Lions Host Webber International Saturday In School’s First Football Homecoming

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (1-8, 0-4) vs. Webber International University Warriors (1-7, 0-4)
When: Saturday, November 6, 2021
Where: Miami, Fla. | Nathaniel "Traz" Powell Stadium
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m.
Last Meeting: Sept. 26, 2020, Loss 7-56
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: General Admission $10 (Purchase)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The last time Florida Memorial University played on its home turf at Nathaniel "Traz" Powell Stadium, it was a historic day as it captured its first football victory in over 63 years.

The Lions will be looking to deepen their historic stamp when they play host to Webber International University Saturday in what will be Florida Memorial University's first-ever homecoming football game.

The game, which is set for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff, will already be a historic achievement as it will be the first time that FMU culminates its homecoming festivities with a home football game.

Prior to 2021, Florida Memorial would host its homecoming during the spring with it typically climaxing at a home basketball game. Yet, since the school rebirthed its football program, it shifted its homecoming celebration to the fall to coincide with the football season but also catch the overlapping of the fall sports (football, soccer, and volleyball) and the winter sports (basketball). The week-long docket of activities included an on-campus concert and the women basketball team's home-opener all leading up to the football game Saturday.

Tickets for the game remain on sale and can be purchased online at www.FMUAthletics.com/Tickets or can be bought at the ticket booth on the day of the game. General admission tickets begin at $10 dollars or fans can purchase a three-ticket family pack for $20 dollars.

Saturday's game will also be streamed live online via FMU's Athletic Streaming Network.

For Florida Memorial head coach Tim "Ice" Harris Sr., earning a victory this weekend would also be the program's first win against a Mid-South Conference Sun Division opponent and it would extend the team's total for most wins – which increases with every victory this season.

The Lions (1-8, 0-4 Mid-South Conference Sun Division) enter having had a tough outing on the road this past weekend at Ave Maria University. FMU fell into an early hole against the Gyrenes and could never find its footing offensively, ultimately falling 38-7.

Freshman running back George Young proved to be Florida Memorial's most productive offensive weapon that night, as he set a new personal career-high and new modern-era program record for most rushing yards in a single game with 146 yards on 18 carries. Young's rushing total – coupled with his lone reception of the night – also gave broke his previous records for most total yards from scrimmage (rushing and receiving yards) with 154.

Even with Young's solid night, the FMU's offense lacked balance because freshman quarterback Demarcus McEachern had trouble operating against the Ave Maria defense and only mustered 29 passing yards and threw a pair of interceptions.

When the Lions have been successful this season – especially in the win over Union College two weeks ago and even in other games this season – it has been when they've been able to run the ball and hurt opposing defenses with timely passes once they've committed extra defenders to stop the ground game.

Standing in FMU's way Saturday will be a Webber International team that earned its first victory of the season this past week after losing its previous seven consecutive. The Warriors (1-7, 0-4) knocked off No. 19 Faulkner University 38-35, holding on despite a furious rally attempt by the Eagles.

Webber's defense has shown that it is susceptible against the run this season. WIU is allowing nearly 200 rushing yards per game to its opponents this season while yielding over 400 total yards of offense on average.

Offensively, the Warriors have struggled to produce points – prior to its win this past weekend. The 38 points they scored against Faulkner was more than they had scored in the previous eight games combined. Webber's offense operates with a more run-heavy scheme, led by senior running back Tremon Bright. Bright leads the team with 703 yards and but has only scored one touchdown this season.

Florida Memorial's attention to detail will be a key to its victory Saturday. In their game against Ave Maria, too often the Lions lost track of receivers and missed gap assignments at the line of scrimmage, which opened up running lanes.

Look for a steady diet of carries for FMU's stable of running back, led by Young, so it can control the clock and Webber International in position to abandon its own running attack and try to move the ball through the air, the weaker part of its offense.

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Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | Twitter: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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Players Mentioned

#2 George Young: RB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#17 Demarcus McEachern: QB; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 George Young
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: RB

#17 Demarcus McEachern
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: QB

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#2 George Young

#17 Demarcus McEachern

Players Mentioned

#2 George Young

#17 Demarcus McEachern