Miami Gardens, FL – The Webber International Football team traveled down to Miami Gardens for a SUN Conference matchup against the NAIA #5 St. Thomas Bobcats. The Warriors fought valiantly but were unable to overcome a fourth quarter surge by the Bobcats, taking St. Thomas to the wire, falling 45-44.

St. Thomas started with the ball after a touchback by Zachary Van Fleet. After a five-yard gain, Kayden Hill and Tyron Washington made at the line of scrimmage, and one incomplete pass later the Bobcats punted. Starting Quarterback Trent Grotjan started the Warriors' first drive with three straight completions to Tim Young for 12 yards, Kenneth Davis for 11, and Keyon Dickens for five, putting the Warriors on the Bobcat 46. Terry Weems Jr. picked up the first down before Grotjan scrambled for 16-yards and another first. Avery Giddens caught his first pass of the night bringing the ball to the 10 on a 15-yard completion, and then Weems Jr. rushed for 10 yards into the endzone to give the Warriors the lead 7-0. Matthew Smiciklas, Tre' Mobley, and Antonio Johnson made tackles on the first two completions for St. Thomas, and after a pass breakup by Hill, STU took a pass 49-yards to the endzone, tying it 7-7. The Warriors went three and out on their next drive, with Jaxson Rivera booting the ball 34 yards on the punt. After a one-yard rush, Warren Laguerre intercepted the Bobcats Quarterback, returning it nine yards to the St. Thomas 36. Weems Jr. started the drive with a four-yard rush. Grotjan picked up a first down, but his rush was called back due to holding. On 4^th and 11, Grotjan ran for 12 yards, picking up another first. A rush from Weems Jr., a completion from Ricky Sampson to Avery Giddens, and an incomplete pass from Grotjan made it 4^th and 7, and Van Fleet booted a kick 37 yards for a field goal, giving Webber a 10-7 lead. Jalen Williams, Caden Morrell, and Khristian Hill all made tackles on the ensuing drive by St. Thomas. On 1^st and Goal, a seven-yard rush by the Bobcats made for another lead change, making it 14-10. With the ball near midfield, D'Markus Mathis had a one yard rush, Grotjan completed a pass to Asaivien McWilliams, and Mathis had another rush to move the game into the second quarter.

On 4^th and 3, Grotjan went six-yards, picking up another first. Mathis and Sampson had three straight rushes to put the ball on the Bobcat 14, and Grotjan connected with Dickens for a 14-yard touchdown, giving Webber a 17-14 lead. St. Thomas began another drive down the field, with James Moore, Morrell, Mobley, Ka. Hill, Laguerre, and Tyler Powell making tackles. Mobley and Washington made a tackle on 1^st and Goal, and another play for one-yard and an incompletion set the Bobcats up for a 22-yard field goal, tying the game at 17-17. On what appeared to be a three and out for the Warriors, Rivera was roughed by the Bobcat return team, giving Webber a fresh set of downs. Grotjan however would throw an interception on the next play, giving the Bobcats the ball back. St. Thomas only needed one play to capitalize, going 64-yards for a touchdown catch, retaking the lead at 24-17. Grotjan found Weems Jr. for a first down completion if 25-yards on the Warriors next drive. A three-yard rush and two incompletions forced the Warriors into another Rivera punt, however a fumble on the punt was recovered by the Warriors, giving Webber the ball on the St. Thomas 23. Weems Jr. had four straight rushes,  giving Webber a 2^nd and 12 on the 15. An incompletion and a six-yard rush set up Van Fleet for another field goal, sinking the 26-yarder to make it 24-20. The Bobcats kneeled the ball to take it to the half.

The Warriors started the second half with the ball, and Weems Jr. and Grotjan both ran for eight-yards. Grotjan connected with Young for a 23-yard completion, but two straight incompletions and a sack forced Webber into another punt. After a tackle by Morrell on first down, STU had two straight incompletions, punting the ball back to Webber. After a 21-yard completion to Young, Mathis had rushes for three and one yard respectively. Grotjan completed a pass to Giddens to the Bobcat 47 for 4^th and 1, but the ensuing pass would be broken up and the Warriors turned the ball over on downs. On 3^rd and 8 for St. Thomas, Morrell and Smiciklas made the tackle on an 18-yard completion to prevent more yards. After a one-yard rush, Ka. Hill got the Warriors second interception of the game, taking the ball 43 yards to the STU 21. A completion to Giddens gave the Warriors the ball 1^st and Goal from the nine. After an incomplete pass, Grotjan took it the nine yards himself for a touchdown and another lead change, as the Warriors went ahead 27-24. The Bobcats responded immediately, with a 25-yard rush and then a 44-yard touchdown pass to once again take the lead, 31-27.  On 1^st and 10, Weems Jr. took a rush 15-yards to the Webber 40. A completion to Giddens was brought back because of an ineligible man down field penalty. After an incomplete pass, Grotjan went 11-yards to make it 3^rd and 4. Weems Jr. went three-yards, and on 4^th and 1, Grotjan rushed for four-yards and a first down. The Warriors completed a Hook-and-Ladder with Dickens and Weems Jr. going 31-yards to the 16. Grotjan then completed another pass to Dickens for a touchdown, retaking the lead at 34-31. A rush and 15-yard completion gave St. Thomas a first down heading into the fourth quarter.

Morrell and Washington stopped the 1^st and 10 rush, two straight incompletions, and on 4^th and 7 Williams made a solo tackle to turn the ball over on downs, giving Webber the ball at their own 33. The Warriors took advantage of their defensive stop, making five straight positive yardage plays. Dickens and McWilliams caught passes for eight and seven yards respectively, Mathis went five yards, and Grotjan went 22-yards plus an extra 12 on a Bobcat penalty, and then 13-yards to the house for another touchdown, extending the lead to 41-31. The Warriors defense forced the Bobcats into another three and out, as Mobley and Powell each made tackles. Mathis went three straight rushed for 16-yards, before Weems Jr. went for two more. On 3^rd and 3, Grotjan rattled off a 23-yard rush, bringing the ball to the Bobcat 39. After a one-yard rush and an incomplete pass, the Warriors again called Grotjan's number as he went another 21-yards to the STU 17. Weems Jr. lost two yards on 1^st and 10, then gained one back on 2^nd and 12. Grotjan lost two on 3^rd and 11, and Van Fleet booted a 37-yard field goal through the uprights to extend the Warriors lead to 44-31. The Bobcats drive featured a 15-yard completion and a 30-yard completion to the Warriors one-yard line where Laguerre pushed the receiver out of bounds, but a one-yard rush was a touchdown for STU, cutting the lead to 44-38. With just under three minutes remaining on the clock, the Bobcats went for an onside kick and recovered it in Warrior territory. St. Thomas wasted no time going 38-yards on a pass, 12 on a rush, then one and four for another touchdown and taking a one point lead at 45-44. With 1:15 on the clock, Grotjan threw three straight incompletions before throwing an interception on 4^th and 10, sealing the loss for the Warriors.

Grotjan went 15-35 with 205 yards and two touchdowns through the air. On the ground, he led the Warriors with 139 rushing yards and two touchdowns as well. Young had three catches for 56 yards, while Dickens had five catches for 55 and both of Grotjan's passing touchdowns. Morrell led the team with 10 total tackles. Mobley had the second most with seven, while also adding a tackle for loss. Williams also had seven, while Washington had six. Laguerre's interception had a nine-yard return while Ka. Hill's was 43. Powell led the team with two pass breakups.

The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday, November 2^nd when they host the NAIA #1 Keiser Seahawks for Senior Day on the Warrior Turf Field.

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