Babson Park, FL – The Webber International Football team opened up the 2024 season against the Fort Lauderdale Eagles on Saturday afternoon. After a slow start, the Warriors turned up the heat, dismantling the Eagles 40-0 to start the season 1-0.
The Warriors opened up the game with a score, taking the opening kickoff. Starting Quarterback Trent Grotjan led the Warrior offense 62-yards down the field, ending the drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Keyon Dickens. Neither team was able to get much offense going after that, as both teams traded punts, as well as turnovers.
Webber would find the endzone late in the second quarter, after forcing another punt from Fort Lauderdale. Senior Running Back Terry Weems Jr capped off the 36-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. A forced fumble by Antonio Johnson gave Webber the ball back in visitor territory, and running back Taylor Scarbrough punched it in from three yards out to give Webber a 21-0 lead heading into the half.
After a turnover on downs to start the second half by UFTL, Grotjan again found Dickens for a touchdown, this time from 19-yards out. An amazing punt from Punter Jaxson Rivera pinned the Eagles deep in their own territory. A designed Quarterback run put Fort Lauderdale on their own two-yard line, before a safety gave Webber an additional two points, making it 30-0. Grotjan picked up back-to-back chunk yardage plays, as he ran for 18 yards, before completing a pass to Antonio Dawson for 17-yards, putting the Warriors on the Eagles one-yard line. Weems Jr was able to punch it in for his second touchdown of the day.
Dawson returned a punt by the Eagles to the 29-yard line near the start of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Blake Birchler and Running Back D'Markus Mathis each had rushes but were unable to gain much distance. Kicker Zachary Van Fleet came out on fourth down to connect on a 29-yard field goal, ending the Warriors scoring at 40-0.
Grotjan led the team in passing, going 10-12 with 160 yards and two touchdowns. Birchler and Ricky Sampson each had at least one completion with Sampson getting 13 yards, and Birchler getting 11. Scarbrough led the team with 40 rushing yards and one touchdown, while Weems Jr had 33 yards and two touchdowns. Dickens led the team with six receptions, 71 yards, and two touchdowns. Tim Young netted one catch for 31 yards, while Asaivien McWilliams and Avery Giddens each had 26 yards receiving.
Defensively, Jalen Williams led the team with seven total tackles, including assisting on a tackle for loss. Kayden Hill had five tackles, including 1.5 for loss, while Khristian Hill had three tackles and a sack. Maddox Rivera had the Warriors lone interception while Johnson had the forced fumble. Six different Warriors also added a pass breakup to their stats.
The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday, September 7th when they host the Campbellsville Tigers on the Warrior Turf Field at 1:30 P.M.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Warrior Athletics. Please visit www.webberathletics.com. Follow us on Twitter- @WebberAthletics, Instagram- @Webber_Athletics, and Facebook by searching Webber International University Athletics.
