BABSON PARK, Fla. (September 12, 2020) – The start to the new 2020 season for the Webber International University football team came down to the final drive, but in the end, the Warriors fell to rival Warner University 24-17 on a wet and rainy Saturday afternoon on the Warrior Turf Field.

Despite Webber (0-1 overall) leading twice in the first half, the Warriors allowed Warner to go on a 21-0 run starting late in the third quarter to put the Royals ahead 24-10 with only seven minutes left to play.

However, with five and half minutes left, Webber got a huge break as Joe Ebel's punt from his own 15-yard line was fumbled by the Royals' return man and then was recovered by Caden Borders near midfield at Webber's own 47-yard line.

Then only four plays later, sophomore quarterback Cody Braden found junior wide receiver Freddie Hughley for a huge 36-yard pass on third-and-10 to bring the Warriors to first-and-goal from the one-yard line.

The very next play was a one-yard rush by freshman running back Sinica Sigler to make it 24-17 and help keep the Warriors' hope alive.

After a turnover on downs on Warner's next possession, the Warriors had the ball starting at their own 40-yard line with two minutes remaining.

Needing a touchdown and an extra point attempt to tie the game or a two-point conversion to win it, the second play of the drive for Webber was a 28-yard pass from Braden to Hughley to get the Warriors down to the Royals' 27-yard line, but then a sack on first down followed by back-to-back incomplete passes on third and fourth down was all she wrote.

Earlier in the contest, Webber led 3-0 with two and half minutes left in the first quarter thanks to a 49-yard field goal by senior kicker Austin Smith on the Warriors' first possession of the game. The Warriors then proceeded to take a 10-3 lead into halftime after a 26-yard touchdown run by Braden to cap a nine-play, 70-yard drive with two and a half minutes left in the second quarter.

After going 8-for-10 in the first half for 66 yards and adding 29 rushing yards on five attempts in the first half, Braden went on to finish the game with 158 passing yards on 18-for-29 passing, and was still the Warriors' leading rusher in the game with 32 yards on nine attempts.

All but 50 of Braden's 158 passing yards went to one man, Hughley, who finished with nine catches for 108 total yards.

The Warriors' defense, meanwhile, was led by junior linebacker Colton Cormier with 10 total tackles and sophomore linebacker Jaren Muse with seven. Junior defensive backs Joseph Burton and Devonte Harris both added five stops as well.

Next up for Webber football will be its second of two nonconference games against Mid-South Conference Sun Division opponents as the Warriors travel south to West Palm Beach, Florida, to take on No. 9 nationally-ranked Keiser University on Saturday, September 19, at 5 p.m.