MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (September 24, 2022)- The St. Thomas University (STU) Football team adds yet another milestone. The no. 22 ranked Bobcats defeated the no. 21 ranked, undefeated, Southeastern Fire (4-1) 34-14 in the second ever game at Autonation Field. This marks the first time the Bobcats have defeated the Fire in STU's four-year history and the second ranked opponent ever beat coming a couple weeks apart.
The Bobcats started the game slow and ended the first drive with a three and out which led to a 52-yard punt from
Braden Dick. The Bobcat defense came ready to play forcing the Fire to a three and out of their own. Following the Fire punt, the Bobcats got the run game going and got a couple first downs but ended up hurting themselves with a penalty.
Braden Dick launched another punt that traveled 51-yards.
The STU defense was out for vengeance today with
Nicholas Engler having the first sack of the night pushing the Fire offense back four yards. Two plays later
Michael Torrence joined the sack party and forced a ten-yard loss.
Rontavious Farmer got the scoring started for the Bobcats with a first down rush that went for 71 yards to the house.
Alejandro Prado made it 7-0 with the made extra point. The next possession for the Fire ended like the others with a
Donnell Bennett III sack for a loss of 14 yards. STU got the ball back and
Tyler Thomas made no mistakes. Thomas hit C'quan Jnopierre for a 42-yard pass that set up the Bobcat offense. Thomas threw again to
Khalitri Zow for a 14-yard gain.
Rontavious Farmer punched it in from a yard out to make it 14-0.
The Bobcat defense dominated the first half and got the ball back to the offense yet again. STU marched down the field and ultimately stalled which led to a 29-yard field goal from
Alejandro Prado to go up 17-0. Nearing the end of the first half the Fire looked like something was clicking when freshman
Gabriel Herrera forced a fumble that was corralled by
Nicholas Engler at the Fire 47-yard line. The Bobcats capitalized on the good field position with
Tyler Thomas finding his favorite target C'quan Jnopierre for a 25-yard touchdown to go up 24-0 heading into the half.
The Fire opened up the second half with another three and out. The Bobcats first drive of the second half also ended in a three and out with a 65-yard bomb from
Braden Dick to push the Fire back to their own 12-yard line. After a couple of three and outs from both teams Fire quarterback Kaylan Wiggins slipped through STU tacklers and rushed for 67-yards to break the shutout and make it 24-7 Bobcats. The Bobcats offense stalled and led to another three and out giving the Fire the ball back. The Fire's next possession Kaylan Wiggins broke another long run in the heavy rain going 59-yards making it 24-14.
With the Fire offense heating up it looked like it was going to be a close game. Not so fast because the ground game for the Bobcats was just getting started.
Damian Heller rushed for 23-yards which set up
Rontavious Farmer yet again for a 6-yard touchdown to go up 31-14. The next Southeastern drive went nowhere ending in three sacks from
Nicholas Engler,
Kendall Wilson II, and ended with a
Michael Torrence strip sack. STU took advantage of the good field position with a 35-yard field goal from
Alejandro Prado to end the scoring at 34-14.
The Bobcats defense came up big in the Fire's final possession with another
Nicholas Engler sack and an interception by
Jhaqwori Austin.
STU would end the game in Victory formation for a final score of 34-14.
Box Score Notables
Up Next
The Bobcats will stay home at Autonation Field and take on Keiser University Saturday, October 8
th.
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