GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: Nov. 18, 2023
TIME: 12:00 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 conclude their 2023 regular season from the confines of Spec Martin Stadium. Stetson will host the San Diego Toreros for Senior Day at noon on Saturday, Nov. 18.
INSIDE THE SERIES
In the eight previous meetings between these two programs, the Hatters are still searching for their first win over the Toreros as they have gone 0-8 leading up to this weekend. They last met on Nov. 20, 2021 but the Hatters fell 16-41 at home, where their last two meetings have been. The series first began on Sept. 28, 2013 and it resulted in a 0-59 loss for the Hatters.
SCOUTING THE HATTERS (3-7, 1-6 PIONEER)
The Hatters will look to win their first game since defeating Presbyterian on Oct. 7 and will look to break a four game skid.
This season, the Hatters' offense has averaged 23.6 points per game and tallying 29 touchdowns. Notably, their ground game has been the core contributor, notching 16 touchdowns and averaging 100.9 yards per game.
Devon Brewer stands out as a driving force, amassing 329 yards on 110 carries and scoring seven touchdowns, tied for fourth most in the PFL. Notably, the graduate back found the endzone twice in the overtime loss to Valparaiso.
In their recent outing,
Brady Meitz saw extended time at the helm, going 15 of 28 for a season-high 203 yards. Meitz has completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns, including three in the high-scoring loss to Davidson.
Gabe Atkin continues to lead the Stetson receiving corps with 41 catches for 558 yards and four touchdowns. Atkin is averaging 55.8 yards per game and 13.61 yards per reception as he is tied for sixth in the conference in both receptions and yards.
Stetson's defense is coming off a showing in which they recorded three interceptions, including one from defensive back
Rassie Littlejohn, who has now set the all-time interception record with 17 total interceptions in his career, passing Chris Atkins' previous record of 16. Linebacker
CJ Davis and defensive back
Davion Maxwell also recorded interceptions in the loss, the first of the year for both.
Jaylon Johnson and
David Stubbs have three to their names, as well.
Stetson's defense has limited opponents' passing yards, yielding an average of just 164.5 passing yards per game in conference matchups and nine touchdowns through the air this season. Linebacker
Nicholas Lerew has been a force on defense, accumulating 109 total tackles, ranking as the second-highest in the PFL and 10th in all of FCS. In the most recent game, Lerew registered nine tackles, five of which were solo, and one sack.
SCOUTING THE TOREROS (3-7, 3-4 PIONEER)
San Diego is currently sitting seventh in the PFL with a record of 3-7 and 3-4 within the conference.
All three wins of the season have come in conference play as the Toreros have won 2 of their last three games, dropping their most recent against St. Thomas (Minn.) in overtime.
San Diego has averaged 20.6 points per game and have scored 26 touchdowns this season, 12 of which have come through the air. Freshman Dom Nankil leads the quarterback room with 109 completions on 186 attempts in eight games played. He has tossed five touchdown passes but has also turned it over four times.
Senior running back Isaiah Williams has been the workhorse for the Toreros offense, racking up 941 yards on 203 carries. His 941 yards rank second most in the conference while he remains one of two backs in the PFL to average over 100 yards rushing per game (104.56).
In the receiving department, San Diego is led by a duo of junior wide receivers who have both played in ten games. Ja'Seem Reed leads the team with 764 yards on 56 receptions while pulling in two touchdown grabs. Josh Heverly, however, has been the redzone favorite as he has caught 33 passes for 545 yards and a team-high five touchdowns.
Re-al Mitchell has also been a reliable receiver, catching 42 passes for 362 yards. Notably, Mitchell is even more of an offensive weapon within the playbook as the receiver has also thrown four passes, completing three of them.
On the defensive front, San Diego has made 570 total tackles, 71 of which resulted in a loss of 254 yards. Their ability to apply pressure is clear in the 25 sacks achieved, totaling a loss of 149 yards. The defense has also secured 20 takeaways, with 12 interceptions and eight fumbles recovered.
Brandon Moore, the AFCA DII National Coach of the Year, was named the 14th head coach of the University of San Diego football team on April 19, 2023.
