DELAND, Fla. – Stetson mistakes were too much to overcome as the Hatters fell to Marist, 45-31, Saturday afternoon at Spec Martin Stadium.
 
As a result, SU (3-2, 1-1 PFL) drops its first Pioneer league match while the Red Foxes improve to 2-3 overall with a 2-1 mark in league play.
 
Stetson could not establish offensive rhythm early as the first four drives ended in two punts, a fumble and an interception with 32 yards of total offense. In the fifth drive and down by seven, the Hatters appeared to have the issues corrected as three straight runs put the Red Fox defense on its heels and sophomore running back Kaderris Roberts got loose on a run around the right, then a cut back left in the defensive secondary which sprung him for a 40-yard touchdown [7-7] scamper.
 
After the sides traded possession, the visitors got back on top when Trevor Sterry grabbed a pass from Brock Bagozzi behind the Stetson secondary to make the score 14-7. The Hatter response was quick and historic. Fourteen seconds after the long pass touchdown, redshirt senior receiver Jalen Mason took the ensuing kick off 94 yards as the Hatters tied the game at 14 and Mason wrote his name in the history books as the first Hatter in the modern era of SU Football to return a kickoff for a touchdown.
 
Marist added a field goal before the end of the half and took a 17-14 lead into the locker room.
 
While the defenses held serve to start the third quarter, Stetson tied the game at 17 with a field goal of their own by Cameron Gillis after an eight-play 57-yard drive.
 
On the third play if the ensuing drive, the visitors went back on top. Glenmour Leonard-Osbourne found a seam and 80 yards later the running back was celebrating in the end zone [24-17].
 
Stetson went into the fourth quarter trailing by a touchdown, but the defense produced a pair of turnovers in the form of interceptions by dawg safety Ja'Veon Ensley and linebacker Alex Alteus. Both turnovers led to Hatter touchdowns. The tying score was a six-yard run up the middle by graduate student running back Devon Brewer followed by a pass from sophomore quarterback Brady Meitz caught by redshirt junior receiver Quinton Lane for a 16-yard go-ahead score [31-24].
 
Marist responded with a methodical nine-play, 91-yard drive resulting in a game-tying touchdown off a 32-yard run [31-31].
 
Stetson pushed for another score but ultimately would be forced to punt. Matt Clements hit a good punt with hang time for the coverage to box in Clayborne Fields III, but the punt-returning safety found a gap to exploit and got into the open field. After Fields was in the open field there was no stopping him as he took the punt 83 yards and into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown, 38-31 to the visitors.
 
SU down a score was forced to attack for a tying score when Fields intercepted Meitz and took the interception back for a touchdown, 45-31, with 63 seconds left, effectively sealing the contest.
 
For the Hatters, redshirt junior linebacker Ethan Hull was a stand-out performer with 17 tackles, 2 for loss, a forced fumble and a pass break up. Redshirt junior linebacker Majeste' Hansberry registered 10 tackles with a pass break up. Ensley and Alteus both recorded interceptions, while redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Tyler Lewis and graduate student defensive end Fermon Reid combined for a sack.
 
The Hatters will get a week off for the bye week, followed by a road trip to Dayton, Ohio for an October 22 contest in Welcome Stadium.
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS. Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics and, for live events, Hatter Vision.