Seniors lead FIU past Jacksonville State, earn sixth bowl berth in program history

The Florida International senior class of 2025 which has been through years of struggles and hardships has finally seen the fruits of their labor.

In their final home game, the FIU seniors led the Panthers (6-5) to a 27-21 win over Jacksonville State to earn bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019 on Saturday in Pitbull Stadium.

Down 21-14 midway through the third quarter, the Panthers scored 13 unanswered points to pull off their sixth win of the season and fourth conference win, an achievement that hasn’t happened at FIU since 2018.

FIU quarterback Joe Pesansky completed 14-of-28 passes for 196 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Trailing in the fourth quarter, Pesansky delivered when the Panthers needed a play most and connected with Alex Perry for a 64-yard touchdown pass to take a 24-21 lead. The Panthers have won in each of Pesansky’s three starts.

Senior running back Kejon Owens rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown to become the school’s single-season rushing leader. Owens currently has 1,039 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.

Jacksonville State entered the game undefeated in conference play and on top of the C-USA standings. The Gamecocks proved why they are among the most prolific rushing teams in the nation, with Cam Cook gaining 138 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Caden Creel rushing for 100 yards of his own.

Owens’ touchdown gave the Panthers an early 7-0 lead. The touchdown drive came after Jacksonville State ended its initial drive with a missed field goal.

The Gamecocks soon responded by tying the game on a 28-yard pass from Creel to Deondre Johnson. Cook scored on a one-yard run to give the Gamecocks a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. They were stuffed at the one-yard line later in the half by the FIU defense and were prevented from padding their lead entering halftime.

The Panthers struck back in the second half with a trick pass from Pesansky to offensive lineman Chad Stanley to tie the game 14-14 in the third quarter.

After recovering a fumble on defense, the Gamecocks’ offense responded with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Creel to Pearson Baldwin to retake the lead 21-14 with 7:14 left in the third quarter. It was the last time Jacksonville State would see the end zone.

After Noah Grant’s second field goal of the game enlarged FIU’s small lead, the Gamecocks’ offense drove towards midfield until a pass on 4th and 3 was completed out of bounds to end their chances at retaining C-USA perfection.

With their postseason spot secured, FIU will close out the season next week at Sam Houston State.

Jacksonville State’s first conference loss has now set up a three-way tie for first place in the standings. The Gamecocks will battle it out with Western Kentucky next week for a place in the C-USA championship game.