Florida Tech Football Clinches Playoff Berth

On the field immediately after Saturday's game

For the first time in the four-year history of the program, the Florida Tech Panthers are Playoff bound! The team finished the regular season with a convincing 42-16 playoff win over the Delta State Statesmen at Florida Tech Panther Stadium.

The victory gave the Panthers their eighth win of the season, setting a school record. They finished 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Gulf South Conference.

“It’s obviously awesome and it’s great for the seniors,” said Florida Tech coach Steve Englehart after the game. “We’re playing bonus ball now and they get another game that wasn’t promised to them. They worked for it, they earned it.”

Things didn’t get off to the best start for the Panthers, as they gifted Delta State two points on an attempted punt. The high snap that went out of the end zone and put the visitors on top with 13:37 left in the first quarter.

After giving up the safety, the Florida Tech offense kicked it into high gear, scoring 28 unanswered points. Three of those scores came on the ground. Antwuan Haynes started his jaunt toward 212 rushing yards with runs of 25 and 13 yards on Florida Tech’s first touchdown drive. The 13-yard scamper put the home team up 7-2, with 7:41 to go in the quarter.

Delta State (4-6, 3-5 GSC) ran just five plays on their next drive, before having to punt. Florida Tech rushed in and Jake Holsinger got the block. T.J. Rodriguez recovered for the Panthers at the Delta State 13.

A sack of Florida Tech quarterback Mark Cato, by Javon Bradford sent the Panthers back to the 23 and Kyle Gullickson came in to attempt a 40-yard field goal. Delta State lined up and had one of their guys attempt the leap over the lone that has become so popular. It backfired, as the defender landed on a Florida Tech player, resulting in a 15-yard personal foul for leaping.

That gave the Panthers new life and two rushing plays later, Trevor Sand took the ball in from seven yards out, putting the Panthers up 14-2, with 4:52 to go in the opening quarter.

DSU punted on their next drive, a kick that traveled just 11 yards, setting FIT up at their own 38. The drive bridged the end of the first and start of the second quarter, with Cato breaking off a 32-yard run late in the drive, down to the 12 and Haynes finding pay dirt on the next play, putting the Panthers up 21-2, just 31 seconds into the second quarter.

Later in the quarter, the Panthers added to the lead. On a day when Cato had just 52 yards passing, 34 of those came on a diving catch by Tityus Mitchell. A pass interference call on Delta State against Kenny Johnston, put the ball at the two-yard line and Cato found Johnston on the next play, making it 28-2 with 6:18 to go in the half.

Delta State finally found the end zone on their next possession when Collin Willis threw a short pass to LaDarion Peterson. He did the rest, going 64 yards for the score. That made it 28-9, with 3:52 to go in the half.

The Panthers defense stepped up again on the last play of the first half, sacking Willis and forcing a fumble. Tyler Grow picked it up and ran to the 20. His lateral to Harry Brown was called back, with the officials calling him down. It was that close to being a touchdown, but as it was, the Panthers went into the half comfortably ahead.

The Panthers honored their 29 seniors at halftime and coach Englehart spoke highly of them, as you would expect. “It’s a culmination of a lot of things,” he said. “They’ve been a part of this program for 1,755 or 1,745 days from the time they signed their National letter of intent. It was all coming down to one day, one day, so to have that all culminate on Senior Day, with a chance to go to the playoffs, I’m happy these guys get another chance.”

Florida Tech put together their best drive of the day on their second possession of the third quarter. 

Cato had a 17-yard run early in the drive and Haynes ripped off consecutive rushes of 12, 11 and 13 yards. Gary Holmes followed those with a 10-yard run of his own, getting the Panthers to the DSU seven.

Three plays later, Cato found Mitchell wide open from five yards out, putting the Panthers up big, 35-9. Cato took a shot as he let the ball go, resulting in a roughing the passer call on Delta State. Cato was fine and so were the Panthers, who chewed up 80 yards in 12 plays and took 4:20 off the clock.

The Statesmen put together a decent drive toward the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter, but had nothing to show for it, as kicker Cody Mills’ field goal attempt was wide left from 32 yards out, with five seconds gone in the fourth.

Later in the quarter, Delta State went on a 13-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in Willis running it in from seven yards out. It was the best drive of the day, by far for Delta State, but it was too little, too late, only closing the gap to 35-16, with 7:20 left in the Statesmen season.

Willis did pass for 51 yards on that drive and ended the day with 303 yards, going 32-of-53 for the day. Willis was playing in place of Tyler Sullivan, who has been dealing with various injuries this season. It is not known exactly what kept him from playing in this game.

“That obviously hurt them, not having Tyler Sullivan playing for them,” said Englehart. Can’t say enough about that young man. His character, his toughness, he’s been awesome for Delta State and 

Delta State fans should be proud that he’s represented them well for four years.”

“He’s a class act,” Englehart continued. “It was unfortunate and I was actually sad to see that he wasn’t playing in his last college football game. I feel for that kid.”

Haynes answered back on the Panthers next possession, with a 15-yard touchdown run with just 3:02

left on the clock, making it 42-16. It was his third touchdown of the day and iced the game for the Panthers.

“He’s a special player, special kid,” Englehart said of Haynes after the game. “Cares only about the team, doesn’t care about his stats or any of that stuff. I love him to death, he’s everything you would want in a player, he’s quick, he’s fast, he’s explosive and exciting to watch.”

The final Delta State drive of the day was short-circuited by Rodriguez, who intercepted Willis, with 2:10 left on the clock. Florida Tech ran the clock out from there.

For more info: Delta State @ Florida Tech Box Score

“We’re just gonna enjoy this tonight and we’ll see tomorrow (Sunday) at 5:00, who we play and where we play, whether we’re playing here or on the road,” said Englehart. “It doesn’t matter either way, we’re gonna be good with it. If we get a home game, that’ll be great, but I’m proud of our guys.”

The Panthers had to win three of their last four to make the playoffs and they did just that. “We lose the first one to West AL, so we knew we had to win three in a row,” Englehart said. “If you look at that, we’re playing Valdosta, West Georgia and Delta State and you gotta win three in a row, that sounds pretty daunting. These players believed in one another, cared for one another and got it done in convincing fashion in all three.”

You can watch the selection show at NCAA.com, on Sunday.

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