Things get worse for FIU after blowing nine-point, fourth-quarter lead vs. Kennesaw State
Following a week where seemingly all of FIU Twitter/X was calling for football coach Mike MacIntyre to get fired, things got even worse on Saturday.
The Panthers blew a two-score lead in the final six minutes, losing 27-26 on a last-minute field goal by Kennesaw State in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Kennesaw State entered the game with a 1-9 record.
FIU (3-8) will close out its season at home on Saturday against Middle Tennessee State (2 p.m.). Even if FIU were to win that game, it would be its third straight 4-8 season.
In fact, this marks FIU’s fifth straight losing regular season – the last three under MacIntyre, who did not do a post-game interview on Saturday.
Of FIU’s eight losses this season, the worst cases up for consideration were to Monmouth, Florida Atlantic, Texas-El Paso and Kennesaw State.
Monmouth is an FCS team that was on the schedule as a supposed layup.
As for FAU, UTEP and Kennesaw, those teams – minus their win over FIU – are a combined 3-27.
Here are five takeaways regarding FIU football:
1. CRUCIAL MISTAKES
With 3:35 left in the game, FIU led Kennesaw State 26-24, and the Panthers had a first down at their own 37.
If the Panthers could’ve gained some first downs and burned clock, they could have headed back to Miami with a win.
Instead, FIU tried to pass. Jenkins got strip-sacked, and Kennesaw State recovered.
In eight plays, Kennesaw State drove to FIU’s one-yard line before kicking the game-winning 19-yard field goal by Austin Welch.
FIU, with 51 seconds left and the ball at its own 37, had one more chance … but Jenkins threw an interception, effectively ending the game.
Prior to those mistakes by Jenkins, FIU had not turned the ball over the entire game.
2. KICKING ISSUES
Alejandro Prado of FIU missed a 24-yard field goal and an extra point before getting benched.
FIU turned to Robert Czeremcha, who made all four of his kicks – field goals of 36 and 34 yards and two extra points.
Czeremcha is FIU’s third kicker this season, including fifth-year starter Chase Gabriel, who left the team for unspecified reasons earlier this year.
3. RIVERS KEEPS ROLLING
Wide receiver Eric Rivers, FIU’s breakout star of 2024, caught seven passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
With those totals, he became just the fourth FIU pass-catcher to have a 1,000-yard season, joining T.Y. Hilton, Tyrese Chambers and Kris Mitchell.
Rivers leads Conference USA in receiving yards (1,055) and TD catches (11).
4. FAB FRESHMAN
True rookie Devonte Lyons nearly had FIU’s first 100-yard rushing game of the season.
In just his second college game at running back, Lyons carried 16 times for 99 yards and a 6.2 average.
He was one of several FIU heroes that got overshadowed by the loss, a list that includes safety CJ Christian (one interception) and C’Quan Jnopierre (31.7-yard average on three kickoff returns).
5. PATTERSON STEPPING UP
With Rivers getting so much attention, Dean Patterson had another solid game with two catches for 72 yards and one touchdown.
Last week, Patterson had game highs in targets (15); catches (nine); yards (115) and yards after the catch (44).
“I know eyes are going to be on him,” Patterson said of Rivers. “I have to stay with my assignment and make plays.”
Patterson arrived at FIU as a walk-on in the summer of 2021. He earned a scholarship by the end of spring 2022. That fall, he made five starts, and he has become a full-time starter the past two years.
“I always knew I could be a player,” Patterson said. “I just had to put my head down and work through the trial and tribulations of football.
“It’s all part of the journey. I’ve come this far. Why stop now?”