DELAND, Fla. – The Stetson Hatters clashed with the University of St. Thomas Tommies in their annual homecoming game at Spec Martin Stadium, which also marked the University's 140th anniversary. The Hatters fell to the visiting Tommies, however, in a 6-38 loss as they now fall to 3-4 on the season and 1-3 in conference play.

The game unfolded with Stetson receiving the opening kickoff but failing to sustain their drive, resulting in a quick three and out. The Hatters' defense, however, held strong and forced St. Thomas to punt on their initial drive. Stetson's second offensive possession showed promise as they advanced into their opponent's territory, yet it concluded in a missed field goal attempt from 42 yards. St. Thomas seized the opportunity and opened the scoring with a 67-yard rushing touchdown, taking an early 7-0 lead with 6:28 left in the first quarter. During the following drive, Stetson once again penetrated St. Thomas territory, only to be thwarted by another missed field goal, this time from 46 yards. As the first quarter came to an end, the Tommies found themselves inside Hatter territory.

The second quarter saw Stetson's defense holding the Tommies to a field goal, extending the visitor's lead to 10-0. St. Thomas continued to build on their advantage with an 11-yard passing touchdown, making it 17-0 as both teams headed into halftime. Stetson's Jaylon Johnson managed to secure a last-second interception, preventing further damage and sending the teams to the halftime break.

In the third quarter, St. Thomas received the second-half kickoff. The Tommies' drive stalled just inside Hatter territory, setting the stage for Stetson's first drive of the half, which ended with a well-placed punt by Marshall Golick, pinning St. Thomas inside the 20-yard line. During the subsequent drive, the Tommies methodically moved down the field, culminating in their second passing touchdown of the game, leaving the Hatters trailing 24-0 by the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter began with St. Thomas extending their lead through a 49-yard scoring play, bringing the score to 31-0 in favor of the Tommies. Stetson, however, managed to put points on the board with a determined 11-play, 86-yard drive. Matt O'Connor connected with Jalon Warthen-Carr and Aanjay Feliciano for significant gains, and graduate running back Devon Brewer finished the drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, his fifth of the season. The 2-point conversion attempt fell short, resulting in a score of 31-6 in favor of the Tommies. St. Thomas later added a 22-yard rushing touchdown by their quarterback, sealing a 38-6 victory as the Hatters turned it over on downs in their final drive.

Both Brady Meitz and O'Connor had opportunities on the field, with O'Connor completing 9-of-15 passes for 131 yards, and Meitz going 14-of-25 for 114 yards. Brewer led the running game with 14 carries for 28 yards and a touchdown, while Ronnel Johnson's 10-yard jet sweep marked the longest rush of the day. In the receiving department, Aanjay Feliciano led with 6 catches for 74 yards, and Shiloh Conway and Gabe Atkin both hauled in four receptions, gaining 40 and 33 yards, respectively. On the defensive front, C.J. Davis and Nicholas Lerew each recorded double-digit tackles, with 11 and 10, respectively, and both managed a tackle for a loss.

Stetson's next challenge awaits as they hit the road to face the Drake Bulldogs in Des Moines, Iowa at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 28th. 

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.

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