DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson battled Marist into the second half Saturday afternoon at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, pulling even at 14-14 midway through the third quarter before the Red Foxes scored twice late in the period to come away with a 28-14 victory in the Hatters' Pioneer Football League opener.
Stetson generated 335 yards through the air, completed 40 passes and converted 10 of 21 third-down opportunities while finishing with 19 first downs. The Hatters also held a 31:04-28:56 advantage in time of possession and kept Marist off the scoreboard in both the first and fourth quarters.
Thomas von Grote completed 32 of 49 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns, both going to Shawne Jones. Wyatt Rogers eclipsed the century mark with nine receptions for 103 yards, while Landon Farco hauled in a team-high 10 passes for 71 yards. Jones finished with four receptions for 32 yards and the two scores.
The opening quarter developed into a defensive battle, with neither side finding the end zone. Stetson's special teams continually flipped the field as Brett Gonda opened the afternoon with punts of 66, 61 and 45 yards, including one that pinned Marist at its own 4-yard line.
Stetson's biggest opportunity of the quarter came in the closing seconds. Jaxon Holloway forced a fumble and Kah'mari Hill recovered at the Marist 17-yard line, giving the Hatters a short field. Ollie Howell gained five yards on the ensuing play as the quarter ended scoreless. Earlier in the period, Stetson appeared to break through on a 52-yard touchdown reception by Farco, but the play was erased by a holding penalty.The Hatters turned the takeaway into points immediately to begin the second quarter. Following a short Troy Flowers run, von Grote connected with Jones for a 10-yard touchdown at 14:15, and Paul Desousa's extra point gave Stetson a 7-0 advantage.
Marist answered on its next possession when Sonny Mannino found Lance Martinez for a 30-yard touchdown before moving in front 14-7 on Isaiah Simmons' 44-yard touchdown run with 9:31 remaining in the half. Stetson continued to move the football through the air, highlighted by a 26-yard connection from von Grote to Malachi Townsend, before an interception ended the drive at the Marist 15.
The Hatter defense responded immediately. Jahlani Clarke dropped Mannino for a three-yard sack before Casey Bending and Alex Yearwood combined for another sack two plays later, forcing Marist to punt from its own 4-yard line. Stetson later crossed midfield twice before halftime, but the Red Foxes carried a 14-7 advantage into the break.
Stetson came out of halftime with momentum. After the defense forced a Marist punt, the Hatters marched 75 yards in 10 plays, with von Grote completing passes to Rogers, Flowers and Gunner Chenier along the way. On third-and-5 from the Marist 11, von Grote found Jones for his second touchdown of the afternoon. Desousa's extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 9:32 remaining in the third quarter.
Marist regained the lead less than a minute later on a 29-yard touchdown reception by Reece Beauchamp. The Red Foxes later took advantage of a short field and extended the margin to 28-14 on Simmons' one-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds remaining in the third.
The Hatters threatened again early in the fourth when von Grote connected with Rogers for a 36-yard gain to the Marist 16, but a 33-yard field-goal attempt went wide. Stetson's defense kept the Red Foxes off the scoreboard for the remainder of the afternoon and gave the offense two additional possessions, but Marist closed out the 28-14 decision.
The loss moves Stetson to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in PFL play, while Marist improves to 3-2 and 2-0 in league action.
Up next, the Hatters travel to St. Paul, Minn., to face St. Thomas on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m.
Hatters Top Performers
- 32-for-49 passing
- 273 passing yards
- 2 touchdown passes
- 9 receptions
- 103 receiving yards
- Long reception of 36 yards
- 10 receptions
- 71 receiving yards
- 4 receptions
- 32 receiving yards
- 2 receiving touchdowns
- 7 tackles
- 1.5 tackles for loss
- 0.5 sacks
- 1 quarterback hurry
- 7 punts for 327 yards
- 46.7 yards per punt
- Long of 66 yards
- 3 punts inside the 20
Game Notes
- Stetson finished with 335 passing yards, its second-highest passing total of the season.
- The Hatters completed 40 passes, with nine different players recording at least one reception.
- Stetson converted 10 of 21 third downs, good for a 47.6 percent conversion rate.
- Wyatt Rogers recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season with 103 yards on nine catches
- Landon Farco set a season high with 10 receptions.
- Shawne Jones recorded the first multi-touchdown game of his Stetson career with two receiving touchdowns.
- Thomas von Grote threw multiple touchdown passes for the second time this season.
- Brett Gonda averaged 46.7 yards per punt, with three kicks downed inside the 20 and two traveling at least 50 yards.
- Stetson's defense recorded six tackles for loss, two sacks and seven pass breakups.
- The Hatters held Marist scoreless in both the first and fourth quarters.
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.
