DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson Football returns to Spec Martin Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Hatters welcome Pioneer Football League co-leader Dayton for a 1 p.m. kickoff in DeLand.

The Hatters (1-7, 0-4 PFL) enter the weekend looking to turn a productive stretch offensively into their first conference victory, having thrown for more than 300 yards in four consecutive games. Dayton (6-1, 3-1 PFL), meanwhile, brings a three-game winning streak and the conference's leading scoring defense into Saturday's matchup following a 37-32 victory over San Diego.

Saturday marks the eighth all-time meeting between the programs, with Dayton holding a 6-1 advantage in the series. Stetson's lone victory came at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in 2019, when the Hatters defeated the Flyers 38-21. Dayton has won the three meetings since, including a 48-14 decision in Ohio last September.

Despite struggling to find victories in conference play, Stetson has developed one of the Pioneer Football League's most productive passing attacks, with several Hatters also establishing themselves among the national statistical leaders.

Stetson enters Saturday ranked second in the PFL in passing offense, averaging 281.8 yards per game, trailing only Drake's 324.3-yard average. The Hatters also rank fifth in total offense at 385.0 yards per contest, while their 206 completions and 17 passing touchdowns both rank among the conference's leading totals.

Much of that production has come during a four-game stretch in which Stetson has thrown for 1,368 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 342 yards through the air. The Hatters passed for 335 yards against Marist, 334 at St. Thomas, 349 against Presbyterian and 350 at Morehead State, establishing an offensive rhythm that has helped produce 74 points over their last two games.

Individually, quarterback Thomas von Grote ranks 13th nationally in passing yards and is tied for 13th with 17 touchdown passes. Wide receiver Shawne Jones is tied for ninth in the FCS with seven receiving touchdowns, while Wyatt Rogers ranks 18th nationally with 623 receiving yards and 24th at 77.9 receiving yards per game.

Sophomore punter Brett Gonda has also continued to climb the national leaderboard, ranking sixth in the FCS with an average of 45.7 yards per punt. His performance has been particularly notable over the last several weeks, with punts of at least 58 yards in each of Stetson's last four contests.

The Hatters will look to build on those individual performances against a Dayton defense that ranks first in the PFL in scoring defense and second in rushing defense, creating an interesting matchup between Stetson's passing production and one of the league's most effective defensive units.

Junior quarterback Thomas von Grote has been at the center of Stetson's offensive improvement, establishing himself as one of the PFL's most productive passers and climbing into the national rankings during conference play.

Von Grote enters Saturday with 2,088 passing yards and 17 touchdowns against just five interceptions, completing 185 of 293 attempts for a 63.1 completion percentage. His passing yardage ranks 13th nationally, while his 17 touchdown passes are tied for 13th among FCS quarterbacks.

The junior has thrown for at least 300 yards in four consecutive contests, including a 350-yard, three-touchdown performance at Morehead State last Saturday. He completed 29 of 44 passes against the Eagles, connecting with Landon Farco for touchdowns of 37 and 43 yards before finding Shawne Jones for a 2-yard score with 59 seconds remaining.

That final touchdown capped a six-play, 74-yard drive that took just 42 seconds, bringing the Hatters within seven points during the closing minute.

Von Grote's recent success has included a career performance against Presbyterian on Oct. 17, when he threw for 345 yards and five touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. His five touchdown passes were the most by a Hatter against a PFL opponent since Brady Meitz threw five against Davidson on Nov. 5, 2022.

With 12 touchdown passes over his last four games, von Grote has helped Stetson develop a more consistent aerial attack that has featured multiple receivers capable of producing explosive plays. Maintaining that production will be an important factor against a Dayton defense that has generated 18 sacks and nine interceptions through seven games.

Few players have contributed more to Stetson's recent offensive production than wide receiver Landon Farco, who enters Saturday following one of his most complete performances of the season at Morehead State.

Farco caught four passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles, recording his first 100-yard receiving game of the year while helping the Hatters overcome a pair of first-half deficits. He opened the scoring for Stetson with a 37-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter before adding a 43-yard score to complete a 99-yard drive in the second.

