WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (September 7, 2019) – The Webber International University football team picked up its first win of the 2019 season on Saturday inside Denison Stadium, racing to a 42-18 victory over Union College (Ky.).

It was the first time in the series between Webber (1-1) and Union (0-2) that the home team was victorious as the Warriors now lead the all-time series with the Bulldogs 3-1.

It was also the third straight win for the Webber over Union as the Warriors led 21-0 at the intermission to expand their consecutive points streak against the Bulldogs to 48 straight points dating back to last season's matchup. Additionally, Webber has now outscored Union 69-24 over the last seven quarters played between the two teams.

Unlike its last time out against No. 10 Reinhardt University, the Warriors' offense was hot from the get go, especially freshman quarterback Cody Braden, who began the game by completing each of his first seven pass attempts.

In the first quarter, Braden hooked up with junior Jeremiah Lucas for a seven-yard touchdown on Webber's second drive of the game, a 10-play, 70-yard drive.

Then during Webber's first possession of the second quarter, the home team took advantage of a bad 13-yard punt by Union that set the Warriors up at the opponent's 16-yard line, resulting in a three-yard rushing score by senior Christian Acevedo to make it 14-0.

The final score of the first half for Webber came after the Warrior defense stopped Union short on a fourth-and-one play from the Webber 47-yard line, leading to a quick score two plays later on a big 37-yard hookup from Braden to senior Timothy Miller.

In all, Webber held Union to only 80 yards in the first half (36 rushing, 44 passing) while the Webber offense had 128 passing yards, 74 rushing yards and 202 total yards through the first 30 minutes.

To kick off the second half, Webber answered a long 11-play, 66-yard scoring drive by Union on the first possession of the period with another quick score thanks in large part to an effective 42-yard kick return by sophomore Rashaud Freeman on a short kickoff, setting Webber up at the Bulldogs' 35-yard line for its first possession of the half. Sophomore running back Davonte Williams finished off the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run, his first score of the season after accounting for nine touchdowns overall last season as a rookie.

The second play of the final quarter was a huge 55-yard interception returned for a touchdown by sophomore Jamon Jones, making it 35-10 Warriors.

The Warriors then found the end zone a sixth and final time on their next series as Braden found Miller wide open down the home sideline for a long 48-yard score, giving Braden three touchdown passes on the game while Miller scored for the second time and eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark.

In all, Braden was 14-of-19 for 188 yards while only hitting three different wide receivers. Miller finished with four grabs for a game-high 106 yards, and was followed by Williams with a game-high six grabs for 37 yards and Lucas with four catches for 35 yards.

On the ground, Williams led the way with 11 rushes for 76 yards, good for an average of 6.9 yards per carry, while Braden was also effective on the ground, finishing with 30 yards on seven attempts.

The Webber defense, meanwhile, was led for the second straight game by sophomore Colton Cormier, who finished with eight tackles and a forced fumble.

Last but not least, junior kicker Austin Smith was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra point attempts.

Saturday's matchup also marked the final game inside Denison Stadium for the Warriors, who are now set to finish the rest of the 2019 season by playing their home games on the new Warrior turf field located on campus.

After a Thursday night game at No. 17 the University of the Cumberlands at 7 p.m. on September 19, Webber's final non-divisional game of the season and its second road contest against a nationally-ranked team in the NAIA so far in only three games, the Warriors will then finally get to play in their new home digs for the first time ever against St. Thomas University at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 5.