MIAMI – This one is going to hurt for a little while at least.

In what turned out to be a humbling 19-10 home loss last night (Oct. 23) to FCS upstart Jacksonville State, there simply was not enough offense throughout the game for FIU.

The Gamecocks (3-1) completely obliterated the Panthers (0-3) in two particular areas – first downs and total yards. The FCS program outgained the FBS program in total yardage (444-156) and bested it in first downs by a whopping margin of 20 (26-6).

Also, the Panthers defense allowed two Gamecock running backs to rush for more than 100 yards in this one. Junior offensive leader Joshua Samuel had his best game of the season with 25 carries for 163 yards and one touchdown (201 total yards of offense), while fellow junior Uriah West posted his best game of the season as well with 24 carries for 122 yards (148 total yards of offense).

Samuel and West combined for 285 rushing yards and 349 total yards, which was more than twice the amount of the entire Panthers offense.

A particularly stunning fact is that Jacksonville State did not need to reach the end zone much against FIU. It only happened once, as Samuel scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 11:43 left in the second quarter, giving his team a 10-3 lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way.

Shortly after last night’s game, FIU head coach Butch Davis spoke on what transpired there in a Zoom conference with media members.

“Obviously Jacksonville State played a very good game,” Davis said. “They were very good in all the critical areas you need to be in to win football games. They ran the ball enormously well. They kept drives alive.”

The time of possession battle was lopsided as well, with Jacksonville State’s offense having the ball for 42 minutes and 16 seconds (42:16) and FIU’s offense being on the field for just 17 minutes and 44 seconds (17:44).

“Defensively we struggled enormously on third downs to keep their drives alive and their offense on the field,” Davis said. “Our defense was on the field for way too long…We have got to get three-and-outs. We have got to force a punt. We have got to get the ball inside the 50 so our offense can get great field position.”

In all honesty, if FIU’s defense kept Jacksonville State’s offense out of field goal range, it probably would have enough.

Gamecocks freshman kicker Alen Karajic connected on four of five field goal attempts, including his game-sealer with 2:35 left in the fourth on a 23-yarder. Karajic had 12 of his team’s 19 points, which was more than what FIU as a whole accomplished.

Karajic’s other three field goals went like this:

•5:58 in first quarter: 30-yard field goal to tie the game up at 3-3
•2:08 in second quarter: 39-yard field goal to give Jacksonville State a 13-3 lead
•9:53 in third quarter: 20-yard field goal to give Jacksonville State a 16-3 lead

“We got to play better,” Davis said. “I have got to coach better. Our coaches have to coach better. We have got to play better than the way we did, and that’s no disrespect to Jacksonville State. We didn’t play as good as we need to play.”

Despite the outcome, there were a few bright spots for FIU in this game.

The Panthers may have discovered a potent offensive connection between quarterback Shane Norton and wide receiver Nate Jefferson, as they linked up with each other for their team’s only touchdown of the night.

Down 16-3 with 2:28 left in the third quarter, the freshman wideout (two catches, 38 yards) found the end zone as he caught a 6-yard pass from Norton to cut Jacksonville State’s lead to 16-10.

Also, right after Jacksonville State’s offense was forced into a three-and-out, Bryce Singleton returned a 39-yard punt that gave FIU’s offense great field position at the JSU 37-yard line. Although that FIU offensive drive ultimately sputtered, the team can look to use Singleton more in different ways.

One other thing: The FIU special teams came through on a blocked field goal attempt by Karajic with 5:28 left in the third, which set up the home team’s touchdown drive.

LOCAL PERFORMANCES FOR FIU

•Senior linebacker Josh Powell: Led FIU’s defense with nine tackles

•Redshirt junior cornerback Josh Turner: Tied for second on FIU’s defense with eight tackles

•Senior linebacker Jamal Gates: six tackles, half tackle for loss

•Junior defensive lineman Jason Mercier: four tackles, half tackle for loss

•Senior defensive lineman Noah Curtis: one tackle

NEXT GAME FOR FIU: Friday, Oct. 30 vs. No. 22 Marshall (4-0), 7 p.m. kickoff

NEXT GAME FOR JACKSONVILLE STATE: No more games in 2020

PHOTO CREDITS: FIU Football and Anniston Star