Bowl-bound FIU finishing regular season on a high note with a 56-16 victory
Willie Simmons has joined Butch Davis as the only coaches in FIU football history to record winning records in their first seasons at the school.
Simmons on Saturday led the Panthers to a 56-16 win against the host Sam Houston State Bearkats.
FIU (7-5 overall, 5-3 Conference USA) finished its regular season with four straight conference wins.
Next up, FIU will play a bowl game at a site and against an opponent to be determined.
Davis, by the way, led FIU to an 8-5 record in 2017.
Here are your takeaways:
1: QB DUO: It’s hard to know who is FIU’s starter at quarterback. Keyone Jenkins has been FIU’s starter for most of the past three seasons. In fact, in August, he was C-USA’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
However, Jenkins sustained a groin injury on Oct. 29, and backup Joe Pesansky saved the season by going 3-0 as a starter.
Then, on Saturday, Pesansky was sidelined by a toe injury sustained the previous week. Jenkins stepped up and completed 15 of 24 passes for 291 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for a 6-yard score and added a 42-yard run.
“It’s the luxury of having two more-than-capable quarterbacks,” Simmons said. “I can’t say enough about [Jenkins’] maturity. He prepared every week as if he were going to start.
“He hadn’t played a snap in three weeks. That’s difficult in terms of timing.”
2: FAMILIAR NAME: True freshman Sterling Joseph, the brother of former FIU running back Lexington Joseph, got his first collegiate carries, and it resulted in a breakout performance.
Joseph ran four times for 112 yards, a 28.0 average and two TDs. In the fourth quarter, Joseph scored on runs of 61 and 31 yards.
Prior to Saturday, Joseph had spent this season on FIU’s scout team, which Simmons calls his “development squad.”
Added Simmons: “We don’t use the term ‘scout squad.’ Our guys are developing themselves while they are giving us the look we need to prepare for our next opponent. When [Joseph] got his opportunity, he was ready to go because he had been developing. That’s the mark of a great program when you develop young guys.”
3: AGGRESSIVE TONE: After winning the coin toss, FIU opted to receive the kickoff — a rare move by Simmons, who usually defers and takes the ball to start the second half.
“Every week, we have a ‘plan to win’ meeting,” Simmons said. “In my career, I have deferred 99% of the time.
“But we went around the room [with his assistant coaches], and we wanted to start fast. We decided we would take the ball.”
The plan worked, and FIU scored on its first possession, putting together a five-play, 70-yard drive. FIU led 22-7 after the first quarter, 28-10 at halftime and 42-10 through three periods.
4: SURPRISING SACKS: Prior to Saturday, FIU defensive lineman Dante Anderson had played 21 college games — including 10 for Florida State — with just one sack.
But on Saturday, Anderson had two strip sacks, resulting in fumble recoveries by FIU’s Caleb Patterson and Jai-Ayviauynn.
Anderson, a 6-2 and 250-pounder, split his prep career between Southridge and Homestead. A four-star recruit, Anderson didn’t get much playing time until this year, when he transferred back home to FIU.
On Saturday, Anderson said he used his speed to beat Bearkats blockers.
“I’m a fast guy,” Anderson said. “I don’t think [Bearkats QBs Landyn Locke and DJ Bailey] saw me.”
5: UP NEXT: Simmons said his players will rest for about a week until his team’s bowl assignment is announced.
After saying that, Simmons addressed FIU’s fans directly: “We gave you a bowl. Hopefully everyone shows up.”