Five takeaways from FIU football’s road loss to Missouri State
The FIU football team committed eight penalties, botched three shotgun snaps, lost two fumbles and missed a chip-shot field goal for the second straight week.
The result was a 28-21 loss to host Missouri State on Wednesday night in Springfield.
“I want to apologize to Panthers Nation for the display we put on tonight,” coach Willie Simmons said after FIU’s second straight loss. “I have to figure out what we are doing wrong as a coaching staff. We’re not playing smart ball.”
FIU fell to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in Conference USA. The Panthers’ next game is on Nov. 8 at Middle Tennessee State.
Here are your five takeaways:
1. REVENGE
Missouri State running back Shomari Lawrence – who played for FIU the past two seasons – ran 14 times for a game-high 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Lawrence led FIU in rushing in 2023 with 566 yards. But he had just 177 yards in 2024, losing his starting job to Kejon Owens.
On Wednesday, Owens was held to a season-low 63 yards, a 3.5 average and no scores. In Owens’ defense, he got just one carry in the first nine minutes of the game, and he never got much momentum.
2. QB ISSUE
Starting quarterback Keyone Jenkins completed 15-of-24 passes for 147 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also lost a fumble, and Jenkins left the game for good with 11:10 left in the fourth quarter due to a lower-body injury.
Backup Joe Pesansky completed 6-of-11 passes for 72 yards, one TD and no picks.
Simmons said Jenkins could’ve gone back in the game, but he was “banged up.”
The coach also said Pesansky “gives us a bit more in the passing game.”
3. BIG DAY ON SPECIAL TEAMS
Backup safety Websley Etienne blocked a punt, allowing FIU to start a possession on Missouri State’s 16-yard line.
Then, trailing 7-0 later in the first quarter, FIU took a big gamble with a fake punt on fourth-and-three from its own 27. The play worked as Jojo Stone, who was in motion, took a pitch and ran 12 yards around right end for the first down. That led to FIU’s first touchdown.
However, on the negative side for FIU, Noah Grant missed a 31-yard field goal attempt wide left. Last week, he missed a 23-yarder.
In addition, C’Quan Jnopierre fumbled a punt at his own 24-yard line, leading to Missouri State’s first touchdown.
4. MORE MISTAKES
Among FIU’s penalties, there was pass interference in the end zone against Jessiah McGrew; holding on a kickoff return; interference on Victor Evans III, who did not obey a punt returner’s fair catch; a false start on Jaheim Buchanon; a delay of game, and, perhaps the worst lapse of judgment, personal foul on Kyle McNeal for throwing a punch.
“It was a selfish play,” Simmons said when asked about McNeal. “He was a captain today. You don’t expect that from a captain.
“We can’t get baited into a fight. That’s losing football.”
On the bad snaps, one was low and another was wide right, and both of them led to failed third-down plays.
Jenkins’ fumble was due to careless ball-handling, although two members of his offensive line got bull-rushed, leading to the pressure.
5. HUSTLE
Panthers linebacker Johnny Chaney Jr. forced a fumble by chasing a ball-carrier 35 yards. Cornerback Brian Blades II, who had been blocked all the way out of bounds on the play, raced back in to recover the fumble, which kept FIU in the game at that moment.
McGrew also forced a fumble late in the game, but Missouri State recovered.