FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins said this week what Panthers fans have surely been thinking of their team’s 1-3 start.
“We lost two games we should have won,” said Jenkins, referring to defeats to Florida Atlantic and Monmouth the past two weeks.
Florida Atlantic is FIU’s main rival, and the Owls were thought to be vulnerable this year. Indeed, the Owls are 1-3, and their only win was that 38-20 victory over FIU.
“We lost the FAU game because of me,” said Jenkins, who threw a career-high three interceptions in that contest. “I take that (blame).”
Last week, FIU finished its non-conference schedule with a 45-42 loss to Monmouth, an FCS program.
This Saturday, FIU will play host to Louisiana Tech (1-2) in the Conference USA opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (ESPN-Plus).
“We definitely need to get a win and get back on track,” FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said.
Indeed, after finishing 4-8 in his first two seasons as FIU’s coach, the pressure is on MacIntyre to find at least five wins in the Panthers’ C-USA schedule.
One problem is FIU’s defense. Out of 10 teams in the conference, FIU ranks eighth in points allowed per game (32.5).
FIU’s defense is led by linebacker Travion Barnes and safeties CJ Christian and JoJo Evans.
Barnes, who had an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown last week, ranks second in the league with 10.0 tackles per game.
Christian ranks seventh in tackles (7.3).
“I was missing a lot of tackles last year,” Christian said. “During the offseason, I tried to get stronger and bigger.”
Evans has missed the second half of the past two games due to targeting penalties. Despite that, he still ranks 13 th in the league in tackles (6.5). He is also tied for the league lead with four pass-breakups.
Going forward, Evans needs to stay on the field, and FIU could use more big plays, especially up front. For example, FIU has no player among the league’s top-15 leaders in sacks.
Offensively, Jenkins is coming off a career-high 362-yard passing performance against Monmouth. He ranks third in the league with 224.0 passing yards per game. He also leads the league with eight touchdown passes.
Jenkins has completed passes to 13 different receivers in just four games, and 10 receivers have at least three catches.
“It’s not something I do on purpose,” Jenkins said when asked about spreading the ball around. “It just happens. I throw it to open receivers.”
One of those open receivers has often been Eric Rivers, who is seventh in the league with 256 reception yards.
Kejon Owens, FIU’s top running back, ranks 10 th with 173 rushing yards.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech opened its season with a 25-17 win over Nicholls State.
Since then, Louisiana Tech has lost two straight games: 30-20 to North Carolina State; and 23-20 in overtime to Tulsa.
Against FIU, Louisiana Tech has been listed as a 2½-point favorite.
THIS AND THAT
▪ FIU wide receiver JuJu Lewis, who didn’t play in two years at Georgia Tech, is finally rolling. After making no catches against Indiana in FIU’s opener, he had his first career grab against Central Michigan, going for a modest seven yards.
Against FAU, Lewis had his first career TD, a 16-yarder. Last week against Monmouth, Lewis had three catches for 70 yards and one touchdown.
“A couple of weeks ago, he was in his head because he wasn’t getting the ball,” Jenkins said of Lewis. “But I told him, ‘Your time will come. Just be patient.’ You get more blessings when you’re patient.”
▪ Louisiana Tech has used three quarterbacks this season: Jack Turner (58 passes); Blake Baker (34 passes); and Evan Bullock (six passes).
“They’ve had some issues at quarterback with injuries,” MacIntyre said of the Bulldogs.
Combined, the three Bulldogs QBs have four TD passes and five interceptions. All three of them are 6-foot-5.
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