MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (August 26, 2023)- The St. Thomas University Football team opened up the 2023 season with a victory over the University of Fort Lauderdale Eagles. The Bobcats were clicking on both sides of the ball, to see what this team is all about going into week two against Stetson University.
STU got it started early going 65 yards in three plays in under a minute. Rontavious Farmer bounced to the right shedding a tackle and running 55 yards on the visitors sideline for the score. An Alejandro Prado point after attempt made it 7 nothing early. The Bobcat defense stood strong on the Eagles first possession, as Nicholas Engler got to the qb and Kahlill Bryan forced UFTL to a 3 and out with a sack.
In the second possession for STU, sophomore quarterback Keely Watson led the offense down the field in 7 plays, capped off by another Rontavious Farmer touchdown. The Bobcats defense kept the Eagles off balance the whole day forcing a 3 and out once again. STU would fumble and lose the ball on the next drive, but Omilio Savage and Jordan Lynch would come up big stopping UFTL in 6 plays.
Ty'Quan Wiggins checked in at quarterback, taking the offense on a 72 yard drive, and taking the ball in by himself for the third touchdown of the game. The Eagles woke up a little bit as Nathan Pierre ended the drive at the visitor 28 yard line. With the ball back in their hands the Bobcats made no mistakes once again. Ty'Quan Wiggins hit Khalitri Zow for a 32 yard strike, setting up a Rontavious Farmer touchdown.
With defense giving the Eagles no breathing room ending yet another possession early, Ty'Quan Wiggins would hit Khalitri Zow once again this time for a 62 yard touchdown. The first turnover for the Bobcats defense would come off a fumble and would be landed by a swarm of Bobcats for a touchdown. After a long kickoff from Alejandro Prado Bobcats for yet another 3 and out as D'Andre Lake and Willie Webb Jr. stood up the UFTL running back at the visitor 31 yard line.
David Hayes came alive in the next possession as Keely Watson hit him for a 48 yard touchdown that we get called back for holding. Watson would look right back to Hayes over the middle for an incredible one handed catch to get in the scoring range. Watson would once go back to Hayes, this time going 21 yards to the house. The Bobcats defense would push the Eagles defense back in 4 plays leading the first half 49-0.
Despite kicking off to start the half the STU offense would get the ball back fairly quick as the defense forced another 3 and out. This drive was all Rontavious Farmer on the offensive line. Farmer rushed 4 times, with the 4th one going 23 yards to the end zone. In case you were wondering, this team has got some running backs. With back to back all rushing drives this time running back Ashton Davis rushed 5 times with the 5th going 25 yards all the way for the score.
The Eagles found some life in their next drive, driving down the field in 9 plays to put 7 up on the board. The Bobcat offense would keep possession for almost 10 minutes and 18 plays once again leading on Ashton Davis, ending in a touchdown rush by Ty'Quan Wiggins. Fort Lauderdale would manage to put 7 more on the board, and STU went into victory formation to end the game 70-14.
Box Score Notables
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Ty'Quan Wiggins- 2 cmp, 94 yds., 1 td
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Keely Watson- 4 cmp, 70 yds., 1 td
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Rontavious Farmer- 141 yds., 4 tds
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Ashton Davis- 86 yds., 1 td
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Khalitri Zow- 2 rec., 94 yds., 1 td
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David Hayes- 2 rec., 53 yds., 1 td
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D'Andre Lake- 6 tot, 2 tfl, 2 sacks
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Omilio Savage- 3 tot, 1 tfl, 1 sacks
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Nicholas Engler- 2 tot, 1 tfl, 1 sack
