The Stetson football team got an unexpected week off from action last Saturday due to positive Covid tests within the program, but the Hatters will return to play tomorrow at Spec Martin Stadium in what will be the final home game of the spring.
 
The Hatters will host Presbyterian at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Evan Weston and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Brandon Doughty on the call of the game.
 
A limited number of tickets for the game are available. Contact the Stetson Athletics Ticket Office, or visit the Ticket Office page on GoHatters.com, for more information.
 
This is the fourth time in the last four years Stetson has been scheduled to play against the Blue Hose, a rival from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Each time the teams were scheduled to play – during the fall of 2018, 2019 and 2020 – the games were canceled. The first two fell victim to hurricanes and the third, like the rest of the fall 2020 schedule, was canceled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
 
"I thought we needed to have a 30-for-30 episode on the rivalry that never was because we haven't been able to play them," Hatters' coach Roger Hughes said. "Presbyterian has a very good team, their kids play very hard, and they do have seven scholarship players remaining."
 
If the original spring schedule put out by the Pioneer Football League hadn't been changed after Marist and Dayton opted out of playing this spring, this game might have suffered another cancelation. The Hatters and Blue Hose were originally slated to play last Saturday.
 
But, shy of having a sink hole swallow Spec Martin Stadium, or an asteroid strike in the next few hours, the Hatters and Blue Hose will finally get to play this weekend.
 
Stetson (0-2) is hoping the extra week of practice will produce better results on the field and Presbyterian (1-3) is hoping to find better fortune. The Blue Hose, like the Hatters, have been victimized by turnovers in both their overtime loss to Gardner-Webb and in last week's 24-21 loss to San Diego.
 
Stetson has lost five turnovers in two games and the Hatters have also turned the ball over on downs five times. Those turnovers were directly responsible for the difference in losses to Davidson and Morehead State. Those two teams converted those turnovers into 27 points in games the Hatters lost by a combined 23 points.
 
"We have to make sure our people are where they are supposed to be in the passing game," Hughes said. "Interceptions happen sometimes, and it is not always the quarterback's fault, but he gets all the blame. The problem is that we haven't given our defense a chance because one interception was returned to the one-yard line and another was returned to the six.
 
"Not only do we have to focus on not turning the ball over, we need to create some turnovers. Presbyterian has forced nine turnovers this year, but they have also given up nine turnovers. You only get so many possessions during the game, and we can't afford to give any of those away."
 
Presbyterian, which will become official members of the Pioneer Football League, along with St. Thomas (Minn.), for the fall season, has played four games this spring. The Blue Hose have thrown six interceptions, lost three fumbles and turned the ball over on downs seven times. Those turnovers have produced 31 of the 112 points Presbyterian has surrendered, plus another TD after a turnover on downs.
 
In addition to search for their first win of the spring, the Hatters will also be searching for the first win in program history over Presbyterian. The Blue Hose hold an 8-0-2 series lead. The last time the schools met, in November of 1956, it was the next to last football game Stetson would play for 57 years.
 
The Hatters have moved the ball well on the ground this year, averaging 212.5 yards per game, but Presbyterian has surrendered just 173.8 yards per game on the ground.
 
The Blue Hose also made a change at quarterback for the game last week against San Diego, with redshirt junior Brandon Thompson getting the start over sophomore Tyler Huff, who had started and played the first three games. Thompson threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns against the stingy San Diego defense – with the TD passes going for 75 and 80 yards.
 
"They made that change at quarterback last week and that kid played really well," Hughes said. "He is a transfer from North Carolina Wesleyan and they really had San Diego on the ropes. If San Diego doesn't block a punt and pick up a fumble recovery for a touchdown, we'd be talking about a team that just beat them."
 
On the defensive side, middle linebacker Colby Campbell has recorded 50 total tackles, including 15 in the loss to San Diego last week. He ranks second in the program's Division I history with 309 career tackles and is one of only a hand full of scholarship players remaining in the program.
 
"They play really hard, they fight and they battle," Hughes said. "Everyone in this league compares themselves to San Diego. I won't say they pushed San Diego around last week, but they certainly didn't back down from them. Coach Spangler has his kids very well-coaches, particularly on defense. Offensively, I think they found a new weapon at quarterback because he really ignited them last week. We are going to have our work cut out for us."
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.