UWF Takes Down #16 Florida Tech In Inaugural Coastal Classic

October 2, 2016

The UWF football team scored 21 unanswered points and held of a late rally to upset No. 16/19 Florida Tech, 42-39, before a sold-out crowd of 6,588 at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday.

UWF (3-2, 1-1 Gulf South Conference) collected 458 yards of total offense and 360 through the air in claiming the inaugural Coastal Classic, which pitted the only Division II football programs in the state of Florida.

The Argonauts scored 21 points in each half against the Panthers, who entered the game ranked second in the country, yielding just 8.8 points per game. Additionally, UWF collected three red zone scores against an FIT group that had allowed just three successful efforts all season.

Kaleb Nobles was 23-of-42 with a 74-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Robinson. Nobles also ran for a score for the second-consecutive week. Grey Jackson was 1-for-4 and completed a 65-yard scoring strike to Ishmel Morrow in the second quarter that gave the Argonauts the lead for good.

Morrow finished with 129 yards on seven catches. It was his third-straight 100-plus yard game. Anas Hasic added 60 yards on three receptions.

Florida Tech (4-1, 2-1) grabbed the early 7-0 lead when Trevor Sand scored from seven yards out just over three minutes into game. The short field came about after UWF fumbled at its own 35-yard line on its first play from scrimmage.

Jemari Ford tied the game on UWF’s next possession with a 2-yard rush. The Argonauts went up 14-7 on the long Jackson-to-Morrow play, before taking a 21-7 lead into the locker room following Leroy Taylor’s 17-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Coming out of the intermission, the Panthers trimmed the margin to 21-17 with a field goal and 12-yard scoring pass. The teams traded scores before UWF made it a 2-possession game on the Nobles-to-Robinson connection.

FIT wouldn’t go away, scoring twice in a span of 1:48 before UWF held off a late push to midfield to claim its first-ever win over a ranked opponent.

UWF will hit the road next week when it faces Mississippi College on Saturday, Oct. 8 in Clinton, Miss. Kickoff at Robinson-Hale Stadium is set for 2:00 p.m.

Comments

2 Responses to “UWF Takes Down #16 Florida Tech In Inaugural Coastal Classic”

  1. Rodney on October 2nd, 2016 2:53 pm

    I am looking forward to seeing the Argos play on their home field at UWF. Congrats on your win and thank you Dr. Bense for bringing NCAA football to our beautiful city.

  2. Road Scholar on October 2nd, 2016 10:43 am

    Congratulations Argos. Good game!

    You can win without Lee….Send him to the NFL, National Felon League.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports