FIU Panthers safety JoJo Evans was deliriously happy.
He had just made it to halftime this past Saturday night in what ultimately became a 17-10 win over visiting Louisiana Tech.
Playing those 30 minutes was no small feat considering Evans had missed the second half the past two games due to targeting penalties.
Evans ran into the locker room on Saturday yelling: “I made it through the first half! I made it through the first half!”
FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said Evans’ words helped the Panthers, who were leading just 7-0 at halftime.
“He got everybody loose,” MacIntyre said. “He has a great personality. He lights up a room.”
Indeed, FIU’s joy was palpable on Saturday as the Panthers (2-3) broke a two-game losing streak in their 2024 Conference USA opener.
With the possible exception of Evans, nobody on FIU’s roster was happier than running back Lexington “Flex” Joseph, who was the game’s leading rusher with 73 yards and one touchdown. He also had the top rushing average (5.6).
Joseph, who missed all of last season due to a knee injury, could have gone over 100 yards. However, with 67 seconds left in the game, Joseph settled for an 18-yard run that could’ve been a 64-yarder.
Instead, Joseph – on purpose – slid to the turf, passing up. on a long touchdown run so that FIU could take a knee on the next three plays, ending the game.
“It was very unselfish on his part,” FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said.
Joseph was asked about giving up personal glory for the good of the team.
“It wasn’t hard,” said Joseph, who is in his sixth year at FIU. “We practice that every week.
“I’m a team guy. I don’t care about individual stats. I just wanted to seal the game and get out of there.”
This was Joseph’s best game since the injury. He had two yards on four carries in the opener against Indiana. He had 40 yards and one TD against Central Michigan; 37 yards against Florida Atlantic; and just 17 yards against Monmouth.
MacIntyre was more than thrilled to see Joseph run hard against Louisiana Tech.
“I got a tear in my eye,” MacIntyre said. “I saw the old ‘Flex’ tonight.
“It was fun to see him break through that barrier – his character, his soul, his commitment to team and his love of the game. He inspired us.”
Joseph said the key was trusting himself.
“I came back from a bad injury,” he said. “I’m kind of getting old. My body is hurting.
“But my team is depending on me, and I love my guys. I wanted to give them my all.
“My mindset was to run the ball like it was my last carry.”
In essence, Joseph tried to will FIU to victory on Saturday.
“I was telling the guys: ‘We need this one (against Louisiana Tech). This might be the most important game of the season.’ To start conference play 1-0 is great.”
The Panthers are off this Saturday, but they will be in Lynchburg, Virginia on Tuesday Oct. 8 to play mid-major power Liberty (4-0, 2-0).
“We have those extra days to rest and study them,” Joseph said. “It’s going to be a hell of a game.”
It’s safe to say that Liberty, which won 38-6 at FIU last year, will be a heavy favorite on Oct. 8.
Since the start of the 2023 season, the Flames are 17-1, and their only loss during that span was to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.
During that same span, FIU is 6-11.
▪ MacIntyre confirmed that wide receiver JuJu Lewis suffered a knee injury last week in practice. Lewis has already had ACL surgery.
“It’s a shame,” MacIntyre said. “He’s a really good player. He will get a redshirt year and be back next season.”
