DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson Football returns to DeLand for its 2026 home opener Saturday morning as the Hatters welcome Webber International to Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. Stetson (0-1) returns home following a season-opening trip to No. 3 South Dakota State, while Webber International (1-0) comes to DeLand after rallying for a 20-14 victory over the University of Fort Lauderdale in its season opener.

Saturday's matchup will mark the first Stetson Football game played on the newly renovated turf at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium and will also serve as Band Day and the program's Welcome Class of 2030 game.

After opening the season on the road against one of the nation's top FCS programs, the Hatters return to DeLand for their first home game of the 2026 campaign.

Saturday will also provide the first game action on the newly renovated playing surface at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium. Stetson will play five games at home this season, with the Webber matchup serving as the lone home contest in September before Pioneer Football League play brings Marist, Presbyterian, Dayton and Valparaiso to DeLand later in the year.

The home opener will feature several additional events surrounding the game. Saturday will serve as Band Day, while members of Stetson's freshman class will be invited onto the field to join the Hatters as the team makes its entrance as part of the Welcome Class of 2030 celebration.

Stetson enters its second game of the season looking to respond after facing a difficult opening test at No. 3 South Dakota State. The Hatters totaled 265 yards of offense against the Jackrabbits, with 157 coming through the air and 108 on the ground.

Chris Stephenson provided a spark in multiple roles, leading Stetson with 69 rushing yards on 13 carries and scoring the Hatters' first touchdown of the season on a 3-yard run in the third quarter. Stephenson also completed 4-of-6 passes for 62 yards, including a 31-yard completion to Shawne Jones that helped set up the touchdown.

Starting quarterback Thomas von Grote completed 17-of-26 passes for 95 yards in his Stetson debut. Malachi Townsend led the receiving corps with five receptions for 44 yards, while Jones and several other Hatters contributed through the air.

Stetson also put together multiple sustained possessions against the Jackrabbits, including a second-quarter drive that reached the South Dakota State 11-yard line and another fourth-quarter possession that advanced inside the SDSU 10.

Saturday provides the offense an opportunity to continue developing around von Grote, Stephenson and a group of returning playmakers that includes Michael Dempsey, Townsend, Wyatt Rogers and Troy Flowers. Stetson also returns experience along the offensive line with veterans Gabe Snyder and Jalen Foster among the group up front.

Freshman defensive back Dylan Kelly will make his Spec Martin Memorial Stadium debut as the reigning Pioneer Football League Freshman of the Week following a productive first collegiate game in Brookings.

Kelly led Stetson with 12 tackles, including six solo stops, and added a pass breakup against South Dakota State. He recorded five tackles and his pass breakup in the opening quarter, added four stops in the second and finished with tackles in each of the final two quarters. Two of his tackles held the ball carrier to no gain.

The performance earned the Trophy Club, Texas, native the first weekly conference honor of his career and the PFL's first Freshman of the Week award of the 2026 season.

Kelly was one of several Hatters who contributed defensively in the opener. Veteran linebacker Shug Bentley finished with eight tackles, while Jahyden Clark recorded a pass breakup as Stetson worked a number of new faces into the lineup against the nationally ranked Jackrabbits.

The Hatters entered the season with an emphasis on adding size, speed and depth defensively around established veterans such as Bentley and Kyle Elphick. Casey Bending, Kelly and several other newcomers have joined a group that also includes returning linebacker Nycere Jacobs as Stetson continues to develop its defensive identity in year two under head coach Mike Jasper.

Webber International opened its 2026 season with a 20-14 comeback victory over the University of Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in Babson Park.

The Warriors fell behind 14-0 before scoring the final 20 points of the game. Webber got on the board late in the second quarter before adding 13 unanswered points after halftime, including the go-ahead touchdown with 1:54 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Senior running back D'Markus Mathis was the centerpiece of the Webber offense, rushing 22 times for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Mathis averaged 7.5 yards per carry and broke free for a 43-yard touchdown in the third quarter before scoring from 14 yards out for the eventual game-winning touchdown.

