Panthers Prevail in Shootout with #18 UWA

Mark Cato - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

The Florida Tech Panthers scored a huge upset Saturday, beating the #18 West Alabama Tigers 41-39 in a Gulf South Conference contest. It was the first loss for West Alabama in the conference. 

“We knew we were gonna get their best shot through the entire game,” said Panthers quarterback Mark Cato. “We just had to stay tough through it and convert on the gameplan that we had and everything would come to fruition.” 

“We didn't play clean but we played hard,” said Florida Tech head coach Steve Englehart after the game. “This was a great team victory.” 

This game went back-and-forth throughout, with Cato going 22-for-40 throwing for 345 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for the game-winning touchdown, an 11-yard scamper, with 51 seconds left. This followed a 325-yard performance from Cato last week, against North Greenville. 

Statistically, this game couldn't have been more even and it played out that way on the field. West Alabama quarterback Harry Satterwhite was 22-for-40 as well, throwing for 342 yards. 

The Panthers (5-3, 3-2 GSC) came in averaging just over 400 yards in total offense and boosted that average with a 484-yard performance in this game. The Tigers put up 463 of their own. 

Earlier this week, Englehart said the Panthers had to play a mistake-free game, in order to come away with the win. That went out the window early, as the Panthers came up with a stop on the first Tigers drive, only to have the punt fumbled by Daniel Welch and recovered by West Alabama. It took just three plays for UWA to score, as Satterwhite found Qua Boyd for the 10-yard touchdown. 

Mason Wilfong - Photo credit: James Ragan

The Panthers put together a decent drive on their ensuing possession, highlighted by a Mason Wilfong diving catch that was good for 45 yards, to the West Alabama 24. The Panthers bogged down and had to go for a Zachary Leatherman 42-yard field goal attempt, that missed wide left with 7:29 left in the quarter. 

The Tigers widened their lead with a touchdown on their next drive. The big play there was a 63-yard catch-and-run to Tra Fletcher, setting the Tigers up at the Panthers 2-yard line. That came one play after Welch had a sure interception go right through his hands. One play later, Tyler Rogers ran it in, giving the visitors a 14-0 lead with 5:39 to go in the quarter. 

To the Panthers credit, they answered on their next drive. Antwuan Haynes got 33 of his 114 yards on a big run and Cato found Jaaron Barrett four plays later, on a 34-yard deep ball. Barrett broke out of a tackle, to make it a 14-7 game and capped off a seven-play, 92-yard drive that took 3:16 off the clock. 

After the teams traded punts on their first possession of the second quarter, the Tigers got the ball back with 14:07 to go and they were able to get a 24-yard field goal on a drive that took just over two minutes off the clock and expanded the West Alabama lead to 17-7. 

The offenses finally slowed down a bit, as each team traded punts again. Florida Tech went three and out on their next possession and Kyle Gullickson's punt bounced at the 25 and despite waving his arms to stay away from it, Donta Armstrong ended up touching it as it went over his head. Just an inexplicable misplay and the Panthers took advantage as Haynes ran for two yards and followed that up with one yard to paydirt. That brought the Panthers to within three, 17-14, with 5:34 to go in the half. 

A driving rain followed and West Alabama was forced to punt, following another close call as Satterwhite just missed being picked off. 

Florida Tech took advantage of a break early in their next possession, as UWA jumped offsides, giving Cato a chance to go deep downfield, he did and the ball went off the hands of a leaping Taderion Myhand and into the waiting arms of Kevin Purlett. The play was good for 56 yards, down to the West Alabama 11.  

Haynes finished the drive with a rushing touchdown on the next play. The snap on the extra point was fumbled and the Panthers had to settle for a 20-17 lead, with 3:14 to go in the half.  

Cato was intercepted late in the half, but neither team was able to score and the Panthers took their three-point lead to the locker room at halftime. 

The Panthers put a decent drive together to start the second half, including Cato finding Melo Guerrier for 23 yards and Demetrius Frazier for 17. Unfortunately, Cato was sacked and fumbled on 3rd & 5. He did get the ball back, but that killed the drive and forced a punt. Gullickson got a good one off and pinned the Tigers at their own three 

UWA (6-2, 5-1 GSC) was helped by a pass interference call on their ensuing drive, but they were forced to put and the Panthers took over at their own 22 with 8:20 to go in the quarter. 

