Florida Tech Shuts Out Mississippi College On the Road Saturday 35-0

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After opening the Gulf South Conference slate with a victory over Shorter, Florida Tech (3-1, 2-0 GSC) got a shutout win in Clinton, Mississippi, for its first GSC road game of the year against the Mississippi College Choctaws (0-4, 0-2 GSC) on Saturday at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – After opening the Gulf South Conference slate with a victory over Shorter, Florida Tech (3-1, 2-0 GSC) got a shutout win in Clinton, Mississippi, for its first GSC road game of the year against the Mississippi College Choctaws (0-4, 0-2 GSC) on Saturday at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

This was the fourth meeting between the teams and the Panthers are now 4-0 against the Choctaws.

This is a developing story, Stay Tuned To Space Coast Daily for the updates

PREVIEW

Mississippi College has struggled against GSC competition since becoming a full-time football member of the league at the beginning of the 2016 season. The Choctaws are 1-8 so far in their membership with the one victory coming against Shorter, 30-0, on the road on Nov. 5, 2016.

Florida Tech will look to return to above .500 on the road against the Choctaws. The Panthers are 13-13 overall in road games, including a 6-8 overall mark versus GSC opponents. FIT’s last league road victory came against West Georgia 45-21 on Nov. 5, 2016 in Carrolton, Ga.

Mississippi College was handed a 42-13 defeat to West Alabam in its GSC opener on Saturday. The Choctaws struck first in the contest, with Nathan Faciane scoring on an 87-yard touchdown pass from Ty Jobe. However, MC’s momentum quickly vanished and the Choctaws were outscored 42-6 the rest of the game.

The Choctaw offense is averaging 17.0 points and 297.7 yards a game, 125.3 on the ground and 172.3 through the air. On the other side, the MC defense has allowed an average of 35.3 points and 370.0 yards per game.

Jobe has completed 35-of-67 attempts for 456 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The junior quarterback also has three rushing touchdowns in three games.

Faciane has been Jobe’s main target through three games. The sophomore wideout has caught eight passes for 180 yards and a touchdown. Ja’Moz Mark is also a threat on the boundaries, making nine receptions for 109 yards and a score through the air.

Tiberias Lampkin is the Choctaws’ top rushing threat, racking up 180 yards on 36 carries. Alizee Chubbs is next in line with 22 rushes and 81 yards.

Blake Miller guides the MC defense with 17 total tackles from the defensive back position. Carl Rainey, Jr. is a force in the middle for the Choctaws with 13 total tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.

Following an impressive performance in Florida Tech’s victory in its Gulf South Conference opener, running back Antwuan Haynes has been named the GSC’s Offensive Player of the Week.
Florida Tech’s Antwuan Haynes Tabbed Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the WeekRelated Story:
Florida Tech’s Antwuan Haynes Tabbed Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week

Florida Tech is coming off a 31-6 victory over Shorter on Saturday, in which the Panthers racked up a season-high 510 yards of offense on 340 rushing and 170 passing. The defense limited the Hawks to just 184 total yards on 115 yards passing and 69 yards on the ground, and no offensive touchdowns.

Antwuan Haynes’ reeled in GSC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday after carrying the ball 19 times for a season-high 188 yards and two touchdowns. Haynes’ ranks second in the GSC in both total rushing yards (250) and yards per game (83.3). The junior’s three touchdowns are fourth most in the league.

Mark Cato has passed for 463 yards and three touchdowns, while completing 55.2 percent of his passes in two starts this season. His 231.5 yards per game average is second most in the GSC.

Wide receivers Romell Guerrier and Demetrius Frazier have been some of the main contributors through the first three games. Guerrier has a team-high 14 catches for 176 yards and two scores, while Frazier has recorded 10 receptions for 136 yards and one touchdown and

Linebackers Marquise Lewis and J.T. Hassell lead the Panther defense with 17.5 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, apiece.  Adonis Davis has a team-best 4.0 tackles for loss, while his two sacks rank third most in the league.

Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scott will have the call from Robinson-Hale Stadium on 89.5 FM WFIT and WFIT.org. Links to live coverage for Saturday’s game can be accessed at FloridaTechSports.com

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