Box Score PROVIDENCE, RI – A fast a furious few minutes to start Saturday's game at Brown settled into a old-fashioned slobber-knocker. Despite the early fireworks, it was the Stetson defense that set the tone, helping the Hatters to a 31-21victory over the Bears.
 
After allowing three touchdowns in the first 10:26 of the game, the Hatters slammed the door on homestanding Brown, blanking the Bears the rest of the way.
 
After allowing 110 yards on those three scoring drives, the Stetson defense allowed just 188 yards the rest of the day while forcing seven punts, six turnovers and one turnover on downs.
 
The win was Stetson's second straight on the road and improved the Hatters to 3-2 on the season. Brown fell to 1-3 on the year with the loss.
 
Almost before the Hatters had a chance to break a sweat, Brown threated to blow the game open. Stetson turned the ball over on its second play of the game and the Bears needed just one play to cash in for a 7-0 lead.
 
A quick three-and-out on the next Stetson possession turned into another quick Brown score when David Moodie raced through the Hatters' defense for a 41-yard TD run.
 
The Hatters answered with a three-play scoring drive on their next possession with QB Gaven DeFilippo doing most of the damage with a 69-yard TD run.
 
The Stetson defense found its stride after spotting the Bears two scores. Davion Belk forced the first of four Brown turnovers when he sacked Bears' QB Kyle Moreno, stripping him of the ball. Eddie Curry recovered for the Hatters at the Brown 26.
 
Three plays later Cole Mazza found the end zone on a four-yard run and Grant Amick's PAT knotted the score at 14.
 
Brown answered the Stetson challenge after getting a 47-yard kickoff return into Hatters territory. The Bears needed just six plays to score, with the last 25 coming on a reverse by Alexander Jette. The PAT made is 21-14 Bears with 2:18 still left in the opening quarter.
 
After trading punts early in the second quarter, the Hatters took advantage of a 15-yard Bears' punt when Cole Mazza went 25-yards for the tying score.
 
The game remained 21-all through the end of the second quarter.
 
After halftime, the Hatters kicked off, but Brown fumbled on its second play and Stetson recovered. The Hatters couldn't get into the end zone after the turnover, but Amick's 29-yard field goal gave Stetson the lead at 24-21.
 
The rest of the third quarter passed with no scoring, but the Hatters found paydirt again early in the fourth quarter. DeFilippo found senior Kegan Moore for a 26-yard gain on a third and 17, and then hooked up with Donald Parham for a nine-yard TD pass. The PAT made it 31-21 Hatters.
 
After the final Stetson TD, the Bears had three possessions. One ended in a punt and the other two with interceptions. Chris Atkins' 15^th career pick sealed the Stetson win.
 
Stetson threw for just 157 yards in the game, but DeFilippo completed 20-of-29 passes with no interceptions. He also ran the ball 10 times for 85 yards.
 
The two Brown quarterbacks, Thomas Linta and Kyle Moreno, combined to complete 18-of-39 passes for 147 yards with three interceptions.
 
Defensively, Donald Payne stood out with 15 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception. Jeb Boudreaux and Dylan Wydronkowski had 10 tackles each and the Hatters were credited with six tackles for loss.
 
The Hatters will return home to Spec Martin Memorial Stadium next Saturday for the only home game of October. Valparaiso will visit with a kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.