POUGHKEEPSIE, NY. — The Stetson University football team heads north this Saturday to face the Marist Red Foxes at 1:00 p.m. at Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The Hatters are 2-9 all-time against Marist and have dropped their last five matchups, with their most recent victory coming in DeLand in 2018.
Stetson comes off a bye week following a 52-10 home loss to St. Thomas. The Hatters currently hold a 3-6 overall record and are 2-3 in Pioneer Football League play, still searching for their first road win of the season. Through the first half of the season, Stetson is averaging 308.1 yards of total offense per game and has rushed for over 1,500 yards this season. The team's 146 rushing yards per game rank fifth in the PFL, paced by graduate back Cayden Betts, who has 312 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Trey Clark has added over 300 yards on the ground with four touchdowns, while quarterback Chris Stephenson has also contributed 299 rushing yards. Last week, Stetson's offense got a spark from Gavin Rupp late in the game, connecting on a 43-yard touchdown pass to Will Secker. On defense, Justin Rodriguez led the team with nine tackles, and Kyle Elphick recorded his first career interception.
Marist enters the contest with a 3-6 overall record and 1-4 in conference play. The Red Foxes picked up key wins over New Haven, Wagner, and a home victory against PFL favorite San Diego but have dropped their last four games, including a 45-0 loss to St. Thomas. Marist averages 18.8 points per game while allowing 25.6 points per contest. The Red Foxes rely heavily on their passing attack, averaging 187 yards through the air with 11 touchdowns. Sonny Mannino and Tristan Shannon headline a productive backfield with 312 and 304 rushing yards, respectively, combining for seven total touchdowns. Mannino has also completed 128 passes for 1,290 yards and eight touchdowns to three interceptions. Connor Hulstein leads the receiving corps with 32 catches for 394 yards and four scores, while Lance Martinez adds big-play potential with an 18-yard average per reception. Defensively, Chase Hatton leads the team with 67 tackles and two interceptions, Nate Furrow has five sacks, and Nate Robinson Jr. has three interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Marist is under the direction of second-year head coach Mike Willis.
Fans can catch all the action via ESPN+, with live stats available on GoHatters.com.
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.
