Given the fact that the last two meetings between the two teams have been decided by a mere eight points, it’s no coincidence that Saturday’s pivotal Conference USA East tilt was tightly contested - for a half.
In front of the homecoming crowd, FIU (3-3, 1-2) outdueled visiting Charlotte (2-4. 0-2) 48-23 to break even on the season and more importantly, they captured their first conference victory, inserting themselves into the crowded division logjam behind East-leading Western Kentucky.
In a start the surprised nobody, the Niners featured star running back Benny Lemay early and often. Lemay would account for over 100 all-purpose yards in the first quarter alone, busting loose for a 46-yard gain on Charlotte’s opening drive.