PANTHER SENIORS GO OUT WINNERS| James Madison Dukes at Florida International Golden Panthers |
| Nov 15, 2025 | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
| James Madison Dukes ((1-9)) | 17 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 38 |
| Florida International Golden Panthers ((6-4)) | 14 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 52 |
| Team Stats Comparison |
| JMU | FIU |
| Total Offense | 288 | 695 |
| Rushing Yards | 115 | 261 |
| Passing Yards | 167 | 414 |
| First Downs | 13 | 42 |
| Punt Return Yards | 18 | 38 |
| Kick Return Yards | 236 | 121 |
| Total Yards | 542 | 834 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| 3rd Down Conversion | 1-12 | 9-17 |
| 4th Down Conversion | 0-1 | |
| 2-Point Conversion | | |
| Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals | 1-1-33% | 7-1-100% |
| Penalties | 1-15 | 3-20 |
| Possession Time | 19:13 | 20:45 |
GAME RECAP
Today was Senior Day, as Coach Miller sticking with a tradition that started in Boise that he brought with him to Miami is all Seniors get to start their final game if possible. With only 9 Seniors on the roster, today was a easy day to make that happen, especially being how 8 of them have started all season.
For a squad who had 1 only 1 game all season, the Dukes came into this one looking to play spoiler and they did a pretty good job of it.
FIU opened up taking a (14-0) lead behind a pair of rushing touchdowns from SR RB Shomari Lawrence but James Madison battled back as the Duke Defense picks off Keyone Jenkins twice turning one of them into a "Pick 6" as JR CB justin Eaglin takes it back 59 yds for the score to give the Dukes the (17-14) lead in the 1st Quarter.
Jenkins would rebound from his early INT's though as he leads 2 scoring drives completed by a pair of touchdowns to True Freshman Faitele Okwara (17 yds and 9 yds) to give FIU the (28-27) lead with 1:31 to play. The FIU "D" woudl force a quick 3 and out with the offense taking over with 28 seconds to play, Jenkins would get SR TE Rocky Beers on a 25 yd gain to set up a Glennon 38 yd FG as time expires making it (31-27) at the half.
FR SS Sadonnie Gay would open up the 2nd half picking off Duke QB JC Evans (FR/71 Ovr), and Jenkins would waste little time putting the Panthers in the endzone as he hits Kyle McNeal on a 31 yd scoring strike as FIU extends their lead to (38-27).
James Madison already with 2 FG's on the day including a 55 yarder by SR Noe Ruelas, would roll out Ruelas for another 50 yd attempt but the kick sails wide left leaving the game (38-27). This miss would comeback to haunt the Dukes later in the game as Jenkins throws INT #3 leading to Evans to JR WR Yamir Knight 41 yd score that made it (38-33). The Dukes would leave the offense on the field and Evans would convert the 2pt play making it (38-35) as we head to the 4th.
Ruelas however would get some redemption as he drill a 42 yd FG to tie the game with 7 minutes to play (35-35).
Coach Miller knew he wanted to limit the Dukes chances over the final 7 minutes giving the Duke Defense a healty dose of RB Shomari Lawrence and the Senior delivered as he breaks his longest run of the season taking it 43 yds to the house to put FIU up (42-35).
James Madison however wasn't going down without a fight, as Freshman JC Evans leads the charge. Evans a Miami native had his entire family in the stands for the game and you could tell he was fueled by it as he completes 3 straight pass's to push the Dukes into FG range but down 7, they need a TD. So Evans drops back trying to hit fellow FR TE Kevin Crouse over the middle, but SO CB Preston Thompson was ready as he jumps the route coming up with the INT..
Again sticking with his game plan the FIU offense would then reel off 12 straight runs including a touchdown run by TJ Snowden as FIU takes the 2 score lead.
Evans had one final chance but the Dukes would turn the ball over on downs.
Evans finished the game completing 21/29 pass's (72%) for 167 yds with the 2 TD and 2 INT., he also had 59 yds rushing on 11 carries including a 28 yd long.
KEY PANTHERS
QB K. Jenkins-25/46 (54%) 414 yds 3 TD 3 INT, 13 carries 43 yds (sacked 5 times)
RB S. Lawrence-34 carries 181 yds 3 TD
RB TJ Snowden-9 carries 37 yds 1 TD
WR K. McNeal-8 rec 168 yds 1 TD
WR F. Okwara-6 rec 77 yds 2 TD
WR JJ Lewis-3 rec 43 yds
TE R. Beers-6 rec 100 yds
TE W. Gutierrez-1 rec 30 yds
CB P. Thompson-10 Tackles 1 INT
SS S. Gay-1 INT
OLB J. Taylor-2.5 sacks
UP NEXT
FIU now (7-4) on the season will look to close out the regular season with hopefully win #8 as they take on (6-5) Coastal Carolina on the road.
FIU is currently projected to play in the New Orleans Bowl against a SunBelt Opponent but the Sun Belt could be short on qualified teams as its currently not listing a opponent.