receiving game.

MacIntyre said FIU’s defensive backs, on some of the Miners’ explosive plays, played well off of Akharaiyi … to no avail.

“(Our) guy was nine yards off (the line of scrimmage), and (Akharaiyi) still ran by us,” MacIntyre said. “Those big shots really hurt us.”