We have a candidate for the college football pillow fight of the week as a member of Conference USA tangles with one of the few remaining independent programs in the Land of Enchantment. The FIU Golden Panthers are on the road as they make the trip to face the New Mexico State Aggies Saturday night. FIU was clobbered 73-0 as a 31-point underdog on the road against Western Kentucky in their most recent game last Saturday. New Mexico State comes in off a 45-26 home win over Hawaii as a four-point favorite in their previous game last Saturday. These teams have met just once as FBS opponents with the Aggies earning a 56-31 triumph at home in that meeting October 30, 2004.
FIU was flattened on the road by Western Kentucky last week in their previous game as they were out of the game shortly after the opening kickoff. The Golden Panthers dropped to 1-2 on the season and are 0-1 in Conference USA heading into this game. FIU trailed 14-0 after the opening quarter, 42-0 at the half and 59-0 after three quarters en route to the blowout defeat. The Golden Panthers were destroyed 690-185 in total offense, gave up 32 first downs while recording 10 and turned the ball over twice, including a scoop-six, while recording only one takeaway. FIU did win the time of possession by a 30:32 to 29:28 margin though that had no impact on the game’s final score.
On the year, the Panthers are 83rd in the nation in passing offense with 228.3 yards per game through the air and 127th in rushing offense by grinding out 63.3 yards per contest on the ground. Florida I nternational is 121st in the FBS in scoring offense with an average of 16.7 points per game while they are 131st, or dead last in the FBS, in scoring defense by allowing 50.3 points per contest. Grayson James is 59 of 100 passing for 488 yards with four touchdowns against two interceptions plus 30 yards on the ground this season. Gunnar Holmberg is 14 of 20 for 103 yards plus a touchdown while rushing for 17 yards while Haden Carlson is 11 of 22 for 94 yards and an interception on the year. EJ Wilson Jr. leads the team on the ground though he has only 79 carries plus a score on 23 carries this season. Lexington Joseph (22 carries, 52 yards) is the second back in the system for coach Mike MacIntyre. Tyrese Chambers (19 receptions, 1175 yards, two TD) is the only player with double-digit receptions or 100 receiving yards this season for the Golden Panthers. Chase Gabriel has hit all three extra point attempts and all three field goal attempts with a long of 49 th is season.