Stetson's football coaching staff has seen a lot to like about the Hatters in the first two weeks of the 2022 season. There have also been some things the Hatters need to clean up as they get set for their third consecutive game at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
 
The Hatters (2-0) will certainly be stepping up in weight class when they hosted the defending Ivy League champion Princeton Tigers. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Tom James and former Hatter Davion Belk on the call of the action.
 
The Tigers will be playing their first game of the 2022 season. The 2021 Princeton team proved itself to be a heavyweight in the Ivy League, rolling to a 9-1 record and a conference title. Among those nine wins was a 63-0 victory over Stetson in the first of two scheduled games between the programs.
 
Stetson already looks like a different team in 2022, having averaged 524.5 yards of total offense in victories over a pair of NAIA squads. Sophomore quarterback Brady Meitz stepped into the spotlight when graduate Alex Piccirilli went down early in the opener with an injury. He has thrown for 794 yards and four touchdowns in just over seven quarters.
 
His 444 yards passing last week rank second in the FCS so far this year. He was named the PFL Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
 
"No matter who we play, our main competition is us," Meitz said after the win over Louisiana Christian. "We have to go to work this week to fix the mistakes we made. If we work hard and prepare the way we need to, I think we will do well against Princeton."
 
Stetson ranks third in FCS in passing offense and eighth in total offense. Couple that with the No. 2 total defensive unit in FCS, despite the fact that the Hatters have not had their full complement of defenders through the first two weeks, and you can understand why there is a lot to like about this team.
 
Princeton has six of the 16 players who were named to the All-Ivy League team last year returning, but the two quarterbacks most likely to see playing time were a combined 5-of-9 passing last year, the top two running backs combined to rush for just 245 yards, and the top five tacklers are gone.
 
That certainly doesn't mean this is a rebuilding year for coach Bob Surace and the Tigers, who were picked third in the preseason Ivy League poll – behind Harvard and Dartmouth. Princeton was a stingy defensive team last fall, allowing the fewest opposing first downs (149) in FCS. The Tigers also won't likely beat themselves, finishing third in fewest penalties last year.
 
"We are focused on us," Stetson senior linebacker Majeste' Hansberry said. "We have to focus on being ourselves. We can't have penalties to shoot ourselves in the foot. We just have to focus on playing Stetson football, blue collar, and going to work."
 
The top Tigers to watch are senior receiver Andrei Iosivas and senior tight end Carson Bobo on offense, senior defensive end Uche Ndukwe on defense and senior kicker/punter Will Powers. Iosivas had 41 receptions for 703 yards last fall and was a first team All-American in the heptathlon last spring.
 
In the meeting last September, the Hatters were unable to generate any offense against the stingy Princeton defense. Stetson managed just 199 yards of total offense in the game, including just 26 rushing yards. For the Hatters to improve their chances of holding serve on their home field, the offense will need to take advantage of every opportunity to score. To do that, the offensive line will have to protect Meitz and generate some holes for the running backs to get through.
 
"We are going to have to play this game with a killer instinct from the word go," Hatters' coach Brian Young said. "We won't be able to wait for the second half, or even the second quarter. We are going to have to show up ready. We are excited about the opportunity we have to play against this team."
 
It is Friends and Family Weekend on the Stetson campus and there are specially priced tickets for the game. Just visit the Stetson Athletics ticket page and use the promo code "Family22" to get information on the specials.
 
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.