TAKEAWAYS: UTEP spoils FIU Vice Night, 27-14

Following the Panthers' third straight loss, FIU falls to 0-4 against the conference

Albert Palacios/Lemon City Live

Injuries not an issue for the Miners

With both starting quarterback Gavin Hardison and backup quarterback Jake McNamara out for the night, the Miners shifted to their fourth string quarterback Chase McConnell. The redshirt sophomore certainly did not disappoint.

McConnell ended the night passing for 262 yards, completing 11 of 16 passes. His first passing touchdown of the night came on an 80-yard bomb to Kelly Akharaiyi. That was the Miners' second touchdown of the night. McConnell's second passing touchdown came on a 23-yard pass to Akharaiyi, once again.

Receiver Tyrin Smith also did not play for the Miners. Smith was the Miners' leading receiver with 191 yards and one touchdown on the season entering this game, until the emergence of Kelly Akharaiyi who ended the night with 223 yards and two touchdowns.  

Miners run game makes an impact in the first half

The one thing that the Miners constantly forced in their win was the run game. Both, running backs finished the night with a combined 106 rushing yards and a touchdown. Deion Hankins had UTEP's only rushing touchdown of the night, which came on the first drive of the game.

In the second half of the game, the FIU defense shut down the run game as UTEP only ran for 30 yards.

The Lawrence and Owens combo keeps FIU in it

Through the first half of the night, Panthers running backs Shomari Lawrence and Kejon Owens combined for 108 rushing yards and a touchdown. That score came thanks to a Kejon Owens 11-yard run in the second quarter of action.

Owens would end up leading the Panthers in rushing yards with 82 rushing yards and a touchdown. Lawrence would end the night with 65 yards on 12 attempts.

Jenkins struggles for a second straight game

On a night where the Panthers needed true freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins to step up, he had his struggles. Jenkins completed 12 of his 24 passes, throwing for 216 yards and an interception.

Jenkins ended up holding the ball for too long a multitude of times which led to sacks. Jenkins ended the night being sacked three times. 

Towards the end of the game, Jenkins was hit on an attempted throw. Following the game, FIU head coach Mike MacIntyre said that it was a knee injury, but the expectation is that he will be fine. Haden Carlson replaced Jenkins, at that point.

CJ Christian suffers an injury

In the first quarter of the game, Panthers safety CJ Christian suffered an injury and he did not return to the game. MacIntyre informed the media that Christian was taken to the hospital, but is okay. It is uncertain if Christian will play next week at Sam Houston.