His contributions extended to special teams, where he returned two punts for 63 yards, including a 53-yard return that gave Stetson possession deep in Morehead State territory. The Hatters capitalized on the field position with a 3-yard touchdown run by Troy Flowers, taking a 21-14 lead into halftime.

Farco has now recorded 30 receptions for 410 yards and five touchdowns in seven appearances, with four of those scores coming during Stetson's last two contests. His five receiving touchdowns place him among the PFL's more productive scoring threats, while his ability to change field position in the return game has provided an additional element to the Hatters' offense.

After catching two touchdown passes against Presbyterian, including a 14-yard score that briefly gave Stetson the lead with 51 seconds remaining, Farco has found the end zone multiple times in consecutive games.

Senior captain Wyatt Rogers remains one of Stetson's most consistent offensive performers and enters Saturday ranked among the FCS leaders in receiving production.

Through eight games, Rogers leads the Hatters with 53 receptions for 623 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.63 catches and 77.9 receiving yards per contest. His 623 receiving yards rank 18th nationally, while his per-game average stands 24th among FCS receivers.

Rogers has been particularly productive over the last month, recording at least eight receptions in four consecutive games. After collecting nine catches against Marist, St. Thomas and Presbyterian, he added eight receptions for 83 yards at Morehead State, giving him 35 catches during that four-game stretch.

His recent performances have included 103 receiving yards against Marist and 105 against Presbyterian, while he also caught a touchdown pass in Stetson's road contest at St. Thomas.

Rogers' ability to consistently move the chains has provided von Grote with a dependable target on passing downs, while the emergence of Farco and Jones has allowed the Hatters to distribute the football among several productive receivers.

Junior wide receiver Shawne Jones has made a significant impact on Stetson's passing attack despite appearing in only six games, emerging as one of the most effective scoring threats in the FCS.

Jones enters Saturday with seven touchdown receptions, tied for ninth nationally, while totaling 29 catches for 326 yards. His scoring production has been especially impressive in recent weeks, as six of those touchdowns have come across his last four appearances.

He caught two touchdown passes against Marist and Presbyterian before adding another at Morehead State last weekend, when he finished with six receptions for 76 yards. His 2-yard touchdown catch with 59 seconds remaining brought Stetson within one score after the Hatters had trailed by 14 late in the fourth quarter.

Jones' seven touchdowns have come on just 29 receptions, demonstrating his ability to make the most of his opportunities near the goal line and on downfield passing plays.

With Jones and Farco combining for 12 receiving touchdowns this season, the Hatters have developed multiple scoring options to complement Rogers' consistency and volume in the passing game.

Stetson's recent offensive improvement has extended beyond its leading receivers, with running back Troy Flowers continuing to contribute as both a runner and a pass catcher.

Flowers enters Saturday with a team-leading 343 rushing yards on 85 attempts and two touchdowns, while also catching 24 passes for 310 yards and two additional scores. His 653 yards from scrimmage lead the Hatters and reflect his ability to impact games in multiple ways.

Against Morehead State, Flowers carried 15 times for 52 yards and scored on a 3-yard run that gave Stetson a 21-14 second-quarter advantage. The previous week against Presbyterian, he produced 183 yards from scrimmage, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown reception during the Hatters' fourth-quarter comeback.

Tight end Anthony Benzija has also emerged as a reliable contributor in the passing game, recording 23 receptions for 214 yards and a touchdown. Benzija caught four passes for 68 yards at Morehead State and has demonstrated additional versatility, converting a fake punt into a 34-yard rush and completing a two-point conversion pass against Presbyterian.

Quarterback Chris Stephenson has provided another dimension in the backfield, rushing for 285 yards and four touchdowns on 36 attempts while averaging 7.9 yards per carry in six games.

Sophomore punter Brett Gonda continues to establish himself as one of the top specialists in the Pioneer Football League and the FCS, entering Saturday ranked sixth nationally with an average of 45.7 yards per punt.

