DeLand, Fla.— Graduate quarterback
Gaven DeFilippo tied a Stetson modern era record with five touchdown passes to go along with 300 yards passing, and the Hatters amassed a modern era record of 643 yards in total offense, as the Hatters cruised to victory, beating Western New England University 59-28 at Spec Martin Stadium on Saturday evening.
The win improves the Hatters to 2-1 overall, while Western New England is now falls to 2-1.
Four of DeFilippo's five touchdown passes came in the first half, all of which were caught by players who scored their first collegiate touchdowns. Overall Stetson scored five touchdowns in the first thirty minutes. Along with DeFilippo's four passes, sophomore running back,
Jareem Westcott ran one in, and Stetson led 35-7 at halftime.
Down 7-0 in the first quarter, DeFilippo found senior tight end
Tony Gilotti on a 10-yard pass to tie the score. Then later in the quarter, he found graduate tight end
Max Draper on a 9 yard pass with four seconds remaining to put the Hatters ahead 14-7.
Westcott's touchdown run, a rush from one yard out, made the score 21-7 with 11:28 to go. DeFilippo then hit Conner Becker with a 14 yard touchdown pass, before rounding out the first half of scoring with an 11 yard scoring pass to
Justin Curtis to go to put the Hatters up 35-7 with 26 seconds to go before halftime.
The Hatters continued the outpouring of offense in the second half with three more touchdowns plus a 39 yard field goal by
Jonny Messina. DeFilippo's fifth touchdown pass was a 26 yard strike to junior wide receiver
Justin Jordan. Stetson's final two touchdowns of the night came courtesy of a pair of touchdown runs, including a 13 yard scamper by Westcott late in the third quarter and a two yard run by redshirt junior running back
Chase Blackmon in the fourth quarter.
Along with his five touchdown passes, DeFilippo completed 27 of 35 passes for 300 yards. Curtis led the Hatters with 10 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown, while Jordan had five receptions for 83 yards. Blackmon led the ground attack for Stetson, rushing for 76 yards on nine carries, while Westcott picked up 75 yards on 12 carries.
Defensively, Stetson was led by redshirt senior linebacker
Colby Duncan with eight tackles and two quarterback hurries. Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman
Jeffrey Lu added four tackles and a quarterback hurry. Redshirt junior defensive back
JJ Henderson had three tackles and three pass breakups, while
Collintino Andrews had three tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback sack.
Western New England's passing game was led by senior quarterback Brendan Smith who passed for 167 yards on nine completions, while junior wide receiver Adam Razza had five catches for 131 yards. The Golden Bears' ground attack was led by senior running back Peter Hoff with 88 yards on five carries. Defensively, Western New England was led by sophomore linebacker Joshua Salem with 14 tackles.
Notes:
- Junior wide receiver Justin Jordan became the third Stetson player in the modern era to amass 1000 receiving yards in his career.
- Sophomore running back Jareem Westcott needs just 29 yards to become the third player in Stetson's modern era to amass 1000 rushing yards in his career.
- Colby Duncan needs just two more tackles for 200 in his career.
- Stetson's 643 yards in total offense, breaks the previous modern era record of 604 which was set at Davidson College (10/27/18)
- Stetson has now won eight straight games at home.
