MIAMI – Keyone Jenkins passed for 187 yards while rushing for a pair of touchdowns to lift Florida International to a 42-9 victory over visiting Bethune-Cookman at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in the season opener for both teams Friday evening. The game was delayed for over an hour due to weather in and around Dade County.
 
Bethune-Cookman (0-1) struck first in the opening quarter, grabbing an early 3-0 lead.
 
A seven-play, 62-yard drive engineered by redshirt senior quarterback Cam'Ron Ransom culminated with redshirt junior kicker Juan Dominguez's field goal from 35 yards out to lift the visiting Wildcats to the lead on their opening possession. The drive was under four minutes in length.
 
Florida International (1-0) responded on its opening possession of the contest with a seven-play drive of its own, spanning 67 yards in a drive that saw a mixture of run and pass from the Panthers. Keyone Jenkins finished the drive a perfect 4-for-4 passing, ending the possession with Kejon Owens plunging ahead for a two-yard score. The extra point from Robert Czeremcha was good to establish a 7-3 lead for the hosts.
 
Just two plays into the second quarter FIU established a 14-3 edge after one of the longest drives of the game saw the Panthers' Owens smash through the middle for his second rushing score of the contest. The drive spanned 89 yards in 15 plays, taking more than seven minutes off the clock in total.
 
The lead would swell to 21-3 after Jenkins split the Wildcats defense up the middle for a rushing touchdown from six yards out.
 
After forcing the Cats into a three-and-out under backup quarterback Timmy McClain, the Panthers offense marched down the field in just five plays behind a 20-yard gain on the ground from Kyle McNeal, as well as a Devonte Lyons 35-yard rushing touchdown to extend thew FIU lead, 28-3.
 
B-CU once again got on the board before the end of the opening half as Dominguez tacked on his second field goal of the night for the Maroon and Gold, this time from 22 yards out to trim the deficit, 28-6. On the drive, McClain connected with receiver Lorenzo Jenkins for a 28-yard strike to set the Cats up in field goal range.
 
FIU wasted little time beginning to score again at the start of the second half, as a Juan Rodriguez fumble was collected by FIU's Johnny Chaney Jr. at the B-CU 12 yard line. The Panthers wasted little time, scoring in three plays as Jenkins busted through the line for another score via the ground to make it 35-6 following the extra points from Czeremcha.
 
The B-CU scoring was concluded with the third score of the night from Dominguez, as the West Palm Beach, Florida native connected on a 28-yard field goal to bring the Wildcats to within 35-9.
 
FIU was led on the night by Owens on the ground with 71 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. Jenkins was 18 of 30 passing for a game-high 187 yards. Defensively, the Panthers were paced by Chaney Jr. and Josiah Taylor with eight tackles apiece.
 
The Cats used 876 yards on the ground from Marqui Johnson through nine carries. McClain ended 18-for-28 passing for 164 yards. Javon Ross hauled in six receptions for 109 yards. The Cats defense was headlined by Antwone Watts with seven tackles (five assisted). Meanwhile, Dominguez turned in a perfect 3-for-3 night in field goals.
 
B-CU travels back to Dade County next weekend when the Cats take on Miami (Fla.) on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
 
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