Cato Honored By GSC For Second Consecutive Week

By  //  September 16, 2014

Freshman qb led panthers to second win

ABOVE VIDEO: Florida Tech quarterback Mark Cato was 7 out of 15 passing for 191 yards and a TD as he lead the Panthers over Stetson 54-12 in week one of the 2014 season.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – For the second week in a row Florida Tech redshirt freshman quarterback Mark Cato has received Gulf South Conference Player of the Week honors.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Mark Cato has been named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive week. (Florida Tech)
Redshirt freshman quarterback Mark Cato has been named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive week. (Florida Tech)

Following his strong performance in Saturday’s win over Ave Maria, Cato has earned his second GSC Freshman of the Week Award in as many weeks, it was announced Monday.

In Florida Tech’s home opener, the former Gainesville High School standout led the Panthers to a 42-6 romping of the Gyrenes of Ave Maria. Cato connected for three touchdowns and 179 yards through the air on 11 of 23 passing in the game.

Cato, Juriga Named Florida Tech Athletes of the WeekRelated Story:
Cato, Juriga Named Florida Tech Athletes of the Week

With 3:54 remaining in the first quarter, Cato unloaded a strike to a fully extended Aaron George in the end zone for the 39 yard touchdown.

Early in the third quarter, the redshirt freshman gunslinger stepped through pressure and with a flick of the wrist found a wide openWayne Saunders II in the end zone for an eight yard score.

Steve Englehart
Steve Englehart

Cato capped his night’s work with a perfectly placed 57 yard touchdown pass to a streaking George for their second scoring connection of the game.

Shorter safety Jordan Shaw was named the conference’s defensive player of the week. Valdosta State’s Jake Murdock, who plays quarterback and punter for the Blazers, earned both offensive and special teams player of the week honors.

With this week’s award, Cato becomes the first Panther to earn conference player of the week honors in multiple weeks. Punter Brion Ashley was named special teams player of the week following week two of Florida Tech’s inaugural 2013 season.

Florida Tech continues its season this Saturday as the Panthers travel to Arlington, Texas to take part in the Lone Star Football Festival at awe-inspiring AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. Florida Tech will compete against the number 12 ranked Texans of Tarleton State at 5 p.m. CST/6 p.m. EST.

A live radio broadcast of Saturday’s game will be available on the new Official Radio Partner of the Panthers, WFIT 89.5 FM, with Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scott calling the game.