Florida Tech Finishes 2017 Season With Road Matchup Against Delta State Today

By  //  November 11, 2017

The Florida Tech football team aims to end the 2017 regular season on a high note when it squares off with Gulf South Conference foe Delta State on Saturday at Horace McCool Stadium in Cleveland, Mississippi. (FIT Image)

CLEVELAND, MISSISSIPPI – The Florida Tech football team aims to end the 2017 regular season on a high note when it squares off with Gulf South Conference foe Delta State on Saturday at Horace McCool Stadium in Cleveland, Mississippi.

The matchup is the Florida’s Space Coast GSC Football Game of the Week and will be streamed live on ESPN3.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET.

ABOUT THE MATCHUP

The series between the Panthers and Statesmen is tied 2-2 with both teams 1-1 on the other’s home field. FIT has won the last two meetings, including a 41-37 victory on Oct. 3, 2015 at McCool Stadium. The Crimson and Gray then routed DSU last season, 42-16, at Panther Stadium.

The Panthers are 5-5 overall this season and rest in the seventh spot of the GSC standings at 3-4 in league play. Delta State holds a 7-3 record and is third in the conference rankings at 4-3. FIT is 2-3 in road games in 2017, while DSU is 3-2 at McCool Stadium.

ABOUT FLORIDA TECH

The Panthers are coming off consecutive losses to Valdosta State, 14-42, and No. 25 West Georgia, 13-20. Last week’s loss was much more heart wrenching, as FIT held a lead over the Wolves up until the final minute of regulation. UWG scored 10 points over the closing 48 seconds on a 23 yard field goal and a 42 yard interception return to steal the victory at Panther Stadium.

Florida Tech ranks fifth in the conference in total offense (378.8) and sixth in scoring offense (26.9) this season. The defense is third best in the GSC in total defense (300.6), while allowing the sixth most points per game (23.3) in the league.

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A pair of Panthers have a the chance to set some major milestones in Saturday’s game. Junior running back Antwuan Haynes only needs 68 more yards to reach his second straight 1,000-yard season. Junior defensive line Adonis Davis surpassed the single season sack record last week and now has 7.5 for the year. Davis only needs 1.5 more sacks to tie the all-time FIT record of 15.5 sacks, held by J.J. Sanders.

ABOUT DELTA STATE

The Statesmen are fresh off earning a 33-30 overtime road victory against future GSC football member North Greenville last Saturday. DSU had lost consecutive games to Valdosta State and North Alabama prior to last week’s win. In addition to its appearance in this week’s Super Region 2 poll, Delta State is also receiving votes in the AFCA Division II Rankings.

Chris Robinson is the top threat for the Delta State offensively, boasting a league-best 10 rushing touchdowns to go along with 869 yards on the ground. Robinson is also the leading receiver for DSU with 147 yards and two touchdowns on 25 catches.

DSU is the GSC leader in both rushing offense (205.5) and rushing defense (101.9) this season. The Statesmen also rank in the top four of the league in scoring offense (28.4) and scoring defense (21.1).

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