• FLORIDA TECH:Gabe Hughes 80 yards pass for touchd0wn
Senior Tight End, Devin Frutchey, honored during Senior night.
ABOVE VIDEO:Mark Cato rushes for 2 yards for the touchdown but Josh Davidson’s kick attempt was blocked.
Heritage High School’s band preformed during Florida Tech’s halftime show.
GAME PREVIEW:
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOUNRE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech will welcome No. 25 Valdosta Stateto town for Senior Day at Palm Bay High School’s Pirate Stadium. The game, scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET kickoff, also marks FIT’s second annual Military Appreciation Game and Scouts Day.
Military will receive free admission by displaying their military ID at the main ticket gate at Pirate Stadium. Also, boy and girl scouts, who wear their uniform, will receive free admission as well. Gates open and tickets will be available at the stadium starting at 4:30 p.m.
Steve Englehart
“We have to play extremely well. Valdosta State is a great program and they have been for quite some time,” said head coach Steve Englehart.
“Their only losses are to a Winston-Salem State team that is ranked very high and to a North Alabama team where UNA had to kick a late 54-yard field goal to beat Valdosta State. They are on a roll right now and playing really well and we are going to have to play really well to beat them. The good thing is that it’s our Senior Day and we’re at home. Valdosta State has a ton to play for with being top-six in the region and playing for the playoffs, but we have a ton to play for too. What we have to play for is those seniors. It’s potentially their last game in a Florida Tech uniform so we have a lot to play for and we’re excited.”
The Panthers’ game in Carrolton, Georgia was much closer than the final score of 49-35 would indicate.
FIT scored with just over two minutes remaining to draw the contest even before the Wolves marched down the field and scored with less than a minute to play. UWG sealed the game with a late interception return for a touchdown.
Trevor Sand put forth another impressive workman like effort, totaling 137 yards and two scores on 26 carries. With the big game, the redshirt sophomore became FIT’s first ever 1,000-yard rusher, sitting currently at 1,058 yards on the season.
Aaron George returned from injury to lead the Panther receivers, tallying 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five catches. Mark Cato struggled much of the night, completing 16 of 43 passes for 231 yards, three scores and two interceptions.
On defense, Keith Lovett led the group with nine tackles, while Chris Stapleton registered eight tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble. J.J. Sanders was also in the Wolves’ backfield frequently, garnering 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Justin Arcune created the other FIT takeaway, recording an interception.
Trevor Sand is FIT’s first ever 1,000-yard rusher, sitting currently at 1,058 yards on the season. (Florida Tech image)
The Blazers are coming off a 36-7 win over UNC-Pembroke. Kaleb Nobles completed 24 of his 38 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns. Following the game, Nobles was named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
Shane Henderson was on the receiving end of three of those scoring passes, recording five receptions for 78 total yards. The Blazers received two interceptions, one from John McWilliams and one from Tavaris Williams. Additionally, Bryant Pinkney and Rodney Hunter each forced a fumble, with Duran Lowe and Nick Davis recovering.
Prior to the game at 5:30 p.m., the American Legion Post 406 will hold a flag retirement ceremony behind the south end zone. FIT’s 12 seniors will then be recognized for their contributions to the program.
Starting at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, you can watch the Live Stream of the Valdosta State vs. Florida Tech game right here on SpaceCoastDaily.com.
Halftime will feature the return of the Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi of Melbourne Punt, Pass and Kick Competition. Brian Ashley successfully completed the competition to win an Audi A3 courtesy of the local luxury dealership the last time it was held on Oct. 25.
The game can be heard on the Panthers’ new Official Radio Partner WFIT 89.5 FM. Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scottwill start Saturday’s broadcast with a pregame show at 5:30 p.m. The broadcast can also be heard at WFIT.org and through the free TuneIn Radio app.
Links to live video, audio and stats will be available at FloridaTechSports.com.
