Florida Tech Takes On No. 18 West Alabama Today, Panthers Look to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

By  //  October 21, 2017

GSC Game of the week live streamed on ESPN3

ABOVE VIDEO: Space Coast Daily’s Alan Zlotorzynski brings you the Florida Tech Panthers Kickoff Show.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — Florida Tech Football returns to Panther Stadium this Saturday, Oct. 21, for a Gulf South Conference showdown with No. 18 West Alabama. The matchup between the Panthers and Tigers is the GSC Game of the Week and will be live streamed on ESPN3 and the ESPN app. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET.

Florida Tech (4-3, 2-2 GSC) is tied for fourth overall in the GSC, while West Alabama (6-1, 5-0 GSC) sits atop the league standings.

ABOUT THE MATCHUP:

This will be the fifth all-time meeting between FIT and West Alabama. The series is tied 2-2 with UWA winning last year’s meeting 45-35 in Livingston.

The matchup features the GSC’s top offense and the top defense. The Tigers lead the league in passing offense (282.0), scoring (41.5) and touchdowns (38), while the Panthers are limiting opponents to 128.6 yards passing and 18.6 points per game, both league-bests.

The Panthers rank third in the GSC in rushing offense (181.9) and fourth in passing offense (221.7) and scoring offense (28.7), while UWA is second in rushing defense (118.4) and fifth in both total defense (329.6) and scoring defense (20.4).

ABOUT FLORIDA TECH:

Cato and Adonis Davis were recognized by the GSC as the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for their performances against NGU. Cato racked up 336 yards of offense and five total touchdowns.

Florida Tech heads into this weekend fresh off a 42-31 road victory over North Greenville last Saturday in Tigerville, South Carolina. The Panthers accumulated 552 yards of total offense on 325 passing and 227 rushing, while limiting the Crusaders to 350 total yards.

Cato and Adonis Davis were recognized by the GSC as the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for their performances against NGU. Cato racked up 336 yards of offense and five total touchdowns.

The redshirt-senior passed for 325 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 11 yards and a score on the ground. Davis, on the other hand, led the Panther defense with eight total tackles, including two stops for loss and one sack.

Davis has caused havoc for opposing offenses this season and currently tops the GSC in tackles for loss per game (2.3) and sacks per game (1.0). The redshirt-junior ranks third and ninth in the nation in those two categories, respectively. Davis is also second in the GSC with 0.33 forced fumbles per game.

Running back Antwuan Haynes continues to slice up opposing defenses this season and leads the GSC in both rushing yards (761) and rushing yards per game (108.7). The junior ranks second in the league in all-purpose yards per game with 124.6.

ABOUT WEST ALABAMA

Tiger wide receiver Donta Armstrong’s 35 catches are the most in the league.

Tigers enter this week ranked No. 18 in the AFCA National Poll and 13th in the D2Football Poll. West Alabama is 3-0 against nationally ranked teams this season, defeating No. 10 North Alabama and No. 9 Delta on the road before taking down No. 22 West Georgia last week at home.

The Tigers earned a 34-31 come-from-behind victory over UWG thanks to Harry Satterwhite’s 34-yard pass to Tra Fletcher with 3:22 left. It was West Alabama’s fifth win a row.

Satterwhite leads the GSC in both passing (255.4) and total offense (258.6) this season.

Tiger wide receiver Donta Armstrong’s 35 catches are the most in the league, while tight end Qua Boyd is tied for second in the GSC with 31 receptions. Lakenderic Thomas is the top rusher on the team with 460 yards and eight touchdowns.

Terry Samuel leads the GSC with 64 tackles this season, including 8.5 for loss and three sacks.

UWA is second in the GSC in quarterback sacks with 21, while the Tiger offensive line is also second in the league in sacks allowed with just eight.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS:

Saturday’s football game is Florida Tech’s Breast Cancer Awareness Game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game in a show of support for the individuals and families impacted by breast cancer. A donation table will be set up near the entrance of the stadium, in the concession area, to accept donations prior to kickoff.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RING CEREMONY:

At halftime, Florida Tech President Dr. T. Dwayne McCay and Athletic Director Bill Jurgens will present the national championship 200-yard freestyle men’s relay team with their championship rings.
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At halftime, Florida Tech President Dr. T. Dwayne McCay and Athletic Director Bill Jurgens will present the national championship 200-yard freestyle men’s relay team with their championship rings.

The relay team of Nir Barnea, Victor Rocha Furtado, Matthew Gallene and Filip Dujmic won the title during the 2017 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.

The squad finished with a new school record and secured the swim program’s first national championship with a time of 1:19.46. It was the fourth NCAA National Championship in Florida Tech history and the fifth national championship overall.

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