FIU football reaches .500 with win over Louisiana Tech in double overtime

Apparently, you can’t go wrong borrowing from LeBron James.

Quarterback Grayson James — no relation to the NBA star — fired three touchdown passes and a key two-point conversion as the host FIU Panthers defeated the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 42-34, in double overtime on Friday night.

One of those TD passes went to Kris Mitchell, whose end-zone celebration featured a mimed-version of the LeBron chalk toss. Mitchell also caught the two-point conversion that helped FIU win its second overtime game of the season.

The other TD passes went to Jalen Bracey and Tyrese Chambers as FIU (4-4 overall, 2-2 Conference USA) snapped a nine-game home losing streak against FBS opponents.

FIU’s last home win against an FBS team, prior to Friday, was against the Miami Hurricanes in 2019.

This was also FIU’s first win over Louisiana Tech. The Panthers had lost all four previous games in a series that started in 2013.

Louisiana Tech (2-6, 1-3) was led by true freshman quarterback Landry Lyddy, who completed 26-of-34 passes for 245 yards, no touchdowns and zero interceptions. It was Lyddy’s first collegiate start.

The Bulldogs, who have lost three games in a row, were also led by running back Marquis Crosby, who ran 21 times for 115 yards, a 5.5 average and two touchdowns.

For FIU, James completed 31-of-48 passes for 321 yards. He was not intercepted, although Bulldogs defenders dropped several would-be picks.

Tight end Rivaldo Fairweather led FIU in reception yards, catching six passes for 89 yards. Running back Lexington Joseph ran for two TDs.

Louisiana Tech dominated much of the first quarter as Lyddy completed his first 10 passes, helping the Bulldogs jump to a 10-0 lead.

Lyddy scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak as the Bulldogs took the opening drive and drove 75 yards on nine plays.

After an FIU punt, the Bulldogs went 61 yards on eight plays, settling for Jacob Barnes’ 36-yard field goal.

FIU finally got on the board with just 46 seconds left in the first quarter as James connected with Mitchell in the right corner of the end zone, a 34-yard pass play. FIU converted on two third downs in that drive — an 11-yard completion to Mitchell and a 2-yard run by E.J. Wilson Jr.

The Bulldogs, however, stretched their lead to 17-7 on Marquis Crosby’s 29-yard run up the middle.

But FIU changed the game’s momentum in the final eight minutes of the second quarter.

First, James threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Bracey with 7:19 left in the half to cut FIU’s deficit to 17-14.

Then, Hezekiah Masses recovered FIU’s onsides kick, a play that withstood a video review. It was a close call, but Masses appeared to keep his foot in-bounds as he recovered Lucas Matias’ kick.

Two plays later, James’ back-shoulder throw resulted in a Tyrese Chandler TD reception for a 21-17 lead with 6:41 left.

FIU’s flurry of big second-quarter plays ended with Alex Nobles’ blocking Barnes’ 29-yard attempted field goal.

The Panthers stretched their lead to 24-17 on Chase Gabriel’s 45-yard field goal with 4:25 left in the third quarter.

With 13:01 left in the fourth, Louisiana Tech tied the score 24-24 on Charvis Thornton’s 9-yard TD run, which was well blocked around right end. That drive was kept alive when FIU’s Jordan Guerad jumped offsides on a fourth-and-1 play at the Panthers’ 26-yard line.

In overtime, Joseph ran for two touchdowns, and James scrambled before flipping a short pass to Mitchell for the final points.