Gonda has recorded 38 punts for 1,737 yards this season, with 13 punts traveling at least 50 yards. His performance has been particularly impressive during conference play, highlighted by an 80-yard punt against Presbyterian that stands as Stetson's longest of the year.

Against the Blue Hose, Gonda averaged 53.5 yards on six punts, including four kicks of at least 50 yards. He followed that performance with three punts for 145 yards at Morehead State, averaging 48.3 yards per attempt and placing one inside the Eagles' 20-yard line.

His ability to consistently flip field position has provided a valuable contribution for the Hatters, particularly during a stretch of close conference games in which possession and starting field position have played important roles.

Linebacker Shug Bentley continues to lead the Stetson defense with 61 tackles through eight games, adding three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His production has helped anchor a defensive unit that has recorded 39 tackles for loss and nine sacks this season.

Freshman defensive back Dylan Kelly follows with 53 tackles in seven appearances, giving him one of the team's highest per-game tackle averages. Kelly has also contributed 2.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and an interception while establishing himself as a consistent presence in the secondary.

Kelly recorded eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss at Morehead State, while linebacker Kyle Elphick led Stetson with 10 tackles. One of the Hatters' biggest defensive plays came in the closing minute of the first half, when Shug Bentley and Byron White combined to stop the Eagles on fourth-and-1 from the Stetson 3-yard line for a 2-yard loss, preserving the Hatters' 21-14 halftime lead.

Defensive lineman Casey Bending recorded a sack against Morehead State and continues to lead the Hatters with 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks this season. Barrett Kennedy has also been a consistent contributor, recording 39 tackles and four tackles for loss through eight games.

Stetson has recorded four interceptions this season, with Kelly, Corrado DeSantis, Julian Sampson and Jahyden Clark each contributing one. The Hatters will face a Dayton offense averaging 32.0 points per game, placing added importance on limiting explosive plays and creating opportunities to get the ball back to Stetson's passing attack.

Stetson made a late push but came up short at Morehead State last Saturday, falling 38-31 after holding a 21-14 halftime lead and a 24-17 advantage midway through the third quarter.

The Hatters overcame an early seven-point deficit when von Grote found Farco for a 37-yard touchdown in the opening quarter. After Morehead State regained the lead, Stetson responded with a 99-yard scoring drive that began at its own 1-yard line and ended with another von Grote-to-Farco connection, this time covering 43 yards.

Farco then helped create Stetson's first lead of the afternoon with a 53-yard punt return that set up Flowers' 3-yard touchdown run. The defense preserved that advantage before halftime, stopping Morehead State on fourth-and-1 near the goal line to send the Hatters into the locker room ahead 21-14.

Morehead State opened the second half with a field goal, but Stetson answered with a 57-yard drive capped by Trey Hess' 31-yard field goal to extend the lead to 24-17. The Eagles responded with a touchdown later in the third quarter before adding two more scores in the fourth to take a 38-24 advantage.

Stetson continued to battle in the closing minutes, with von Grote directing a six-play, 74-yard touchdown drive in just 42 seconds. His 2-yard scoring pass to Jones with 59 seconds remaining brought the Hatters within seven, although Morehead State was able to protect its lead through the final minute.

Von Grote finished with 350 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Farco recorded four receptions for 102 yards and two scores. Rogers added eight catches for 83 yards, Jones finished with six receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown, and Elphick paced the defense with 10 tackles.

Stetson accumulated 428 yards of total offense, including 350 through the air, while Morehead State finished with 438 yards and 204 rushing yards.

Dayton enters Saturday's contest as one of four teams tied atop the Pioneer Football League standings, carrying a 6-1 overall record and a 3-1 conference mark into its trip to DeLand. The Flyers join Butler, St. Thomas and Marist at 3-1 in league play, with Dayton holding the best overall record among the four.

The Flyers opened the season with victories over Fairmont State, Thomas More and Eastern Kentucky before suffering their lone defeat, a 30-22 decision at Drake on Oct. 3. Since that setback, Dayton has responded with three consecutive conference wins, defeating Morehead State 56-28, Butler 19-9 and San Diego 37-32.

