DAVIS, Calif. — Stetson closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule Saturday night, falling 45-7 to No. 11 UC Davis at UC Davis Health Stadium.
The Hatters (1-3) were held off the scoreboard through the first three quarters before Thomas von Grote connected with Anthony Benzija for a fourth-quarter touchdown. Stetson finished with 299 yards of total offense, including 219 through the air and 80 on the ground.
Von Grote completed 22 of 39 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown while adding a team-high 42 rushing yards on seven carries. Benzija turned in his most productive receiving performance of the season, catching six passes for 70 yards and the Hatters' lone touchdown.
Defensively, Damontez McDowell led Stetson with 10 tackles and a sack while Nycere Jacobs added six stops and a sack as well. Julian Sampson forced a third-quarter fumble that was recovered by Lemuel Bass.
UC Davis (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky) scored twice in the opening quarter to build an early advantage. The Aggies opened the scoring with a 75-yard drive capped by Jordan Fisher's 6-yard touchdown run with 8:39 remaining.
Stetson threatened on its next possession when von Grote broke free for a 32-yard run on third down, but the play ended with an Aggie fumble recovery. The Hatter defense responded immediately, forcing a missed 42-yard field goal after Sampson broke up a third-down pass.
McDowell recorded a sack on UC Davis' following possession, but the Aggies eventually extended the lead on a 46-yard touchdown pass with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter.
The Hatters began to find rhythm offensively late in the period. Von Grote connected with James Penley for 15 yards and Wyatt Rogers for 16 more as Stetson crossed midfield before the end of the quarter.
Stetson's defense opened the second quarter with another stand, turning away UC Davis on fourth down at the Hatter 28-yard line. The Aggies, however, stretched the lead to 21-0 later in the quarter on Zach Jones' 79-yard punt return.
The Hatters answered with their most sustained possession of the night, putting together a 19-play, 69-yard drive that consumed much of the remainder of the half.
Stetson converted three third downs during the series and kept the drive alive on fourth-and-5 when von Grote found Gunner Chenier for seven yards. An 18-yard completion to Landon Farco later moved the Hatters inside the UC Davis 10-yard line.
The drive ultimately reached the Aggies' 1-yard line, but von Grote was stopped on fourth-and-1 with 1:37 remaining. The ruling was upheld following review.
UC Davis responded with a 99-yard touchdown drive, scoring on a 19-yard pass with 16 seconds remaining to take a 28-0 lead into halftime.
The Hatter defense came up with another takeaway opportunity early in the third quarter. Sampson forced a fumble following a third-down completion inside the Stetson red zone, with Bass recovering at the 16-yard line to keep the Aggies off the board.
UC Davis later added a 33-yard field goal before Jones returned another punt 61 yards for a touchdown, pushing the margin to 38-0.
Stetson closed the third quarter with another drive into Aggie territory. Von Grote connected with Isaiah Baker for 13 yards, added a 10-yard run and later found Rogers for seven yards to move the ball to the UC Davis 24-yard line as the quarter expired.
The Hatters finally broke through in the fourth quarter when von Grote found Benzija open for the touchdown, giving the senior tight end his first receiving score of the season.
Stetson now turns its attention to Pioneer Football League play. The Hatters will have an open week before hosting Marist at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
STETSON TOP PERFORMERS
Thomas von Grote
- 22-of-39 passing
- 219 passing yards
- 1 touchdown
- 42 rushing yards on 7 carries
Anthony Benzija
- 6 receptions
- 70 receiving yards
- 1 touchdown
Damontez McDowell
- Team-high 10 tackles
- 1 sack
Nycere Jacobs
Julian Sampson
- 1 forced fumble
- 1 pass breakup
Lemuel Bass
GAME NOTES
- Saturday marked the final non-conference game of Stetson's 2026 regular-season schedule.
- The Hatters faced their second nationally ranked opponent in four games after opening the season at No. 3 South Dakota State.
- Stetson finished its non-conference slate 1-3.
- The matchup was the first meeting in program history between Stetson and UC Davis.
- Stetson played three of its first four games on the road, with trips to South Dakota State, Bethune-Cookman and UC Davis.
- The Hatters put together a 19-play, 69-yard drive in the second quarter, their longest sustained possession of the night.
- Stetson's defense produced a fourth-down stop, two sacks and a forced fumble.
- Anthony Benzija's six catches and 70 receiving yards were both season highs.
- Damontez McDowell recorded double-digit tackles for the first time this season with a team-high 10.
- Stetson will open Pioneer Football League play against Marist on Oct. 3 at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
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.
