Panthers Maul Virginia-Lynchburg University in 2017 Opener

Brandon Ziarno - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

The Florida Tech Panthers opened their 2017 season on Saturday night, earning their second straight home opener shutout.

FIT got contributions from all three phases of the game, en route to a 44-0 drubbing of the Virginia-Lynchburg Dragons. The 44 point margin is the largest in the five-year history of the Panthers.

Florida Tech (1-0) took a while to get their legs under them, as they led 10-0 at the half. A 15-yard run by Antwuan Haynes and a 20-yard run by starting quarterback Brandon Ziarno highlighted the Panthers opening drive, which culminated in a 20-yard field goal by Kyle Gullikson.

“Offensively we started slow, we didn't do things we needed to do early on,” said Florida Tech coach Steve Englehart. “We were adjusting to what we were seeing on defense and that had something to do with it, but ultimately, we just needed to get going and sped up the tempo a little bit.”

The Panthers looked primed to score on their next drive when Ziarno lofted one deep that would've set the Panthers up at about the 10, but Terrance Bynum, who is returning from a week one injury last season, had it go right through his hands.

Ziarno played one series in the second quarter, before giving way to Trent Chmelik under center. That seemed to get the offense kick started. “My plan was to put Trent in and I just felt like it was time,” said Englehart of the change under center. “There was a couple checks that Brandon did and I wanted to talk to him about those and let him see the game from the sideline a little bit.”

The change paid dividends, as on the fifth play of the series, Chmelik found Romell Guerrier for a 59-yard  touchdown pass, giving the Panthers the 10-0 lead with 6:27 to go in the half.

The Panthers defense did their job all night, with the bend but don't break mentality that served them well last season. The Dragons moved the ball down the field. following the Guerrier touchdown, going on a 14-play drive. The visitors came up empty, missing a 28-yard field goal, as time expired.

“Keeping them from getting points that could've made it 10-3, I thought that was a huge stop there,” said Englehart.

Chmelik completed three passes in about 45 seconds early in the third quarter, including a 20 yarder to Demetrius Frazier and a 17-yard toss to Mason Wilfong, giving the Panthers a 17-0 lead with 11:54 left in the quarter.

Virginia-Lynchburg (0-2) would get another attempt at a field goal with 4:33 on the clock, but the Panthers special teams came up with a huge block and Yawn Coleman picked it up and took it the other way. He fumbled the ball forward and it was picked up by Daniel Welch at about midfield. He was able to elude a couple tackles and put his team up, 24-0.

That was the first field goal block returned for a touchdown in Florida Tech history.

Sekai Lindsay, who was back where he played his high school ball, rushed 4 times in the contest, including a 28-yard run during the Panthers second drive of the fourth quarter. That set up freshman Corey Lane, who took his first collegiate carry 37 yards for a touchdown, making it 31-0 with 11:06 to go in the game.

The next VLU possession resulted in a punt and return man Max Erdman gave the Panthers great field position, running it back 57 yards, to the 13. Lindsay took it from there, running it in on the next play. It was 38-0, with 9:48 to go in the game.

Erdman wasn't done. He got another chance on the Dragons next drive, taking the punt at the 30 and hitting pay dirt 70 yards later, making it 44-0.

“I told the guys at halftime, we'll get it going... defense has been playing great, offense has been playing good,” said Englehart. “We're gonna get a big play and it's gonna ignite us.”

Those plays did ignite them and the Panthers have a victory to show for it. “I wish we would've gotten more plays on offense and get more reps to see on film to try to correct from,” said Englehart. “But overall, you can't knock a 44-0 win and I'm proud of our kids. I'll let them enjoy it, relax tomorrow and go back to work on Monday.”

Englehart said that Monday will also be the day he decides who his starting quarterback will be. Chmelik showed himself well on Saturday, going 8-for-13 for 129 yards and two touchdowns, but Mark Cato is eligible to play next week at McNeese State, having served his one game carryover suspension from last season.

For more info: Virginia-Lynchburg @ Florida Tech Box Score

No matter who the quarterback is, it will be a tall task to beat a Division I-FCS McNeese State team and that is something Englehart is keenly aware of.

“It's gonna take a lot,” he said. “We gotta play perfectly in all three phases and hopefully win at least two phases. Hopefully, we'll get a couple big plays on offense and play good defense and maybe get a turnover. Work on execution, everybody doing their job, once that happens the big plays will come from that.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Saturday. You can watch the game on Floridatechsports.com, with Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scott on the call.

This blog is an extension of our website - Sportslowdown.com Follow us on Twitter @sports_lowdown