GAME NOTES

By Jim O'Hara
 
ROME, Ga. – For the past decade, more than a thousand young men have proudly worn the team's colors every fall at Barron Stadium, overcoming one challenge after another.

On Saturday, many of them will be back at the venerable facility, this time watching those who represent Shorter University's 10^th football team take the field determined to meet a challenge head on when the Hawks host Gulf South Conference foe Florida Tech in a Homecoming game that kicks off at noon.

"It's always exciting to see them again because they've meant so much in my life,' Shorter head coach Phil Jones, who started the program in 2005 and has been at the helm ever since, said about being able to reconnect with his former players. "Throughout the year I get calls and emails from them just wanting to talk. They're almost like sons to me.

"And they all know what facing a challenge is like just like our team has right now," the coach said, comparing the transition and newness those early squads had to the rugged transition process the Hawks now face as an NCAA Division II team that competes in the GSC, "and this week we have another big challenge."

Better make that challenges as the Hawks are not only tasked with overcoming a three-game losing skid – all to conference opponents that has resulted in 3-4 overall and 1-3 GSC records – but with a very potent Florida Tech Panthers team (5-3, 2-2) that has already become a threat in just their second season as a Gulf South member.

"It's a huge game for us," said Jones, who saw FIT won its first conference game ever last year when the Panthers exploded for 21-points in the fourth quarter to shock Shorter. "They are big and strong and they're very well coached."

Under the direction of head coach Steve Englehart, the Panthers' lone losses game against Division I FCS Bethune-Cookman and conference powers Delta State and North Alabama, with the UNA Lions holding on for a three-point decision against FIT two weeks ago.

Last week, Tech got back on track as the Panthers rolled to a 44-6 GSC romp over Mississippi College and although they allow 27 points a game, their offense has been one of the best in the conference averaging nearly 500 yards and 37 points each time they step on the field.

Spearheading Florida Tech's spread attack is freshman quarterback Mark Cato, who completed 29-of-39 passes for 304 yards and five touchdowns against the Choctaws last week – the Panthers rolled up a school-record 599 total yards – to earn his sixth GSC Freshman of the Week honor this season and coming into the game against the Hawks has thrown for 2,100 yards and 23 touchdowns this season.

Xavier Milton leads a deep group of talented receivers having caught 56 passes for 818 yards and 6 TDs, while the Panthers make the most of a well-sized and seasoned line that helps the team eat up the yards on the ground with running back Trevor Sand having established him as the top rusher in the GSC having gained 825 yards (103.1 per game average) and seven touchdowns.

Linebacker Chris Stapleton anchors FIT's defense having made 32 solo tackles and 25 assists, linebacker J.J. Sanders has created havoc in opponents' backfields where he has 15 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks, and defensive backs Manny Abad and Trevor Rosenblatt leads the Panthers' secondary where they have each intercepted two passes this year.

While Jones and the Hawks realize what Florida Tech's brings to the table, the overall confidence and emotion the team opened the season with – Shorter broke out to a 3-1 start and came a quarter and a half shy of knocking off nationally-ranked Delta State – has returned.

After being humbled by West Alabama two weeks ago, Shorter turned in a better performance a week ago in a 37-6 road loss to Valdosta State.
"They came back last week and played hard like we know they can, and played really well" Jones said. "We just couldn't put it in the end zone and that's a concern.  We've got to put points on the scoreboard."

The scoring lapse – the Hawks haven't scored a touchdown in 10 quarters – has been frustrating for the team, especially knowing what kind of balanced threats Shorter has.

Senior quarterback Eric Dodson is a dual threat for the Hawks as he has rushed for 444 yards and passed for another 530, while senior slotback Kirk Wilson and sophomore fullback B.J. McCoy have combined for 743 yards on the ground, but as a unit Shorter has only found the end zone via the run nine times for the season.

In the air, the Hawks have had five touchdowns with sophomore Darius Turner (6 catches for 124 yards) leading the pack with two scores All told, Shorter averages 304 yards a game, 229 on the ground and 75 via the pass, numbers they understand must be bettered against the Panthers.

The Hawks' defense are equally looking to better its numbers by limiting Florida Tech's, and in the wake of what was probably that unit's best practice week of the season they are focused on slowing the Panthers down.

Junior safety Jordan Shaw continues be one of the keystones to the defense as he leads the team with 35 solo stops and 24 assists, and although he leads the team and the conference with eight interceptions, he has been pick-less in the last two games, a time span in which the Hawks have not come up with a turnover.

Freshman linebacker Jevaris Jones has added 29 solo tackles and 10 assists, and along with sophomore linebacker Zach Butts has 4.5 tackles for losses, while sophomore end Trevaris Horton is looking to regain the form that allowed him to record a team-leading 5.5 sacks.

"We've had a great week of practice," Jones said. "Now we have to carry it over and play the kind of game we know we can play."

NOTES: At the end of the first quarter, the inaugural 2005 team will be recognized while the Mid-South Conference championship team of 2008 will be honored at the end of the third quarter… Next Saturday, the Hawks will play their final road game of the season heading to Florence, Ala., for a GSC showdown with No. 3 North Alabama, then returns home on Nov. 15 for the season finale at Barron Stadium against rival West Georgia starting at 11 a.m.