AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (0-2) at Webber International University Warriors (0-2)
When: Saturday, September 26, 2020
Where: Webber International, Babson Park, Fla. | Warrior Turf Field
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m.
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Live Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/webber/
Live Stats: https://webberathletics.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Sports might be the most result-oriented entity there is.
Looking solely at the results, Florida Memorial University took another tough loss (42-6) on the chin last Saturday at Ave Maria University. But what the result alone won’t show is the tangible improvements that the Lions made from its first opening week game (at No. 9 Keiser University) to its week two’s tilt this past weekend.
FMU will be looking to build on those positives and potentially earn the program’s first road – and overall win in 62 years – when it travels to Babson Park, Florida to take on Webber International University Saturday afternoon on Warriors Turf Field.
Saturday’s game, which is set to kickoff at 1:30 p.m., will be the Lions’ first official Mid-South Conference game of the season. While the first two games of the season were against Mid-South Conference opponents, because the teams will be meeting twice this season, only the second meetings will count towards the Lions’ conference record.
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Once again, FMU fans will only be able to watch the game online via live stream. Webber International, like all Mid-South Conference schools, is only allowing its home fans to attend its games.
Saturday’s game will also be a battle of teams that are looking to taste victory for the first time this season. The Warriors (0-2) lost its first two games of the year, falling (24-17) to Warner University in its season-opener and getting thoroughly handled (52-7) by Keiser University this past weekend.
What should give Lions fans and the Lions themselves reason for high optimism is the fact that Florida Memorial showed multiple signs of improvement this past weekend.
The most evident of those being the potency of the Lions’ passing offense. FMU more than tripled its output in terms of total passing from week one to week two as sophomore quarterback Antoine Williams racked up 372 passing yards, and the team nearly had two freshman receivers surpass the 100-yard mark – with Jacarie Peak’s game-high 102 receiving yards and Ternard Summerall’s 92 yards in his first collegiate game.
FMU head coach Tim Harris Sr. spoke during this past week about the difference it made having Summerall active and a part of the offense.
“Having [Summerall] gives us a different dynamic, a speed dynamic, that makes our offense operate better on the outside,” Harris said.
The matchup against Webber International could align itself to be a positive one for FMU, given that the Warriors have given six passing touchdowns this season and is allowing seven yards per completion so far this season.
For Florida Memorial’s defense, it’ll have to show it can be stout against the run Saturday. The Warriors have run the ball an average of 35 times through the first two weeks of the season – led by quarterback Cody Braden and freshman running back Sinica Sigler.
The one consistent bane for the Lions through the first two weeks has been special teams. FMU gave up long kickoff returns in each of the first two games – with Ave Maria returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Also, the team had a handling miscue during its extra point attempt this past weekend, forcing a failed kick.
Shoring its special teams while continuing to build positive momentum on offense and defense, could put Florida Memorial in position to topple the Warriors Saturday.
Courtesy: Florida Memorial Athletics
