Panthers Get National Attention After Big Win In Texas
By Space Coast Daily // September 23, 2014
ABOVE VIDEO: Florida Tech head coach Steve Englehart celebrates the Panthers historic win over the twelfth ranked Tarleton State Texans last Saturday at the AT&T Stadium home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. It is the first time in Florida Tech’s first two years of football competition that the Panthers came out victorious against a ranked opponent.
Florida Tech Receives 39 Votes In American Football Coaches Association Division II Poll
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The second year Florida Tech Panther football program received 39 votes in this week’s 2014 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll after their stunning 37-31 victory over 12th ranked Tarleton State Texans.
Florida Tech played the Texans of Tarleton State as part of the four-game slate of the Lone Star Football Festival at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. It is the first time in Florida Tech’s first two years of football competition that the Panthers came out victorious against a ranked opponent.
Mark Cato racked up a career-high 354 yards and two scores on 25 of 38 through the air to help lead the Panthers to the best record to start a season in program history at 3-0.
Junior linebacker J.J. Sanders was named the Panthers’ first-ever GSC Defensive Player of the Week and redshirt freshman quarterback Mark Cato picked up his third-straight freshman of the week honor following Florida Tech’s 37-31 upset of 12th ranked Tarleton State on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In his first game of the season, Sanders was all over the field making big play after big play. The Columbus, Ohio native led the Panthers with 12 tackles and recorded a game-high 3.5 tackles for loss, including a sack, for 19 yards.
Sanders capped off his stellar day by forcing a Tarleton State fumble late in the game, allowing the Panthers to run out the majority of the clock and seal the victory.
Cato didn’t skip a beat after two impressive performances in the Panthers first two games, completing 24 of 37 passes for a career-high 297 yards and two touchdowns.
The redshirt freshman also chipped in 44 yards rushing on 13 carries. The Alachua, Florida native showed some late-game heroics, tossing the game-winning touchdown pass from seven yards out to Tyler Bass with just 3:56 to play in the game.
The Panthers return to action this Saturday as the panthers travels to Daytona Beach, Florida to take on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Kickoff at Larry Kelly Field at Municipal Stadium is set for 4 p.m. ET.
2014 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll