Program First Helps Land Florida Tech’s Gary Holmes GSC Special Teams Player of the Week
By Florida Tech // October 5, 2015
BREVARD COUNTY • MEBLOURNE, FLORIDA – After recording Florida Tech’s first-ever kickoff return for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 41-37 upset victory over No. 5 Delta State, FIT’s Gary Holmes has been named the Gulf South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 5.
With the honor, the West Palm Beach, Florida native becomes FIT’s first GSC Special Teams Player of the week since former Panther Brion Ashley in 2013.
Holmes returned two kicks for a total of 124 yards in the Panthers’ monumental conference victory Saturday night in Cleveland, Mississippi.
With the Panthers holding a narrow seven-point lead after the game’s first two quarters, Holmes hauled in the opening kickoff of the second half five yards deep in the end zone. After stumbling and regaining his balance, he picked up speed, made a well-timed cut, hit a seam and outran the coverage for a 105-yard trip for six.
In addition to the historic kick return, Holmes also gave the Panthers their first lead of the game, dashing into the end zone from 11 yards out to put FIT up 10-3 late in the first quarter.
In total, the redshirt-sophomore carried eight times for 39 yards. He finished the contest for a game-high 163 all-purpose yards.
Shorter quarterback Aaron Bryant was named the GSC Offensive Player of the Week, while DSU defensive back Jon Knox secured the defensive award.
Additionally, West Alabama quarterback Harry Satterwhite received the conference freshman of the week honor.
FIT returns home on Saturday, facing off against the Tigers of West Alabama at 7 p.m. ET at Florida Tech Panther Stadium
Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scott will call the game on WFIT 89.5 FM.
The broadcast will also be available at WFIT.org and through the free TuneIn Radio app.