Sekai Lindsay came in at running back and ran three straight plays, including a punishing 21-yard run on a 3rd & 4. Haynes came in and ran four straight times, highlighted by a 16-yard run. On second down, Cato found Purlett on a four-yard touchdown pass, giving the 

Panthers a 27-17 lead, with 3:19 left in the third. 

Each team punted on their next possession and West Alabama started the 4th quarter with the ball and Satterwhite found Boyd for 47 yards, down to the Florida Tech nine. It took just two plays for the Tigers to score, closing the gap to 27-24, with 13:57 to go.  

After a Panthers punt, Satterwhite threw one incompletion and he dropped back on the next play, Satterwhite was hammered by Thierry LaFortune on a blindside blitz. The ball was jarred loose and Patrick Banks took it home on the 30-yard scoop and score, giving the Panthers a 34-24 lead with 12:09 to go in the game. 

To the Tigers credit, they bounced back with a seven-play, 85-yard drive, finished off by a Fletcher 23-yard score. That made it 34-31 with 10:16 to go. 

After 13 yard gains by Haynes through the air on a flip pass and then on the ground, he got the ball again and was hit immediately on the next play, as Mike Williams put his helmet on the ball and there was nothing Haynes could do. The Tigers were called for unsportsmanlike conduct, helping the Panthers put together a good defensive stand, resulting in a 25-yard field goal by Colin Douglas, tying the game at 34 with 6:06 to go. 

After a Florida Tech punt, UWA put together a nice drive, getting the ball to the 16-yard line, only to get called for holding on consecutive plays. They did get 17 of those back on the next play, to Tyler but had to settle for a 36-yard field goal, to take the lead 37-34 with 1:45 to go. 

That set up a big drive for the Panthers and Cato was not phased. He came out and found Wilfong for 11 yards, Purlett for 14 on a shoestring catch and a couple plays later, found Wilfong again, on 3rd & 10, down the sideline, to the 11-yard line. The play was good for 42 yards. 

Cato found some running room on the next play and dove into the end zone, giving the Panthers a 41-37 lead with 51 seconds left. 

“I just knew we had to get it done,” Cato said of the last drive. “We worked hard all week and they were undefeated in the conference, so giving them their loss was something we wanted to do.” 

“Two-minute drills are so difficult because there are so many things that can happen,” said Englehart. “You just try to draw up the best plays you can and sometimes it's about improvising and there was some improvising on Cato's part being able to get out of the pocket and get the ball to Mason, a huge catch by Mason.” 

Wilfong finished with two big gain catches and four overall for 106 yards. A great day, especially considering he was sick all day and according to Englehart, was unable to keep food down.  

Cato looked to hurt his shoulder on the dive. He's been dealing with an injury to his AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder the last few weeks and looked to re-aggravate it on that play. The touchdown likely lessened the pain. 

“I'm feeling pretty good, said Cato after the game. “Football is football, so you're always banged up this time of the season, but it is those that can overcome that and keep powering through that will be successful in the end.” 

“His shoulder's not feeling good, but he just keeps battling. I am really proud of that kid,” said Englehart. “For everything, he's went through and how he's battled. he's doing everything he can to be the best football player he can and be the best person he can.” 

West Alabama took one more shot on offense, but Satterwhite underthrew a ball that was intercepted by Panther's defensive juggernaut Joe Jackson, pretty much sealing the game with 16 seconds left. 

The Panthers were forced to send Gullickson in one more time, but he just took a 21-yard loss and took a knee in the end zone, giving the Tigers a safety, but giving the Panthers a huge 41-39 win in the GSC and keeping their playoff hopes alive. 

“I know everybody's thinking what the heck is going on, what are they gonna do and I feel the same way sometimes,” said Englehart. “The question is, do we run it out of there with Cato and our offense, but he didn't feel comfortable running it out of there, it's a long way for him. Happy we got out of here with a win against a very good football team.” 

“Felt good to knock off the top team in the conference,” said Wilfong after the game. “We're still in it now, but everyone is a must-win from here on out, we just gotta go 1-0 every week.”

For more info: West Alabama @ Florida Tech Box Score | ESPN 3 Broadcast

Next Saturday, the Panthers travel to Valdosta State for another GSC battle. The Blazers came up with a big upset win over Delta State on Saturday and are now 3-3 in the conference and 3-2 overall. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

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