Florida Tech’s Milton, Sanders, Cato Earn Football Honors
By Ryan Jones, Florida Tech Athletic Communications // November 4, 2014
Gulf South Conference Players of the Week
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech senior wide receiver Xavier Milton, junior linebacker J.J. Sanders and redshirt freshman quarterback Mark Cato have all received Gulf South Conference Player of the Week honors following Saturday’s dramatic 34-30 win over Shorter, it was announced on Monday.
It is the first time this season that one school has received three of the four weekly conference awards. FIT now leads all conference members with a total of 13 player of the week awards.
Milton claims his first conference laurel after recording 168 yards and three touchdowns on 10 receptions. The senior wide out hauled in the game-winning 41-yard scoring pass as time expired to shock the Hawks and sour Shorter’s Homecoming. Milton registered more than half of FIT’s 19 catches in the game.
Sanders garners his second GSC Defensive Player of the Week Award following his disruptive performance against the Hawks.
The Columbus, Ohio native tied his own school record for total tackles in a game with 15. Additionally, Sanders tallied 2.5 tackles for a loss, including a sack, totaling 24 yards of lost yardage.
It is the seventh time this season that Cato has been named freshman of the week. The former Gainesville High School standout connected on 19 of 31 passes, amassing 285 yards and four touchdown tosses. The Panther signal caller also registered 12 rushing yards in the contest.
West Georgia return specialist Denarius Appling brought home the GSC Special Teams Player of the Week Award.
FIT will return to the Peach State this Saturday for another GSC road showdown. The Panthers will battle West Georgia in Carollton, Georgia with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. The game will be carried live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
A live radio broadcast of Saturday’s game will be available on the new Official Radio Partner of the Panthers, WFIT 89.5 FM, with Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scott calling the game. The broadcast can also be heard online by clicking on the ‘Listen Live’ button in the top left hand corner at WFIT.org or through the free TuneIn Radio app.
Tickets are available for the Panthers’ lone remaining home contest of the 2014 season on Saturday, Nov. 15 against Valdosta State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Palm Bay High School’s Pirate Stadium. Tickets are in the general admission sections for $10 for adults and $5 for seniors ages 65 and above, youth ages 5-16, FIT employees with ID and military with ID. Children ages four and under are free.
Tickets are available by dialing 321-674-6228 and by visiting the Clemente Center Ticket Office Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
