FIU junior wide receiver Eric Rivers hauled in 11 passes for a record-setting 295 yards as the FIU football team posted a 34-13 victory over New Mexico State on Tuesday at Pitbull Stadium.
Rivers' 295 receiving yards also marked the second-highest total by any FBS player this season. Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw for four touchdowns – tying the program record for most in a single game.
The game was tightly played in the first half before the Panthers broke things open by outscoring New Mexico State 13-0 in the third quarter after holding a 7-6 edge at halftime. FIU outgained the Aggies 150-32 in the third stanza and forced a turnover while limiting New Mexico State to an average of 2.9 yards per play.
Overall, FIU outscored New Mexico State 27-7 over the final 30 minutes.
Rivers' 295 receiving yards marked the highest single-game total in FIU history and represented the third 100-yard game of the season.
Jenkins returned from injury to pace the Panthers' offense. He completed 18-of-27 passes for 338 yards and four touchdowns. It marked the second 300-plus passing yard effort of his career.
Defensively, Travion Barnes led the FIU defense with 10 tackles – his fifth consecutive game with double-digit stops and his seventh of the season. He now has 109 tackles on the year – which ranks tied for sixth most in FIU single season history.
Following a scoreless opening quarter, New Mexico State broke through on the scoreboard with a 57-yard field goal by Abraham Montano at 13:30 of the second – which tied for the longest in Aggie program history and matched the fourth longest in Conference USA history.
The Panthers (3-6, 2-3 CUSA) answered quickly as two plays and 30 seconds later Jenkins connected with Rivers for a 52-yard scoring strike to put FIU ahead 7-3 with 13:00 left in the second. The play marked the Panthers' longest offensive play of the season and was Rivers' sixth TD reception of the season – tops in Conference USA.
The FIU defense posted a big stop late in the second quarter. New Mexico State drove deep into FIU territory with two minutes left and faced a fourth and two attempt from the Panthers' six-yard line before being turned away without points following a stop by CJ Christian.
New Mexico (2-6, 1-4 CUSA) rebounded to claim another field goal by Montano – this one from 54 yards out to trim the FIU lead to 7-6 at the break. The drive only went five yards on four plays after a three and out by the FIU offense set up the Aggies at the FIU 42 following a 28-yard punt.
FIU extended its lead to 10-6 on a 24-yard field goal by Alejandro Prado on its opening drive of the second half. Jenkins and Rivers did the majority of the heavy lifting on the 69-yard march with key receptions of 45 and 13 yards.
Rivers and Jenkins hooked up once again on the next possession with a 51-yard touchdown connection to increase the lead to 17-6 with 7:49 to play in the third.
The FIU defense forced a turnover on the next Aggie possession on an interception by sophomore Hezekiah Masses and returned 42 yards to the New Mexico State 23-yard line. Prado followed four plays later with his second field goal, this one a career-long from 38 yards, to push the advantage to 20-6 with 5:32 left in the third.
New Mexico State stopped the bleeding with a 27-yard touchdown run by Mike Washington to get within 20-13 with 14:14 left in regulation.
FIU pushed the lead back to two scores with a 14-play, 75-yard march that culminated in a two-yard touchdown catch by Dean Patterson, pushing the lead to 27-13 with 7:45 remaining.
Rivers capped the scoring with his third touchdown catch from 62 yards out with 3:49 left in the contest.
UP NEXT
The Panthers are off until Saturday, Nov. 16 when they travel to Jacksonville State to battle the Gamecocks in a 2 p.m. ET kickoff.
