STU CONCLUDES INAUGURAL SEASON WITH WIN OVER FAULKNER
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (November 16, 2019) – The St. Thomas University Bobcats Football team (4-6, 1-4 MSC) concluded the programs inaugural season, defeating Faulkner University (3-6, 1-4 MSC) 24-14 from Jones Field at Monsignor Pace HS on Hispanic Heritage Day.
STU won the program's first home game, finishing "Bobcat1" with four wins.
The Bobcats were led by a dominant defensive effort from the first quarter and on for the entire game, holding the Eagles offense to 240-yards on 77-plays for an average of 3.1 yards-per-play. St. Thomas forced three Faulkner "three-and-outs", limiting the Eagles to nineteen yards in the first quarter.
Faulkner scored the only points of the first quarter, recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. St. Thomas began the second quarter with the ball, as Kalani Ilimaleota – Adams (10/31, 76 passing yards, 2 TDs; 13 rushes/72 rushing yards, TD) capped off an eight-play/60-yard drive with a ten-yard touchdown run on a Quarterback draw to tie the game at 7-7.
St. Thomas's defense continued to roll in the second quarter, as Jhaqwori Austin returned an interception 29-yards to the Faulkner 21-yardline, giving STU the ball inside Faulkner territory. Ilimaleota – Adams found D'Amaunte Oliver(6/48/TD) in the end zone from 16-yards away to give the Bobcats a 14-7 lead.
Cyrus Turnquest added the second STU interception of the first half, giving the Bobcats back the ball on the following Faulkner possession and with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. Ilimaleota – Adams connected with Jordan Addie, for Addie's only catch, in the end zone, as St. Thomas took a 21-7 lead into the halftime break.
Neither team scored in the third, as the Bobcats began the fourth quarter with possession of the football.
In the fourth quarter, Faulkner scored their second touchdown of the game, with eight minutes remaining to cut the STU lead to 21-14. The Eagles returned a Bobcat punt 43-yards, into STU territory. Within two plays, Jayson Contreras (13 tackles) forced a fumble, which Kahlil Bryan (seven tackles) returned 67-yards and gave the Bobcats possession inside the Faulkner 10-yardline.
Billy McConell added a 23-yard field goal, extending the Bobcat lead to 24-14 with three minutes remaining in the game. Dre Dames sealed the first-ever home win, with an interception and returned it 34-yards to five the Bobcats the football at mid-field.
St. Thomas ended their inaugural season with the win, the Bobcats finished the initial campaign with a 4-6 record; featuring wins over Union (first win in program history), Allen, Warner (first Mid-South win) and Faulkner (first home win).
In-game Ceremonies
Following the first quarter, St. Thomas University honored Gus and Lilliam Machado received the "Bobcat Community Service Award", for the efforts in the Miami Gardens community. The "Gus Machado School of Business" is expected to open in 2020.
St. Thomas University partnered with the Knights of Columbus, in an effort to raise money for local families for Thanksgiving dinner. The organizations combined to raise $440, $200 from an in-game collection and $240 ($10 per-point) and will provide dinners to local parishoners in the area.
MVBobcats
STU won the program's first home game, finishing "Bobcat1" with four wins.
The Bobcats were led by a dominant defensive effort from the first quarter and on for the entire game, holding the Eagles offense to 240-yards on 77-plays for an average of 3.1 yards-per-play. St. Thomas forced three Faulkner "three-and-outs", limiting the Eagles to nineteen yards in the first quarter.
Faulkner scored the only points of the first quarter, recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. St. Thomas began the second quarter with the ball, as Kalani Ilimaleota – Adams (10/31, 76 passing yards, 2 TDs; 13 rushes/72 rushing yards, TD) capped off an eight-play/60-yard drive with a ten-yard touchdown run on a Quarterback draw to tie the game at 7-7.
St. Thomas's defense continued to roll in the second quarter, as Jhaqwori Austin returned an interception 29-yards to the Faulkner 21-yardline, giving STU the ball inside Faulkner territory. Ilimaleota – Adams found D'Amaunte Oliver(6/48/TD) in the end zone from 16-yards away to give the Bobcats a 14-7 lead.
Cyrus Turnquest added the second STU interception of the first half, giving the Bobcats back the ball on the following Faulkner possession and with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. Ilimaleota – Adams connected with Jordan Addie, for Addie's only catch, in the end zone, as St. Thomas took a 21-7 lead into the halftime break.
Neither team scored in the third, as the Bobcats began the fourth quarter with possession of the football.
In the fourth quarter, Faulkner scored their second touchdown of the game, with eight minutes remaining to cut the STU lead to 21-14. The Eagles returned a Bobcat punt 43-yards, into STU territory. Within two plays, Jayson Contreras (13 tackles) forced a fumble, which Kahlil Bryan (seven tackles) returned 67-yards and gave the Bobcats possession inside the Faulkner 10-yardline.
Billy McConell added a 23-yard field goal, extending the Bobcat lead to 24-14 with three minutes remaining in the game. Dre Dames sealed the first-ever home win, with an interception and returned it 34-yards to five the Bobcats the football at mid-field.
St. Thomas ended their inaugural season with the win, the Bobcats finished the initial campaign with a 4-6 record; featuring wins over Union (first win in program history), Allen, Warner (first Mid-South win) and Faulkner (first home win).
In-game Ceremonies
Following the first quarter, St. Thomas University honored Gus and Lilliam Machado received the "Bobcat Community Service Award", for the efforts in the Miami Gardens community. The "Gus Machado School of Business" is expected to open in 2020.
St. Thomas University partnered with the Knights of Columbus, in an effort to raise money for local families for Thanksgiving dinner. The organizations combined to raise $440, $200 from an in-game collection and $240 ($10 per-point) and will provide dinners to local parishoners in the area.
MVBobcats
- Kalani Ilimaleota – Adams: 13 rushes, 72 yards, touchdown
- Jayson Contreras: 13 tackles, forced fumble
- Michael Torrence: 2.5 sacks, seven tackles
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