As the GSC-TV Game of the Week, presented by Florida’s Space Coast, the game will be streamed live nationally on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE LIVE STREAM.Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scott will call the radio broadcast of the Panther – Wolves game, which will be available on 89.5 FM WFIT. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE
GAME PREVIEW
Panthers Take on Top-Ranked Wolves in Football Program’s Biggest Game In History
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The game has been described by many as the biggest in program history.
It’s easy to see why as there is much to play for on Saturday when Florida Tech (6-3, 4-1 GSC) takes on No. 1 West Georgia (9-0, 5-0 GSC) at 1 p.m. ET at Florida Tech Panther Stadium.
As the GSC-TV Game of the Week, presented by Florida’s Space Coast, the game will be streamed live nationally on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
Additionally, the contest will be available on your television dial as part of the ESPN College Extra lineup.
The contest would be pretty big no matter what, with the game representing not only Homecoming for the Panthers but also Senior Day.
When you throw in the fact that the Gulf South Conference Championship race will be effected greatly for both teams, and that FIT is chasing it’s first-ever playoff bid, the ramifications couldn’t be much bigger.
Florida Tech head coach Steve Englehart makes no bones about it, he understands the difficult task laying in front of his team.
“They are ranked No. 1 in the country for a reason,” he said.
Steve Englehart
“They are a very good football team, there is very little that I could find on film where they are deficient. They are strong at every position on defense. Offensively, they use a lot of formations and they run the ball really well.
“Dallas Dickey is having a great year managing the game, throwing the ball and they run the ball with him as well. Our defense has a tough job in front of them this weekend. Offensively, we’ve got to play well. We can’t turn the football over and hopefully we get some big plays as well. It’s going to take a great effort from all phases of the game to get a win.”
Not surprisingly as the top ranked team, the Wolves rank near the top in many statistical categories not only in the GSC but in the entire nation.
UWG boasts the No. 1 scoring offense and defense in the conference at 40.9 points per game and 14.1 points per game, respectively. Those numbers rank 13th and fourth, respectively, in all of Division II.
The Wolves hold their opponents to an astonishingly low 234.7 yards per game, best in the GSC. UWG also gives up a league-low 91 yards of rushing per contest, while allowing just 143.7 yards per game through the air.
The Wolves 234.3 yards rushing per game ranks second in the GSC, behind only the triple option attack of Shorter.
UWG’s Devontae Jackson ranks fifth in the conference in rushing at 59.9 per game, while Aares McCall is just two spots back at 50.6 per contest. QB Dallas Dickey only passes for 162.8 yards per game, fifth in the conference. However, his 14 touchdown passes are tied for third most. At receiver, Qa Walker ranks second with six scoring receptions.
On defense, Alex Armah is third in the conference with 12.0 tackles for loss, while teammate Dylan Donahue ranks fourth with 10.0 of his own. Armah tops the GSC in sacks with eight, while Donahue is second with seven.
Last week, FIT notched its fifth win in a row, outlasting Shorter in a hard fought 28-24 contest. The Panthers defeated the Hawks by four points for the third consecutive year.
True freshman running back Antwuan Haynes put on a show for the home crowd last week, breaking school records with 242 yards and 28 carries. Haynes was named the National Player of the Week as well as the GSC Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week in recognition of the performance. (Florida Tech image)
True freshman running back Antwuan Haynes put on a show for the home crowd, breaking school records with 242 yards and 28 carries. Haynes was named the National Player of the Week as well as the GSC Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week in recognition of the performance.
Mark Cato was a little off in the passing game with just 121 yards and a score but also added a pair of rushing touchdowns. T.J. Lowder hauled in three passes for 70 yards.
Tevin Kirkland had a monster game, tallying nine tackles, three tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Chris Stapleton was equally impressive with a game-high 14 tackles, one TFL, a forced fumble and an interception.
Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scott will call a radio broadcast of the game, which will be available on 89.5 FM WFIT, at WFIT.org and through the free TuneIn Radio app.
Mark Cato was a little off in the passing game with just 121 yards and a score but also added a pair of rushing touchdowns. T.J. Lowder hauled in three passes for 70 yards.
