The Stetson University football team returns to action this Saturday for a home contest against Ivy League representative Brown University at Spec Martin Stadium. Kickoff is schedule for 12:30 p.m., and the contest is a "Blackout Game" where fans are encouraged to wear black attire, and the first 300 fans will receive a free Stetson Hatters' blackout shirt.
 
The Hatters enter the contest 0-5 overall and are coming off their best statistical game of the season in a 27-24 loss at Valparaiso University last Saturday.
 
The Hatters played from behind the entire contest. After falling behind 7-0 after the host Crusaders scored on the game's opening drive, Stetson fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which Valparaiso recovered. The Hatters defense held the Crusaders to a three and out, but with Valparaiso already in field goal range, the Crusaders cashed in with a 34-yard field goal to go up 10-0 before the Stetson offense even played a single down.
 
Despite having to play from behind, Stetson stayed in the game and had a chance to win or tie the score in the final minute. Down 27-24, the Hatters had a third down from the Valparaiso twelve yard line, but an interception in the end zone by the Crusaders halted the Stetson comeback giving Valparaiso the win.
 
Though the Hatters were defeated, it was a record setting day for Stetson in more ways than one. Junior quarterback Colin McGovern completed a career-high 35 passes for a career-high 383 yards. Both were not only personal bests for McGovern, but also new Hatter all-time records in those statistical categories.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Stetson, which had allowed over three hundred yards rushing in two games earlier this season, allowed Valparaiso just 49 yards on the ground which was the fewest rushing yards allowed by a Stetson defense in the Hatters' current era, which now spans fifty games.
 
Overall, Stetson outgained Valparaiso by a 450-303 margin. It was the first time this season Stetson outgained an opponent. The Hatters outgained the Crusaders 383-254 through the air and 67-49 on the ground.
 
"I was really proud of the effort the kids put in after falling into a deficit so early. I thought that when a team has not had a lot of success and is down 10-0 it's easy to just fold the tent and ride it out," head coach Roger Hughes said. "But our guys didn't do that. They hung tough and kept fighting and fighting, and once we got through that first series, we held our own, came back and did some good things."
 
So far this season, McGovern has completed 117 passes for 1052 yards and four touchdowns. Junior tight end Donald Parham has led the team with 291 receiving yards on 22 catches, while freshman wide receiver Justin Jordan has caught a team-high 27 passes for 244 yards. On the ground, sophomore running back Bryce Blackmon has led the way with 175 rushing yards. Defensively, graduate linebacker Jeb Boudreaux has led the way with 49 tackles and six quarterback hurries, while senior safety Eric Martin has made 36 tackles.
 
Stetson will be playing Brown for the second time in program history. The Hatters met the Bears for the first time last season in Providence and over came a 14-0 first quarter deficit to earn a 31-21 win.
 
So far this season Brown is 2-1 overall. The Bears won both their home contests this season, beating Bryant University 27-23 in their season opener on Sept. 16 and Rhode Island College 24-21 last weekend. Brown's lone loss was a 45-28 setback at fellow Ivy League foe Harvard University on Sept. 23.
 
Brown quarterback, Thomas Linta had led the way on offense for the Browns. After starting the season as the backup quarterback, he has worked his way into the starter position and has completed 38 passes for 479 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Other offensive players for Brown include running back Livingstone Harriott who has rushed for 87 yards this season and running back Darius Daies who, after missing the first two games of the season, ran for 95 yards and scored twice against Rhode Island last week. Wide receiver Jakob Prall has led Brown in receptions with 23 and receiving yards with 258.
 
On defense, Jay Williams and Isaiah Thompkins have led the way with 21 tackles, while Connor Coughlin has recorded 20. Defensive end Richard Jarvis has recorded four sacks to lead the team.
 
"Offensively they have some of the best weapons we are going to see all year. Their receivers and running backs are very good," Hughes said. "They are an aggressive defense, they are not afraid to blitz. They are not afraid to bring safety blitzes and things like that, and so it comes down to being able to run the ball efficiently."
 
In addition to Blackout Day, it is also Faculty / Staff Appreciation Day, where all Stetson faculty and staff receive free admission into the game with their Stetson ID.
 
For fans who can not make it to the game, you can catch all the action streaming live on ESPN 3, or via radio at WSBB AM 1230 in New Smyrna Beach or WTJV AM 1490 in DeLand.