DeLand, Fla.— The Stetson University football team earned their first win in 2017 as the Hatters dueled to a hard fought victory over Brown University 17-13 at Spec Martin Stadium.
 
The win improves the Hatters to 1-5 overall this season and snaps a nine game overall losing streak dating back to last season. It was Stetson's first win at Spec Martin Stadium since Sept. 10 of last season.
 
"I have coached teams that have won twenty-two straight, gone undefeated and played in bowl games, and I couldn't be more proud of this group," Stetson head coach Roger Hughes said. "Nothing feels better than a win for team. The hurts don't feel as bad, the cuts don't feel as bad. The next step for this program is to learn how to handle success, that means putting two wins together."
 
The Hatters got another stellar performance out of starting quarterback, junior Colin McGovern. McGovern completed 26 of 36 passes for 269 yards. When he wasn't beating Brown with his arm, he was doing it with his feet. He scored both Stetson touchdowns, both of which were runs. He ran his first one in from seven yards out with 2:37 to go in the second quarter, and then scored again in the third quarter when he ran in a touchdown from eight yards away.
 
His 269 yards passing came in spite of playing without leading pass catchers, including junior tight end Donald Parham and freshman wide receiver Justin Jordan who were both out with injuries.
 
Freshman wide receiver Bensley Bornelus made his first NCAA start and caught a game-high eight passes for 61 yards. Meanwhile fellow teammate and wide receiver, freshman Jeremiah Nails had a game-high 94 yards receiving on five catches.
 
"We got the ball in really good field position and that helps a lot, so offensively we can start closer to midfield," said McGovern. "We also did not kill ourselves with a lot of penalties, we stayed ahead of the chains, and when we do that we showed that we can do good things."
 
Stetson committed a season-low two penalties for 30 yards, while Brown committed 10 penalties which cost them 81 yards. Stetson was never flagged once for holding, a false start or offsides. The Hatters converted on 10-of-17 third downs, for a season-best 59 percent success rate.
 
Defensively, Stetson registered its first two interceptions of the season. The first one came when graduate defensive back Dre Long intercepted a pass in the first quarter leading to a Hatters field goal that put Stetson ahead 3-0. In the third quarter, with Stetson leading 10-7, sophomore linebacker Colby Duncan intercepted a pass, which resulted in McGovern's second touchdown run, and it put the Hatters up 17-7.

"The whole defense stepped up," Duncan said. "The defense played amazing. We stepped up, we did what we were supposed to do, we made them do what they didn't want to do."
 
Graduate linebacker Jeb Boudreaux and senior defensive back Eric Martin led the Hatters with 10 tackles each.
 
Stetson took the initial lead with twenty-eight seconds left in the first quarter on a 32-yard field goal by Jonny Messina. Brown took the lead early in the second quarter on a six-yard touchdown pass that capped a five-play, 72-yard drive to go ahead 7-3 with 13:39 to go.
 
The first of McGovern's touchdown runs took just two plays and twenty-five seconds off the clock. Stetson started the drive at their own 49 yard line. McGovern connected with Nails on a 44-yard pass play to bring the ball to the Brown seven before McGovern raced to the pylon on the far side of the field on the next play. The touchdown gave the Hatters a lead they would not relinquish.
 
After the Hatters established their 17-7 third quarter lead, Brown found the end zone with 8:55 to go in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard run to make the score 17-13. The extra point was no good, leaving the Hatters ahead by four.
 
The missed extra point proved to be crucial. With less than three minutes to go in the game, Brown went for it on a fourth down and eight at the Stetson 15, but a sack by Duncan halted the drive, giving the ball back to the Hatters.

Brown had one more drive with just 1:48 to go. On the final play of the game, a third down with the ball at the Stetson 34, Boudreaux forced a fumble, which Duncan recovered, as time expired to secure the Stetson win.
 
Brown starting quarterback Thomas Linta completed 14 of 21 passes for 143 yards to lead the Brown offense. Reserve quarterback Jeffrey Jonke completed five of 13 passes for 71 yards. On defense, Richard Jarvis and Isaiah Thompkins had nine tackles and one sack each to lead the Bears.
 
The win by Stetson was the second over Brown in as many seasons. The Hatters played the Bears last season in Providence and beat them 31-21.
 
Stetson is back in action next Saturday for a home game against Pioneer Football League rival Davidson College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.