Dayton ranks third in the PFL in scoring offense at 32.0 points per game, averaging 371.1 yards of total offense while maintaining balance between the passing and rushing attacks. The Flyers have accumulated 1,555 passing yards and 1,043 rushing yards through seven games, scoring 13 touchdowns in each category.

Quarterback Bryce Schondelmyer leads the Dayton passing attack and enters Saturday following a 259-yard, two-touchdown performance against San Diego. His afternoon included the game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Lochow with 57 seconds remaining, completing a three-play, 65-yard drive after the Toreros had taken a 32-31 lead with 1:32 left.

The performance came two weeks after Schondelmyer threw four touchdowns in Dayton's 56-28 victory over Morehead State, a game in which the Flyers scored their season-high point total and demonstrated their ability to produce explosive plays through the air.

Lochow has been among Dayton's most versatile offensive contributors, providing an option in the passing game while also creating opportunities on designed rushing plays. Against San Diego, he accounted for three touchdowns, catching two scoring passes and breaking a 56-yard touchdown run as the Flyers overcame an early 10-point deficit.

Wide receiver Michael Mussari has also been a consistent target, entering the matchup with 39 receptions for 531 yards and three touchdowns. His 75.9 receiving yards per game rank among the PFL leaders, giving Schondelmyer another dependable option as Dayton looks to sustain its offensive production.

In the backfield, Luke Hansen and Mason Hackett provide much of the Flyers' rushing production. Hansen recorded a 110-yard performance in Dayton's nonconference win at Eastern Kentucky, while Hackett led the team with 71 rushing yards against San Diego. The Flyers average 149.1 yards per game on the ground, ranking fifth in the PFL.

Dayton's defense has been a major factor in its success, leading the conference in scoring defense at 20.0 points allowed per game. The Flyers rank second in the PFL in rushing defense, surrendering only 93.7 yards per contest and limiting opponents to 3.3 yards per carry.

The Flyers have also been effective at creating negative plays and forcing turnovers, recording 43 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and nine interceptions through seven games. Their ability to generate pressure will present an important test for a Stetson passing attack that has thrown for at least 300 yards in four consecutive games.

Ross Coppock leads Dayton with 51 tackles, while Joe Kingsbury has recorded 45 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Parker Chaney has contributed 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks, with Jace Schaefer leading the team with 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.

Defensive back Javawn Brooks has been particularly effective in coverage, recording four interceptions and four pass breakups through seven games. His four interceptions account for nearly half of Dayton's team total, while David Curl III has added 33 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss.

Although the Flyers have been difficult to run against, their defense has allowed 271.7 passing yards per game, creating an intriguing matchup against Stetson's second-ranked PFL passing offense. Dayton has nevertheless limited opponents to just nine passing touchdowns, with its ability to create turnovers often offsetting the yardage allowed through the air.

The Flyers have also received timely contributions on special teams, averaging 45.2 yards per punt while scoring touchdowns on both kickoff and punt returns this season. LeRoy Lewis IV provided one of Dayton's biggest plays against San Diego, returning a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to help spark the Flyers' comeback.

Saturday's matchup will be the eighth all-time meeting between Stetson and Dayton, with the Flyers holding a 6-1 series advantage. Stetson's lone victory came on Oct. 19, 2019, when the Hatters defeated Dayton 38-21 at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium. Dayton has won the three meetings since, including a 48-14 victory last September, but the Flyers are just 3-1 in previous visits to DeLand.

Saturday's Pioneer Football League matchup between Stetson and Dayton is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in DeLand, Florida.

The game will stream live on YouTube, with live statistics available through GoHatters.com. Fans can also follow updates throughout the afternoon on Stetson Football's social media channels.

Following Saturday's home contest, Stetson returns to the road on Nov. 7 for a Pioneer Football League matchup at Davidson. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Hatters will then return to Spec Martin Memorial Stadium on Nov. 14 to host Valparaiso before closing out the regular season at San Diego on Nov. 21.


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.