GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: Oct, 21, 2023
TIME: 1:00 PM EST |
LOCATION: Spec Martin Memorial Stadium
DeLand, Fla.
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GAME DAY LINK
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LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
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THE LEAD
The Hatters will return home for the first time since Sept. 23 as they prepare to host the University of St. Thomas Tommies for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 1:00 PM at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium. The first 1,000 fans will receive a rally towel. Live stats will be available on GoHatters.com and it will be streamed on ESPN+.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Stetson and the Tommies have only faced off twice before this Saturday's matchup. The most recent clash, which took place on November 12, 2022, saw the Tommies shut down the Stetson offense in a 23-0 win in Minnesota. In their encounters with the Tommies, Stetson has never won, entering the weekend 0-2 against St. Thomas as they look to change the course of history.
SCOUTING THE HATTERS (3-3, 1-2 PIONEER)
As we approach the midpoint of the season, the Stetson football team is standing at a balanced 3-3 record, showing their resilience after snapping a three-game losing skid with a 28-24 comeback victory against Presbyterian.
On the offensive front, the Hatters are averaging an impressive 27 points per game, ranking third in their conference. They've crossed the endzone 20 times, with 12 of those touchdowns coming from their ground game. The rushing attack has been an essential part of their strategy, averaging 132 yards per game. Devon Brewer has been leading the charge with 255 yards on 76 carries and four touchdowns. Notably, two of those touchdowns came in a crucial fourth-quarter surge against Presbyterian, propelling Stetson to their recent victory.
In their latest performance, quarterback Brady Meitz came off the bench to make a significant impact, completing 10-of-17 passes for 186 yards, a season-high for him, and connecting for a touchdown with Aanjay Feliciano. Matt O'Connor has also been a valuable contributor, completing 63-of-104 passes for four touchdowns, including a standout performance of 291 yards against Marist.
In the receiving department, Gabe Atkin leads the team with 30 receptions, accumulating 394 yards and three touchdowns. His impressive stats place him third in the conference in receptions and seventh in yards. Jalon Warthen-Carr has been another reliable target, securing 15 passes for 215 yards.
On the defensive side, Stetson has demonstrated their prowess by allowing the second-lowest average of passing yards per game in their conference, limiting opponents to just 195.17 passing yards on average. Remarkably, they are tied with Presbyterian for the fewest passing touchdowns allowed, conceding only five. Leading the charge is linebacker Nicholas Lerew, who has amassed an impressive 66 total tackles, topping the charts in the Pioneer Football League (PFL) and ranking 11th in all of FCS. In the most recent game, Andrew Martin made a significant impact with 12 total tackles and a sack, while Ezekiel Romero stood out with 2.5 sacks for a loss of 12 yards, a performance that ties for the second-most sacks in a game since 2013. Romero also forced a fumble, which was returned 57 yards by Lerew, setting up the Hatters for a score.
In the secondary, Stetson's defense has been active with interceptions this season, with Rassie Littlejohn, Jaylon Johnson, and David Stubbs all contributing. Littlejohn's interception was returned 30 yards for a touchdown against Butler, adding a crucial defensive score. Additionally, Littlejohn is now just one interception away from tying the record of 16, set by Chris Atkins in 2013, showcasing the continued excellence of the Stetson defense.
SCOUTING THE TOMMIES (4-3, 3-1 PIONEER)
St. Thomas Football encountered a tough setback in Iowa, experiencing their first PFL loss of the 2023 season. The defeat occurred at the hands of Drake, where the Tommies' impressive 13-game conference win streak was snapped with a final score of 52-21 in Des Moines, Iowa. Although they managed to keep pace with Drake during the first half, trailing only 24-21 at halftime after a last-second field goal by the Bulldogs, a devastating third-quarter performance, in which they were outscored 21-0, sealed their fate.
Head coach Glenn Caruso, who took the helm in 2008, has demonstrated resilience in the face of losses. Under his leadership, the Tommies boast an impressive 27-1 record in games following a loss. Notably, Caruso had never lost back-to-back games as St. Thomas' head coach until earlier in the season when they faced consecutive losses to South Dakota and (RV) Harvard. However, in Pioneer Football League play, Caruso has maintained a remarkable .964 winning percentage in games following a loss and has never suffered back-to-back defeats.
Adding to the bright spots is freshman Tak Tateoka, who has been nothing short of brilliant since taking over as the team's starting quarterback in September. Tateoka's exceptional performance earned him a spot on the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, becoming the first freshman QB in the DI era to achieve this distinction. In seven games, the freshman has amassed 598 passing yards, completing 60 of 123 passes, and boasts an impressive 120.33 QBR. He has also connected for five touchdowns with 15 different receivers this season.
The St. Thomas offense, on average, scores 20.3 points per game, while conceding 28.4 points to their opponents. Their ground game has been a significant contributor, with an average of 149 rushing yards per game, resulting in 12 rushing touchdowns. The backfield features a dynamic duo in Shawn Shipman and Hope Adebayo, both with four rushing touchdowns this season. Shipman has carried the ball 105 times for 572 yards, while Adebayo has 70 carries for 295 yards.
In the passing game, freshman quarterback Tak Tateoka has found his go-to targets in Andrew McElroy and Jacob Wildermuth. McElroy has recorded 22 receptions for 315 yards and a touchdown, while Wildermuth has hauled in 15 catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, St. Thomas has intercepted opposing quarterbacks four times, including a pick-six from Johnson Fallah. Tommy Shelstad and Luke Herzog have been the standout pass rushers, each tallying 2.5 sacks this season to lead the team
NEXT UP
The Hatters will hit the road again as they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take on the Drake Bulldogs at Drake Stadium at 1:00 PM on Saturday, Oct. 28. Live stats will be available at GoDrakBulldogs.com and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
