After a history setting day last Saturday, the Stetson University football team will take its recent success on the road this weekend for a Pioneer Football League (PFL) clash with Morehead State. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
The Hatters, after starting off the season 0-5 overall, have improved to 2-5 after a pair of home wins the past two weekends, which includes a 17-13 win over Brown University on Oct. 7, followed by a 28-17 victory against PFL rival Davidson College last time out. The two wins marked the first time since the program's rebirth in 2013 that the Hatters have won two in a row at Spec Martin Stadium. Stetson will now look for three straight overall wins for just the second time since the rebirth of the program in 2013.
 
In Saturday's win over Davidson, Stetson players including redshirt freshman JJ Henderson and freshman Gordon Stetson set school records on individual plays, helping secure the Hatters' win over the Wildcats. Henderson returned a Davidson punt 81 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter. His punt return was the longest one in Stetson annals, while his touchdown was the first non-block punt returned for a score by the Hatters. His 81-yard scamper earned him the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week. Then with just over a minute to go in the contest, Stetson rushed the ball 95 yards for a score to affirm the victory.
 
The Hatters are clearly hitting their best stride as they go headlong into the contest at Morehead State. Not only has Stetson won two in a row, but the Hatters have gotten excellent production out of numerous players.  Redshirt junior quarterback Colin McGovern has thrown for at least 236 yards over the past four games, including a Stetson record 383 in a narrow defeat at Valparaiso on Sept. 30. He has thrown 75 straight passes without an interception. Overall, he has thrown for 1557 yards this season, leaving him just 276 yards away from most passing yards in a season by a Stetson quarterback.
 
While McGovern's passing has been highly effective, the depth of the Stetson receiving core has played a critical role in the recent offensive success. Junior tight end Donald Parham caught eight passes for 121 yards last week, while freshman wide receiver Justin Jordan caught five passes for 53 yards. The duo have been Stetson's leading receivers this season. Parham has made 30 catches for 412 yards, while Jordan has caught 32 passes for 297 yards.
 
Though Parham and Jordan have led the charge, Stetson has proven passing success even when forced to play without. Junior wide receiver Ja'Vonta Swinton, redshirt freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Nails and freshman wide receiver Bensley Bornelus have all played important roles in the passing game. In the win over Brown, Bornelus caught a game-high eight passes, while Nails had 94 yards receiving. After not making a catch during the first two games of the season, Swinton has made at least four receptions over the past five games.
 
Defensively, graduate linebacker Jeb Boudreaux has been a stalwart all season for the Hatters. He leads the team and PFL with 71 tackles to go along with 4.5 quarterback sacks eight quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. Meanwhile senior defensive back Eric Martin has been as steady as the come, posting 52 tackles, four pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. Henderson, in addition to his special teams heroics, has played well in the cornerback position. Last week he had six tackles and four pass breakups. Overall this season, he has made 41 tackles and eight pass breakups. Sophomore linebacker Colby Duncan leads the Hatters with two interceptions and has 47 tackles.
 
"I was very proud that we did not turn the ball over, and our penalties were minimal. If we continue playing like that, it will at least give ourselves a chance, and don't dig holes like we did early in the season during those first five games," Stetson head coach Roger Hughes said. "The other thing I am very proud of is our kids on numerous times had a chance to punch it in, just check out and look to next year, but they didn't do that. I credit the assistant coaches for how well they are coaching these kids, and how well our captains have led, and I credit our leadership council who have held this team together and kept them focused on what's most important regarding getting better as a team."
 
Morehead State enters the contest with the same records as the Hatters, 2-5 overall and 1-3 in PFL play.
 
The Hatters and Eagles have squared off against each other twice before with one team winning once each. Morehead State won 41-18 the last time they played in 2014 at Spec Martin Stadium. The Hatters won 41-0 the first time they played back in 1953.
 
Offensively, Morehead State has been led by quarterback Lawson Page with 1594 yards passing and 12 touchdown passes. Wide receiver Jarin Higginbotham leads the Eagles with 33 receptions, 623 yards and five touchdowns, while on the ground, Logan Holbrook has gained 339 yards and scored five touchdowns.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Juanyea Tarver has made a team-leading 45 tackles, while Jerome Brooks has made 42.
 
"Defensively I have been very impressed with their front six. They have big physical kids. Their linebackers react very well to the run. They are very instinctual and very physical," Hughes said. "The offense has done a really good job of distributing the ball. They are a short passing, a lot of screens; a lot of 'get the ball delivered.' What they force you to do is be great tacklers, and that's not always easy.
 
Saturday's game will be streamed live courtesy of the Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network, and as always a live radio broadcast is available locally on WSBB AM 1230 in New Smyrna Beach and WTJV AM 1490 in DeLand. The radio broadcast will also be available at myam1230.com.