Box Score CLINTON, SC - The Stetson Hatters football team traveled to the Palmetto State this Saturday to face off against the Presbyterian Blue Hose. The Hatters were determined to break a three-game losing streak and secure their first conference win of the season. What ensued was a thrilling comeback effort, as Stetson overcame an early deficit to emerge victorious with a final score of 28-24.

The game started with Stetson receiving the ball first. Despite some strong runs by Devon Brewer, their opening drive stalled after a sack on third down. A punt to Presbyterian followed, but the Blue Hose's apparent 46-yard touchdown reception was nullified due to offensive pass interference. However, despite some penalties against Stetson, the Blue Hose managed to strike first in a drive that lasted 5 minutes and 50 seconds, covering 11 plays.

The Hatters' next possession took a troublesome turn as Presbyterian intercepted a pass at the Stetson 30-yard line and returned it down to the 1-yard line. This led to a 1-yard rushing touchdown, extending the early deficit to 14 points. Stetson then went on to run the ball ten consecutive times to close out the first quarter.

The second quarter began with a sack against the Hatters, setting up a field goal attempt from 35 yards, which was ultimately unsuccessful. However, Stetson's fortunes changed when defensive lineman Ezekiel Romero ignited a spark with a strip sack at the Stetson 33. The ball was recovered by linebacker Nicholas Lerew and returned 57 yards to the opposing 10-yard line. Just three plays later, Brady Meitz connected with Aanjay Feliciano for a 12-yard touchdown reception, marking Feliciano's first touchdown of the season.

The Hatters' defense stepped up with a critical stop, highlighted by a third-down sack by Romero and Andrew Thompson. The next drive saw Meitz connecting with Ronnel Johnson for a 49-yard reception, but a few plays later, the Hatters turned the ball over with a fumble at the goal line. However, the Hatters quickly redeemed themselves as David Stubbs intercepted a pass at the 40-yard line, returning it 23 yards to the Presbyterian 37-yard line. This was Stubbs' second interception of the season.

With less than two minutes left in the opening half, Donovan Shepard evened the score at 14-14 with an 8-yard touchdown rush. Presbyterian received the ball to start the second half and embarked on a time-consuming drive lasting 7 minutes and 43 seconds, covering 14 plays. The Hatters' defense held firm, forcing Presbyterian to settle for an 18-yard field goal after a goal-line stand.

Following a turnover on downs by Stetson, the Blue Hose extended their lead with an 11-play drive that lasted 6 minutes and 35 seconds. At this point, the Hatters found themselves trailing 24-14. However, Stetson started to make a comeback with a drive that included a pair of 15+ yard receptions, including a 20-yard pass to Charlie King. The Hatters were poised to score, but what seemed like another interception for the Hatters was overturned due to defensive pass interference. On the very next play, Devon Brewer powered through the middle for a 2-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 24-21.

The Hatters' defense continued to shine, securing an interception by Rassie Littlejohn in the end zone for a touchback. Despite the turnover, Stetson fell short, turning the ball over on downs. However, the defense remained resolute and forced a three-and-out.

With less than three minutes left in the game and trailing by three points, the Hatters launched an impressive 80-yard drive to take their first lead of the game. This drive featured significant gains from Gabe Atkin and Elijah Workinger, ultimately culminating in a 1-yard touchdown rush by Brewer. Stetson surged ahead 28-24 and managed to hold on for the victory despite Presbyterian's late-game efforts.

Meitz finished the game with 10 completions on 17 attempts, tallying 186 passing yards and one touchdown. Brewer carried the ball 25 times for 98 yards and two crucial touchdowns. Ronnel Johnson led the receiving yards with his 49-yard reception, while Gabe Atkin was the only receiver with more than one catch, securing four passes for 48 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, Rassie Littlejohn and Andrew Martin stood out with 10 tackles each. Littlejohn's interception marked his second of the season, bringing his career total to an impressive 15, just one shy of the record set by Chris Atkins since 2013. Ezekiel Romero had a standout performance with 2.5 sacks, four tackles, and a forced fumble that led to a significant return, setting up a crucial touchdown.

Stetson will have some time to rest and prepare, with their next game scheduled for October 21 after a bye week. They will host St. Thomas (Minn.) at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium at 1 PM for Homecoming, with an appearance from the recent class of Stetson Athletics Hall of Fame inductees.
 

 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 For a recap of the week's notable stories, sign up for the Stetson Athletics Newsletter HERE