Bortenschlager nears single-season passing mark
Max Bortenschlager has not come close to beating Alex McGough in video games.
“He’s crazy good at
Call of Duty,” Bortenschlager said of
McGough, his fellow quarterback who is now in the pro ranks.
Bortenschlager, however, can take his revenge on the football field by breaking McGough’s FIU single-season passing record in Saturday’s season finale against Southern Miss at Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Bortenschlager needs just 95 yards to break the mark.
McGough set the record in 2017 with 2,798 passing yards, leading FIU to an 8-4 record. He went on to get picked in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Bortenschlager has passed for 2,704 yards, but his FIU Panthers are 1-10 and riding a 10-game losing streak.
In fact, since Bortenschlager arrived on campus last year, FIU is 1-15.
“The wins and losses are not the way we thought the season would go,” Bortenschlager said. “But, a little selfishly, I think [the passing record] is kind of a cool stat.
“Alex and James [Morgan] kind of paved the way for the quarterbacks here. It’s pretty cool to follow in their footsteps.”
Morgan was FIU’s quarterback in 2018 when the Panthers set the program record for wins (9-4).
He was also the quarterback in 2019 when the
Panthers finished 6-7 but went to their third straight bowl game and beat the Miami Hurricanes in the regular season.
Morgan, who passed for 2,727 yards in 2018 and 2,585 in 2019, was the New York Jets’ fourth-round pick in 2020.
“Both [Morgan and McGough] have been really supportive of me,” Bortenschlager said.
FIU (1-10 overall, 0-7 Conference USA) will be making its first trip to play the Golden Eagles since 2013.
Southern Miss (2-9, 1-6) is a 10½-point favorite in this battle between the two worst teams in Conference USA.
But as bad as it has
been for the not-so Golden Eagles this year, Southern Miss beat host Louisiana Tech 35-19 last week, snapping an eight-game losing streak.
In addition, Bortenschlager is facing a defense that is significantly better than the team’s 2-9 record. Southern Miss ranks 46th nationally in total defense, allowing 355.5 yards per game. The Eagles are 23rd in passing defense, allowing 199.4 yards.
In other words, the passing record won’t necessarily be a layup for Bortenschlager, especially the way calamity has followed FIU this season.
In the past couple of weeks, news broke that
FIU athletic director Pete Garcia had cleared out his office in the middle of the night, resigning without
even a goodbye news conference.
Days later, news broke that FIU coach Butch Davis won’t be back following this season. In a series of text messages sent exclusively to this reporter, Davis said: “Team chemistry [at FIU] the past five or six week has been terrible.”
Davis, who was not available for further comment this week, also said FIU administrators cut the football program’s budget by $500,000 in each of the past two years. FIU coaches weren’t allowed to go on the road to recruit, and Davis said he dipped into his own pocket for up to $150,000 to try to keep the program afloat.
FIU administrators have not commented, but Bortenschlager — who earned his master’s degree two weeks ago and will participate in a graduation ceremony next month — said he is grateful to Davis.
“He’s an awesome man,” Bortenschlager said. “I’m so thankful he gave me an opportunity when I entered the transfer portal [from the University of Maryland]. He has been super supportive of me all season and even last season.
“I have a lot of respect for him.”
Bortenschlager, who has an extra year of college eligibility available, was asked about returning next season.
“I don’t plan on coming back [to FIU],” he said. “But I would love to play at the next level if I get the opportunity.”
THIS AND THAT
Southern Miss is led by running back Frank Gore Jr., the former Miami Killian star and the son of the ex-Hurricanes and former NFL legend.
Gore Jr. has rushed for a career-high 733 yards this season, although his average per rush has gone down from 5.9 in 2020 to 4.4 this year.
He has also caught 20 passes for 155 yards this season, both career highs. And he is 6 for 11 as a passer for 108 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.