Florida Tech Demolishes Mississippi College In 2016 Home Opener 41-0, Improves Overall Record 2-0
By Florida Tech // September 11, 2016
Florida tech 41, Mississippi College 0 - FINAL
ABOVE VIDEO: Florida Tech Football Head Coach Steve Englehart after his Panthers defeated Mississippi College 41-0.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – There were two ways that Florida Tech asserted itself against Mississippi College Saturday night in the home opener at Florida Tech Panther Stadium, with its run game and with its defense.
Florida Tech piled up 368 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, averaging a massive 9.2 yards per attempt as the Panthers defeated Mississippi College 41-0.
On the other side of the ball, the Panthers bowed slightly but never allowed Choctaws to enter the red zone, posting the second shutout in program history and the first against a Division II opponent.
Two Panthers broke the century mark, with both needing less than 10 carries to do so. Antwuan Haynes carried nine times for 116 yards, while Gary Holmes needed just six touches to accumulate 111 rush yards, including a school-record 85-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth.
ABOVE VIDEO: Steve Wilson talks with Andrew Adair after the Panthers shut out Mississippi College 41-0.
The Defense used an all-around effort to flummox Mississippi College, though Andrew Adair flashed with eight tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Adonis Davis posted four stops including a pair of TFLs and a sack, while Chris Stapleton was steady as usual, snagging seven tackles.
It didn’t take the Panthers long to make a splash as Haynes broke through the Choctaw defense on the opening drive, jetting to a 52-yard opening score. FIT scored three times in the second to break things open, with a Haynes touchdown dash sandwiched by a pair of Trevor Sand bulldozing carries for six.
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Coming out of the half with a 28-0 lead, the Panthers found pay dirt two more times in the second stanza. Mark Cato beat the defense to the pylon in the third quarter, flipping over a pair of defenders on a 15-yard touchdown dive. A few minutes later, Holmes opened the fourth with his historic long-distance dash.
The Panthers return to Gulf South Conference action next Saturday, hitting the Peach State for a duel with conference foe Shorter at 7 p.m. ET in Rome, Ga. Paul Van Scott and Jerry Durney will have the call on 89.5 FM WFIT.
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SEE MORE VIDEO AND IMAGES BELOW
ABOVE VIDEO: Florida Tech QB Mark Cato After Saturday Night’s Big Win Over Mississippi College 41-0.
ABOVE VIDEO: Mark Cato beat the defense to the pylon in the third quarter, flipping over a pair of defenders on a 15-yard touchdown dive.
ABOVE VIDEO: Gary Holmes opened the fourth with his historic long-distance dash.
