BABSON PARK, Fla. – Florida Memorial University had arguably its toughest offensive outing of the 2020 season Saturday, seeing multiple drives either halted abruptly or gradually fizzle as it fell 56-7 to host Webber International University on the Warriors Turf Field.
FMU (0-3, 0-1 Sun Conference), which will host its first home football game in over 62 years this coming Saturday (Oct. 3) at Traz Powell Stadium, was able to get on the board in a fairly grand fashion. After pinning the Webber International offense deep in its own territory and forcing it into a three-and-out, Lions freshman linebacker Logan Lockhart got through blockers and blocked the ensuing punt, allowing FMU to fall on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
It was Florida Memorial’s first special teams touchdown in modern-era program history and allowed the Lions to set a new season-high for points scored after freshman kicker Victor Barbosa made the extra point attempt following the touchdown.
Unlike the previous two weeks, Florida Memorial’s offense struggled to find its footing Saturday. FMU manufactured just five first downs, finished with just eight rushing yards, and 121 passing yards. It also didn’t help that the Lions threw six interceptions against a Warriors defensive secondary that had shown itself to be susceptible to giving up big plays in the passing game.
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Freshman receiver Corey Stanley was the most productive Lion Saturday, finishing with 69 receiving yards on four catches while also accounting for the team’s longest offensive play of the day – a 45-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
FMU played three quarterbacks Saturday – incumbent sophomore starter Antoine Williams and freshmen Jordan Elliot and Demarcus McEachern. Williams was 8-of-24 for 62 yards with three interceptions; McEachern went 2-for-4 for 51 yards with a pair of interceptions, and Elliot did not complete a pass (0-for-5) and threw an interception.
Webber International (1-2), conversely, amassed 465 yards of total offense (233 rushing and 232 passing).
Florida Memorial freshman defensive back Terry Smith did record the program’s first interception of the season – and in modern-era history – while Philman Roundtree led the team in total tackles with eight (five solo and three assisted) and a tackle-for-loss. Joshua Mimms finished with six total tackles; and Keane Lewis, Lyndon Edwards, and Quaylen Hill all finished with five total tackles. Hill also finished with a team-high two tackles-for-loss.
Florida Memorial only trailed the Warriors 7-0 at the end of the first, but saw its deficit balloon to 35-0 by halftime. Webber International tacked on three more scores in the second half, including an interception return for a score early in the third quarter.
Courtesy: Florida Memorial Athletics