The much-delayed FIU home opener was worth the wait for the Panthers.
Down 19 points and struggling to solve Charlotte's running game, FIU rallied to stun the 49ers, 30-29, on a humid Saturday night at Riccardo Silva Stadium.
With 10:38 left in the fourth quarter and trailing 29-27, FIU running back Napoleon Maxwell burst through the right side on a 38-yard run to the Charlotte 31. Quarterback Alex McGough found Austin Maloney for 12 yards to the 19. Two rushes later, kicker Jose Borregales knocked home a 27-yard field goal to put the Panthers ahead to stay.