Demps with Lucas
Kathy Hitchcock
22
Florida Memorial FMUFB21 0-2 , 0
38
Winner St. Thomas STUFB21 2-0 , 1
Florida Memorial FMUFB21
0-2 , 0
22
Final
38
St. Thomas STUFB21
2-0 , 1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
FMUFB21 Florida Memorial 7 9 0 6 22
STUFB21 St. Thomas 7 21 10 0 38

Game Recap: Football | | Michelle Murch

STU FOOTBALL WINS INAUGURAL BATTLE OF MIAMI GARDENS IN 2021 SEASON OPENER

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (September 4, 2021) - The St. Thomas University (STU) Football team (2-0, 1-0 MSC) opened up the season with the inaugural "Battle of Miami Gardens" against hometown rival, Florida Memorial University (0-2, 0-1 MSC), on home territory at Monsignor Edward Pace High School. The Bobcats came out victorious in the first meeting between the teams on the football stage, with a final score of 38-22.

Before the game, St. Thomas honored the Miami Gardens Police and Fire Department to celebrate the First Responders in our community. STU also presented the 83rd Orange Bowl Committee President, John P. "Jack" Seiler, as the Bobcat Community Service Award recipient.

1st Quarter Recap

The Bobcats won the opening toss and elected to receive; Jacquez Hughes returned the kick-off for 25-yards and started the offense on the home-43. Florida Memorial forced St. Thomas to a quick three-and-out punt. In just the second drive of the season, starting quarterback Tyler Thomas connected with Eric Demps for his first Bobcat touchdown on an 18-yard pass. Alejandro Prado put a perfect kick through the uprights to secure the extra point and give STU a 7-0 lead five minutes into the game. The Lions evened it up on the next drive, scoring on nine plays ending with a three-yard rush into the endzone by George Young.

2nd Quarter Recap

Quarterback, Thomas, found a new connection in the Khalitri Zow in the endzone. The 55-yard pass was Zow's first touchdown in an STU uniform. Prado, once again, successfully kicked the extra-point attempt so the Bobcats could regain the lead 14-7. The Lions struck right back for their own 44-yard pass touchdown, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed back the point-after attempt which resulted in a miss by FMU's kicker, keeping the score at 14-13. A seven-play, 69-yard drive led to the rekindling of the Thomas and Demps connection that extended the Bobcat lead, 21-13. Florida Memorial's kicker was put to the test on a 34-yard field goal attempt and accepted the challenge, cutting the deficit to 21-16. Tyler Thomas had the offense rolling as the quarterback collected a rushing touchdown of his own on a one-yard push in the first play of a first-and-goal. Newcomer, Alejandro Prado was once against tasked with the point-after and help extend St. Thomas' lead 28-16 to head into the half.

3rd Quarter Recap

Prado was perfect on his perfect field goal attempt. He nailed the 42-yard kick with ease adding a cushion to the lead making it, 31-16. Michael Torrence forced a fumble on the second play of the Lions drive to get the Bobcat offense back on the field at the home-40. In just three plays, Demps solidified his hat trick touchdown performance in his debut with a 36-yard completion and setting the game out of range, 38-16.

4th Quarter Recap

With 10:52 remaining in the fourth quarter, play was halted due to lightning in the area. After a two-hour delay, play resumed with St. Thomas on offense. Florida Memorial's defense held the Bobcats just short a first down in the same drive. The Lions would go on and score on an 11-play 65-yard drive. This brought the score to 38-22 after the failed two-point conversion attempt. STU continued to move the offense but turned the ball over on downs at the visitor-29. FMU tried to get some quick offense going but the final play set the tone as captain, Donnell Bennett III, sacked the quarterback for a 24-yard loss.

St. Thomas Box Score Notables

  • 21 First Downs
  • 8-for-16 on third down conversions
  • Bobcats had 463 offensive yards (371 passing, 92 rushing)
  • Three defensive sacks for a loss of 36-yards
  • Bobcats scored on five straight drives from the end of the second quarter into the start of the third (four touchdowns and one field goal).
  • Tyler Thomas led the offense going 22-for-36 in completions, 371 passing yards, and four touchdowns.
  • Eric Demps had a hat trick touchdown performance and 135 -yards, averaging 27 per completion.
  • Khalitri Zow had the fourth touchdown and had 95-yards averaging 23.8 per completion and having the longest for the 55-yard touchdown.
  • Alejandro Prado went perfect on extra-point attempts (5-for-5) and hitting a 42-yard field goal.
  • Corner back, Caleb Walker had a team-high six-tackles.
  • Donnell Bennett III had four tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss.

Up Next

St. Thomas will travel to Lebanon, Tennessee on Saturday, September 11 to take on Cumberland University, kickoff is set at 12:30 p.m. This will be the first matchup between both programs.

-STU-

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