ISRAEL - COOPER'S HEROICS LEADS BOBCATS IN COMEBACK WIN
LAKE WALES, Fla. (November 2, 2019) – St. Thomas University Football (3-5, 1-3 MSC) won in a dramatic, come-from-behind, 38-31 win over Warner University (1-7, 0-4 MSC) to earn the programs' first-ever overtime and Mid-South Conference win on Saturday afternoon from Vikings Field.
Bobcat Captains
Donnell Bennett III – Linebacker
Keyshon Gardner – Running Back
Game Notes
Kalani Ilimaleota – Adams: 26/48, 287 yards, four touchdowns
John Israel – Cooper: 13 receptions, 161 yards, three touchdowns
Dametrius Love: ten tackles, interception
Upcoming
St. Thomas plays their final road game of the season, taking on No. 10 Keiser University on Saturday, November 9 from Keiser University. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Bobcat Captains
Donnell Bennett III – Linebacker
Keyshon Gardner – Running Back
Game Notes
- On the Bobcats opening possession of the game, STU stalled and went "three-and-out", punting and giving Warner the ball on the STU-42.
- Within three plays, WU scored their first touchdown of the game, putting St. Thomas behind 0-7 within three minutes.
- STU tried to quickly tie the game, but fumbled on their third play of the following drive, once again giving the Royals positive field position.
- Seven plays later, Warner added another touchdown, this time on a ten-yard rushing score to push the lead to 14-0.
- Warner attempted and failed to convert an onside kick, which STU linebacker, Wendy Francois recovered on the 50-yardline.
- St. Thomas struck quickly, as the Kalani Ilimaleota – Adams and John Israel – Cooper connection resulted in a 50-yard touchdown pass, for the Bobcats first score of the game.
- After the STU defense forced a stop of the Warner offense, Billy McConnell added three-points on a field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10.
- Warner's final possession of the first quarter, resulted in another Royals touchdown, as WU went 67-yards in three plays to finish the quarter up 21-10.
- Neither team scored in the second quarter, as St. Thomas went into the halftime break trailing 21-10.
- Warner added another touchdown, on their first possession of the second half, extending their lead to 28-10.
- McConnell made his presence felt as a punter, as well. McConnell placed a punt within the WU 20-yard line, pinning Warner back on their fourteen.
- David Crawford recorded his first interception of the season, swinging the momentum and giving STU a chance to get back into the game.
- Mark Fontana was the bell-cow back for the Bobcats, pounding the ball in from six-yards out, to cut the deficit to 28-17.
- WU responded with a field goal, putting STU down, 31-17.
- Trailing 31-17 as the game entered the fourth quarter, STU needed a quick score and Ilimaletoa – Adams did just that. The quarterback led a nine-play, 79-yard drive, capped off by a Lewis Oviedo 19-yard reception for a score, bringing the Bobcats within one score at 31-24.
- STU's defense forced three consecutive "three-and-outs" to give the offense one last chance to tie the game with less than three minutes remaining.
- The Bobcats went 80-yards, in nine plays, to tie the game. Ilimaleota – Adams connected once again with Israel – Cooper, this time from three-yards out, with 51-seconds remaining in the game.
- In the overtime period, Israel – Cooper found the end-zone for the third time, scoring from nine-yards away to give the Bobcats their first lead of the game and completing the comeback.
- The Bobcat defense forced one last stop, finishing the comeback, 38-31 win for the first Mid-South Conference win in program history.
Kalani Ilimaleota – Adams: 26/48, 287 yards, four touchdowns
John Israel – Cooper: 13 receptions, 161 yards, three touchdowns
Dametrius Love: ten tackles, interception
Upcoming
St. Thomas plays their final road game of the season, taking on No. 10 Keiser University on Saturday, November 9 from Keiser University. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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