MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (September 19, 2020) - The St. Thomas University (STU) Bobcats Football (0-1) opened the 2020 season with a 60-20 loss against the Southeastern University Fire (2-0) on Saturday afternoon from the campus of Monsignor Pace High School. 

The Fire won the pre-game coin toss, electing to defer to the second half. Beginning the 2020 campaign with the ball, the Bobcats promptly started moving the ball down the field. Robert Armes (15 carries, 109 yards, TD) started the drive with two consecutive carries, accumulating five yards. On the third-and-five, Bobcat quarterback, Kalani Ilimaleota found tight-end Bryan Antoine for a 17-yard strike, moving to the Southeastern side of the field. Later in the drive, Ilimaleota connected with Josh Beneby on a six-yard completion, putting St. Thomas inside the red-zone for the first time. The opening STU drive stalled, as sophomore kicker, Braden Dick missed a 43-yard field goal. 

Following the missed kick, the Bobcat defense came on the field for the first time. STU held SEU to a three-and-out, forcing a Fire punt. The second drive of the contest for St. Thomas had the same result of the previous Fire drive, amassing one-yard in three plays and being forced to punt. Southeastern started their second drive of the game on their 27-yard line. The Fire converted two passes, totaling 55-yards and moved deep into STU territory. Southeastern capitalized and ended the possession with the games opening points, converting a 30-yard field goal and taking a first-quarter lead. 

In the following Bobcat possession, Southeastern recorded an interception and began their next drive on the Bobcats side of the field. On the first play, Southeastern connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass and extended their lead to 10-0. 

Southeastern started the second quarter of the game with the ball and added their second touchdown, scoring from one-yard out on the ground and taking a 17-0 lead. STU wasted little time responding to the Fire score, as Ilimaleota (13-31, 135, two TDs; two INTS) found Tyrese Blue for the first St. Thomas touchdown of the season, putting the score at 17-6, as the point-after was missed. 

SEU added their third touchdown of the game, midway through the second quarter, scoring on a 50-yard pass. The Bobcats responded once again, as Armes and Bry'yon Jones (11 carries, 55-yards) led St. Thomas down the field. Ilimaleota found Aarmando McGhee for a three-yard touchdown, putting the score at 24-13.  SEU ended the first half with 10-points in the closing moments, heading into the halftime break with a 34-13 lead over St. Thomas. 

Southeastern began the second half with their third consecutive scoring drive, opening their lead to 41-13 over St. Thomas, after a rushing touchdown. Armes carried the load for St. Thomas for the first drive of the third quarter for STU, totaling 55-yards, including a score from 38-yards to put the score at 41-20. 

SEU ended the game scoring the final 19-points and taking a 60-20 win in the season opener for the Bobcats. 

Bobcat Leaders
Kalani Ilimaleota: 13-31, 135 yards, two TDs; 12 carries, 24-yards
Robert Armes: 15-carries, 111-yards, one TD
John Israel-Cooper: three receptions, 33-yards. 
Jhaqwori Austin: 11 tackles (career-high)

Upcoming
St. Thomas University returns to the gridiron to take on the Keiser University Seahawks on Saturday, September 26 at 12 p.m. from Monsignor Pace HS.