DeLand, Fla.— The Stetson University football team will wrap up its 2017 home schedule with a contest against Pioneer Football League foe Butler University, 4 p.m. at Spec Martin Stadium.
 
Saturday Game Information:
Stetson is hosting its annual homecoming game this Saturday and will face Butler University in a Pioneer Football League contest at Spec Martin Stadium at 4 p.m.
 
Senior Day for 11 Hatters:
The final home game for the Stetson football team means it is senior day, hence 11 seniors are playing in their final college football game at Spec Martin Stadium as Hatters. The 11 seniors include linebacker Jake Bartha, linebacker Jeb Boudreaux, defensive tackle Eddie Curry, defensive end Jeff Fallabel, defensive back Chancellor Jackson, defensive back Dre Long, defensive back Eric Martin, wide receiver Jordan Sabo, wide receiver Ja'Vonta Swinton, tight end Austin Tyrrell and defensive end Shayne White.
 
Coming to the Game:
Tickets for the game are still available. You may purchase them by visiting gohatters.com/tix or by calling the Stetson ticket office at (386) 738-HATS (4287).
 
Homecoming:
The game is a part of the homecoming festivities on the Stetson University campus. Stetson University students from years past are anticipated to be in attendance and participate in homecoming activities.
 
Stetson's Last Game:
Stetson was defeated by the University of San Diego 48-7 at Spec Martin Stadium. The win by San Diego upped its current winning streak against Pioneer Football League teams to 18 games. San Diego took a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter, but Stetson scored late in the period to tie the game at seven. A three-yard run by freshman running back Gordon Stetson knotted the score. But the visiting Toreros scored 41 unanswered over the final three quarters en route to the win. Junior quarterback Colin McGovern set a Hatter record for most passing yards in a season during the contest. Overall he completed 15 of 21 passes for 152 yards. Junior tight end Donald Parham had five catches for 97 yards, while freshman wide receiver Bensley Bornelus added three catches for 51 yards. Defensively, defensive back Eric Marin and linebacker Jeb Boudreaux had 14 tackles each to lead the way.
 
About Today's Opponent:
Butler University is 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Pioneer Football League this season. The Bulldogs just had a three game winning streak snapped after falling at Dayton University 27-22 last week. Before that loss, Butler had beaten Morehead State 44-6 on Oct. 7, Jacksonville University 37-22 on Oct. 14 and Campbell 37-23 on Oct. 21. Statistically, quarterback Will Marty has completed 167 of 279 passes for 1848 yards to lead the Bulldogs. Duvante Lane has led the Butler rushing game with 516 yards on the ground with six touchdowns, while wide receiver Pace Temple has caught 49 passes for 873 yards. On defense, defensive back Isaak Newhouse has amassed 87 tackles and seven pass breakups to lead Butler.

All-Time Series:
Butler has won both of the only two games these teams have had. They met for the first time on Oct. 5 2013 with Butler winning 35-15. The last time they squared off was on Oct. 4 2014, and the Bulldogs won that game 48-41. The 41 points by the Hatters that day is a Stetson record for most points scored in a game it lost.
 
The Cool Stats:
Junior quarterback Colin McGovern has thrown for 1949 yards this season, which is already a Stetson record for most passing yards in a season by a Hatters quarterback. He needs just 51 to be the first Stetson quarterback to amass 2000 in a season. Graduate linebacker Jeb Boudreaux has 94 tackles this season, which leads the team and the Pioneer Football League.
 
Rest of the Season:
Following today's contest, the Hatters wrap up their 2017 season with a game at Jacksonville University at 1 p.m.
 
Reading Material:
Tight end Austin Tyrrell is one of the 11 seniors on the Hatters. A DeLand native, Tyrrell has called Spec Martin Stadium home longer than anyone on the team. Even before Stetson football resurfaced in 2013 after a 57-year hiatus, he was tearing up the Spec Martin turf on Friday night's as student-athlete at DeLand High School. This Saturday he will cleat up one more time as a member of the home team at Spec Martin Stadium. Here is an article on Tyrell in the Daytona Beach News Journal: http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/20171102/tyrrell-bids-spec-martin-farewell-when-stetson-hosts-butler
 
Roger Hughes on the graduating seniors:
"It's a special group. They have done a great job of establishing the culture that will lead this program to becoming successful. They have done a great job of holding each other accountable. They have taken ownership of their own mistakes, not looking to blame anybody else, and working on fixing what they have to fix. The reason why these guys have taken such a mature and professional approach is they were some of the first guys to get in on the leadership training that we've done within the athletics department and within the football program. I think they benefitted from that greatly. They have really shown our underclassman a level of professionalism and commitment that's necessary to establish a winning foundation.