Miami Gardens, Fla. - In a transcendent moment for the St. Thomas University Football Team on Saturday afternoon, the 14th-ranked Bobcats held the fifth-ranked Lindsey Wilson University that entered the contest ranked second in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in scoring to one touchdown in a 17-7 triumph. The victory marks the program's first victory over a team ranked in the top-five.
The Bobcats started the scoring on their opening drive, with Jalen Daniels connecting with Alfred Jordan on a 77-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 with 8:28 remaining in the first quarter. Lindsey Wilson evened the score late in the second quarter behind a 61-yard drive to create a 7-7 halftime score.
STU capitalized on a Blue Raiders' fumble midway through the third quarter to reclaim possession and take the lead with a field goal before a three-yard pass from Daniels to Isaiah Lopez extended the Bobcats' lead to 17-7.
Jalen Daniels went 17-27 for 223 and two touchdowns, with Jordan receiving eight of the passes for 162 yards and one score. Lopez rushed for 95 yards while catching one touchdown pass.
On the defensive side, Zach Marino and Victor Jenkins each had eight tackles, with Marino adding a 14-yard sack while Jenkins recovered one fumble. Leondrez Leonard forced two fumbles while Kisler Wilson boasted two sacks for 10 lost yards.
As a team, the Bobcats had 340 total yards, 223 by air and 117 on the ground. Ranked second in the NAIA for rushing yards allowed, St. Thomas held the fifth-ranked team to 37 rushing yards with 206 passing for 243 overall.
The Bobcats enter their bye week before traveling to Ave Maria on Saturday, Oct. 3 with kickoff set for 7:00 pm.
