MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (November 6, 2022) - The Webber International University football team faced its first nationally-ranked opponent of the year in the form of No. 22 St. Thomas University on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors fell behind early and were unable to overcome the deficit as they fell 59-20 on the road.

The Warriors (5-3 overall, 2-2 SUN) struggled to stop the dominant ground game of the Bobcats (8-2, 4-1) as they racked up a total 381 rushing yards. Six of St. Thomas' eight touchdowns came on the ground as well.

The Bobcats' offense did not take long to get themselves on the board as they scored early and often. Two touchdowns through the air and two on the ground in just the first quarter saw them jump out to an early 28-0 lead. Webber earned its first points of the game following a nine-play, 50-yard drive, that ended in a one-yard touchdown rush by Roshaun Dudley with two and a half minutes left in the half. St. Thomas tacked on a field goal at the end of the first half, making it a 24-point game heading into the second half of action.

St. Thomas drove down and scored with its opening possession of the third quarter, extending its lead to 38-7. Following a turnover on downs by the Warriors, the Bobcats got the ball back but quickly turned it over as Devonte Harris intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards for a Webber touchdown. Harris' third interception of the season and second returned for a touchdown this season, cut the lead to 38-14.

The Warriors scored with their first offensive possession of the fourth quarter after a 59-yard completion from Cody Braden to Jordon Taylor took them into the Bobcats' redzone. Dudley earned his second touchdown of the game on a five-yard rush. The score cut the deficit to 18 points following a failed two-point conversion. That is as close as the Warriors would get, however, as St. Thomas scored three more times to win comfortably 59-20.

Webber was led by Terry Weems Jr. who recorded 94 rushing yards followed by Taylor Scarbrough with 43 yards on six carries. Braden finished with 140 yards passing, completing 13 of his 24 passes. Taylor grabbed a team-high four passes for 75 yards while Logan Heath and Lavatus Watkins each had three receptions for 25 and 15 yards respectively.

Parker Snead led the Warriors defensively with a career-high 14 total tackles followed by Jalen Williams and Chase Watter each with 10. Harris tied his season-high in tackles with nine while adding his third interception of the season.

The schedule does not get any easier for the Warriors as they will now return home for a matchup against No. 19 Keiser University next weekend. Kickoff against the Seahawks is set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 12th.