DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson Football will close out the 2025 regular season at home on Saturday afternoon, hosting the San Diego Toreros at Spec Martin Stadium for Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day. Before kickoff, the Hatters will honor 19 senior student-athletes and remember the legacy of Trenton Stewart, who tragically passed away in the summer of 2023 and would have been a member of this year's senior class.
This year's senior group—Will Secker, Cayden Betts, Rhyan Cheathan, Kellen Madison, Trey Lockhart Jr., Brysson Stouffer, Gabe Gray, Gavin Rupp, Austin Hill, Will Cornwell, Chris Heckel, Daniel Marsh, Andrew Thompson, Victor Santana, Dawson Harrington, Eric Brust Jr., Zachary Goodwin, and Jarbriel Muhammad—has left its mark on the program, and Stetson aims to send them off with a win.
The Hatters enter the finale at 3-8 overall and 3-3 at Spec, looking to close out Head Coach Mike Jasper's first season on a strong note. Stetson is seeking to snap a four-game skid after last week's 32-31 overtime loss at Valparaiso, a game in which the Hatters built a 24-0 second-quarter lead before the Beacons mounted a comeback.
Stetson comes into the weekend averaging 19.82 points per game and 315.0 yards of total offense, including a strong rushing output of 158.7 yards per game. Cayden Betts leads the ground attack with 502 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and he broke loose for a season-long 51-yard run last Saturday. Chris Stephenson has added 370 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, while Trey Clark matches him with four scores of his own. Freshman Michael Dempsey continues to emerge as well after recording his second rushing touchdown of the season at Valpo. Through the air, Dylan Redmon leads Stetson with 333 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions.
Defensively, the Hatters have generated 11 takeaways—eight interceptions and three fumble recoveries on seven forces—while looking to rebound against one of the PFL's most efficient offenses. Stetson is also still hunting its first win over San Diego, entering the matchup 0-10 all-time against the Toreros since the program's return in 2013.
San Diego arrives in DeLand with a 7-4 record and 5-2 mark in conference play, winning four straight following early losses to Marist and Drake. The Toreros average 27.18 points and 367.6 yards per game, led by senior running back Adam Criter, who has surpassed 800 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Dom Nankil has completed 146 passes for 13 touchdowns with only two interceptions on the year, while senior receiver Cole Monach (795 yards, six touchdowns) and graduate student Josh Heverly (614 yards, six touchdowns) headline the receiving unit. Defensively, senior outside linebacker Tre Moore leads San Diego with six sacks, and senior defensive back Ruben Lopez has picked off four passes.
Saturday's game will air live on ESPN+, with live stats available at GoHatters.com. Tickets are on sale at GoHatters.com/tickets, and fans can elevate their experience inside the newly enhanced HatterZone 2.0 premium seating area. As part of Military Appreciation Day, Operation Hat Trick shirts will be available for purchase at the stadium, with proceeds supporting wounded and recovering service members and veterans.
Kickoff from Spec Martin Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