Quarterback Trent Grotjan completed 10-of-18 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown without an interception. His 10-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Holt late in the second quarter began Webber's comeback.

As a team, the Warriors generated 417 yards of total offense, including 246 yards on the ground. Webber averaged 6.5 yards per rushing attempt, recorded 20 first downs and controlled possession for more than 35 minutes.

The Warriors were also effective defensively, limiting Fort Lauderdale to 124 total yards and seven first downs. After allowing 14 points in the first half, Webber kept the Eagles off the scoreboard throughout the final two quarters.

Webber's defense recorded four sacks in the victory. Aaron Williams finished with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while Omar Goosby recorded two tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.

The Warriors did turn the ball over three times in the opener but overcame the miscues with a defense that allowed only 52 rushing yards and 72 passing yards.

Saturday will mark the fourth all-time meeting between Stetson and Webber International, with each of the previous three matchups also taking place in DeLand.

Stetson holds a 2-1 advantage in the series. The Hatters earned a 42-13 victory in 2015 and a 38-28 win in 2023 before the Warriors picked up their first victory in the series last season.

The two programs met in the 2025 season opener at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, with Webber earning a 31-21 victory. Stetson trailed 24-7 before scoring twice to pull within three points early in the fourth quarter.

Troy Flowers' 4-yard touchdown run made it 24-21 before Webber answered with an interception return for a touchdown to account for the final margin. Wyatt Rogers finished with nine receptions for 65 yards for the Hatters, while Bentley recorded nine tackles.

With one game of the 2026 season behind them, the Hatters return home looking to continue building within the identity established during their second offseason under Jasper.

Stetson entered the fall with greater continuity throughout the program following Jasper's first full recruiting cycle and offseason in DeLand. A core of returning players is joined by a group of newcomers that has already begun contributing on both sides of the ball, with the opening two weeks providing an early opportunity for that group to continue developing together.

The Hatters will face a Webber team that brings momentum into DeLand following its season-opening comeback victory. The Warriors' productive rushing attack and strong defensive performance in Week 1 add to a matchup between two programs familiar with one another after last season's meeting at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.

Stetson's veteran leadership group includes six captains in Kyle Elphick, Shug Bentley, Thomas von Grote, Brett Gonda, Wyatt Rogers and Casey Bending. Elphick and Gonda return as captains from the 2025 season, while Bentley, von Grote, Rogers and Bending joined the leadership group this fall.

Saturday will mark the first game under Stetson Athletics' new home streaming format, with all five Hatter home games during the 2026 season available live and free of charge on YouTube.

Fans can watch the broadcast worldwide on the Stetson Hatters YouTube channel. The broadcasts can be accessed through computers, smartphones and tablets, as well as compatible smart TVs and other connected devices.

Links to the broadcast and live statistics will also be available through the Stetson Football schedule on GoHatters.com.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early Saturday to take part in the activities surrounding Stetson's home opener. Parking lots surrounding Spec Martin Memorial Stadium will open at 7 a.m., when tailgating may begin, while the Hatter Walk will take place approximately two and a half hours before kickoff. Stetson's band and cheerleading team will perform during the 15 minutes leading up to the team's arrival.

Stadium gates and the North and South ticket booths will open at 10 a.m., approximately one hour before the 11:05 a.m. kickoff. Fans are encouraged to monitor GoHatters.com and Stetson Athletics social media channels for additional game-day information and any updates related to inclement weather or lightning in the area.

Following Saturday's home opener, Stetson will make the short trip to Daytona Beach for a matchup against Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, September 12. Kickoff at Daytona Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.

For information on tickets for the 2026 season, please contact the Stetson Athletics Ticket Office at tickets@stetson.edu or call (386) 738-HATS (4287). For updates on promotional activities and team information, visit GoHatters.com or follow @StetsonFootball on social media.

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.