LAKELAND, Fla. (October 3, 2021) – The St. Thomas University (STU) Football team (5-0, 2-0 MSC) made a thrilling fourth quarter comeback to remain undefeated and cap of a Saturday sweep for STU Athletics. The Bobcats defeated the Warner University Royals (2-3, 0-1 MSC) 46-29 scoring 29 points in the fourth quarter to secure their second Mid-South Conference win. St. Thomas has defeated Warner in every outing that the team have met since the start of the program (4-0).
 
Game Notes
 
First Quarter

• St. Thomas opened the game receiving the kickoff that Eric Demps returned for 19-yards.
• Warner started their first drive of the game on the St. Thomas 22-yard line.
• What looked to be a promising opening drive for the Royals ended up being denied at the line as the Bobcats' defense shut the door on fourth and goal forcing an incomplete pass.
• The Royals converted on their next drive to score the game's first of ten touchdowns to take a 7-0 lead.
• On the last drive of the quarter St. Thomas was able to get down field into field goal range where Alejandro Prado put it through the uprights on a 30-yard attempt to get STU on the board and make it 7-3.

 
Second Quarter

• The defense tried to start turning things around for the Bobcats as Jhaqwori Austin picked up his second interception on the year in the Royals first drive of the second.
• The Bobcat offense continued to try and find ways to advance the ball through the run game but were unsuccessful, leading to Braden Dick coming out to punt.
• Warner extended their lead with a 13-yard rushing touchdown making it 13-3 after Nicholas Engler blocked the extra point attempt.
• St. Thomas used a 15-play, 75-yard, 3:51 minute drive to bring the game 13-10 heading into the half.
• Tyler Thomas led the team down field starting at their own 25-yard line.
• Eric Demps caught his first of four touchdowns on the day with the eight-yard reception into the endzone.

 
Third Quarter

• Warner was set to receive to open the second half.
• The Royals opening drive resulted in a punt.
• St. Thomas was forced to punt in their opening drive that set Warner to start at their own 26-yard line.
• Warner broke away for a 78-yard rushing touchdown to extend their lead 20-10 with 9:10 left on the clock in the third quarter.
• The Bobcats found a little offensive spark when Thomas connected with Khalitri Zow for the 85-yard touchdown on a one-play drive to cut into the Royals lead, 20-17.

Fourth Quarter

• Warner opened the fourth quarter with a first and ten on the Bobcat-11.
• The Royals would settle for a field goal to add some cushion making it 23-17.
• St. Thomas offense was locked in and ready to settle in to make the comeback and remain undefeated.
• The Bobcat found a lot of success through the air and were ready to make the adjustment.
• Tyler Thomas and Eric Demps found each other for the second time on a 15-yard touchdown pass after STU started on their own 25 and worked their way down-field.
• STU took their first lead of the game, 24-23, with 9:23 left in the fourth quarter and were looking for some insurance points.
• The Bobcat defense was ready to join in on the lock down and focus on trying to get the offense back on the field.
• Nicholas Engler started it off forcing a fumble on the quarterback-sack while also recovering it to set up STU on the opposing five-yard line.
• Thomas and Demps synched up for their third touchdown on the quick five-yard pass on the first play of the drive to make it 31-23 after Prado's extra point.
• Warner was not ready to let St. Thomas off so easily as the Royals quarterback connected for 68-yard touchdown pass to keep the game in range making it 31-29 after the failed two-point conversion extra point attempt looking for the tie.
• Tyler Thomas continued to roll and into a groove, finding the endzone in six-plays for 75-yards in just over two minutes.
• Antoine Wright recorded his first touchdown in his collegiate career making it a special one to extend the Bobcat lead 38-29 with 6:23 remaining in the game.
• Michael Torrence joined in on the fumble fun forcing the Royals' quarterback to slip once again taking the sack and bring stripped of the ball.
• Donnell Bennett III recovered and put the offense in a good spot to work with, just over the 50-yard threshold into Warner territory.
• Rontavious Farmer found a couple holes in to sneak though picking up 20-yards in the drive.
• Demps recorded his career-high fourth touchdown of the game on the 11-yard pass from Thomas.
• St. Thomas sealed the deal with a successful two-point conversion from Thomas to Aarmando McGhee to complete the comeback making it 46-29.
• In Warner's final drive the defense forced a three and out punt that would be the end of the Royals hopes ruining their two-game win streak and handing them their first lost in Mid-South Conference Play.

 
Box Score Notables

• St. Thomas outscored Warner 29-9 in the fourth quarter.
• The Bobcats scored on every drive in the fourth quarter.
• Tyler Thomas continues to provide for the offense going 28-52 for 353 yards and set another program record for passing touchdowns in a game (6).
• Eric Demps set a career-best and program-record for touchdown receptions with four.
• Demps had four touchdowns on seven receptions for 80-yards.
• Khalitri Zow was instrumental setting up the offense downfield going for 157-yards on five receptions with one touchdown.
• Rontavious Farmer led the rushing game picking up 68-yards on 21 carries.
• The defense combined for a big team effort getting two key sacks that resulted in fumble recoveries for Bobcat touchdowns.
• Frantz Jean Jr led the way with seven tackles, Christian Caruso was right behind him with six tackles.
• Engler continues to be a dynamic on defense having six tackles, a forced fumble, sack, pass breakup and aa blocked extra point attempt.
• Jhaqwori Austin picked up his second interception on the year, with one more he will set a record for most by an individual in a single season.
• St. Thomas had 353 passing yards, with 83 rushing yards totaling 436 for the game.
• Braden Dick and Alejandro Prado totaled for seven punts for 276-yards, averaging 39.4 yards per punt. Two of the seven were inside the 20 with just one touchback.
• Prado tied the longest punt record for 59-yards.
• St. Thomas went a perfect 6-6 in the red-zone with Prado hitting every extra point attempt.

 
Up Next
St. Thomas will head to Babson Park, Fla. to continue Mid-South play taking on Webber International University (Fla.) on Saturday, October 9 with kick-off scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on the Webber Turf Field.