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J.T. Wilcox

Football J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

FMU Football Ready To Bounce Back, Faces Rival St. Thomas Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (0-1) at St. Thomas University Bobcats (1-0)
When: Saturday, September 4, 2021
Where: Monsignor Pace High School, Miami Gardens, Fla. | Jones Field
Kickoff: 12 p.m.
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – For all the good that Florida Memorial University did in its season-opening game at Edward Waters University this past weekend – forcing five turnovers and setting multiple new-era records – it still didn't come away with the result it wanted.
 
And while Lions head coach Tim "Ice" Harris Sr. said that his team wasn't going to be satisfied with any kind of "morale victory" he also said that he didn't want to let one loss carry over into the coming weeks.
 
FMU will be looking to bounce back and capture its first football victory when it travels less than a mile away to face rival St. Thomas University Saturday at Monsignor Edward Pace High School Field in what will be the first-ever football meeting between the programs – billed as the "Battle of Miami Gardens".

Saturday's game, which is set for a 12 noon kickoff, will be open for fans to attend. Tickets are available for pre-purchase online and can also be purchased at the stadium gates. St. Thomas University will also stream the game live on its digital sports channel and can be viewed free of charge.
 
While Florida Memorial University and St. Thomas University have had their fair share of spirited competitions across just about every sport, FMU did their Miami Gardens neighbor a favor by agreeing to change the date of the teams' football showdown this season – moving the game from its originally scheduled October 16th date to now playing on Saturday, September 4.
 
Harris said his team knows it will be walking into another tough road environment even though FMU's campus is literally just blocks away.
 
"[This is] going to be another rivalry game for us in a hostile environment as both schools are right there in Miami Gardens," Harris said in his postgame availability this past weekend.
 
"We had to transition right into preparation for St. Thomas and I think not having that layoff between – like our schedule had originally, helped all of us get past Edward Waters and lock in and focus on the things we needed to correct to be successful moving forward."
 
Florida Memorial got the attention of fans – and surely opponents alike – with its performance against the Tigers this past weekend. FMU's defense came away with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries – one of which being returned for a touchdown by defensive lineman Philman Roundtree.
 
The Lions offense also showed it can produce points with methodical drives and through big plays, two traits that should only become enhanced as the offense continues to build continuity and chemistry throughout the season.
 
St. Thomas (1-0) will be playing its first game on the field this season Saturday since it earned a forfeit win over the University of Pikeville this past week. The Bobcats return a decent number of players from its 2020 team, which went 4-3 and ended the year on a three-game winning streak.
 
STU, like Florida Memorial, has a roster teeming with players with South Florida roots – which only adds fuel to the rivalry's fire since many of the players competed against one another in high school and perhaps even youth football.
 
FMU's defense will need to put pressure on St. Thomas junior quarterback Tyler Thomas, which could be a tough task since the Bobcats' offensive line is anchored by a pair of 2020 All-Mid-South Conference Second-Team selections in offensive linemen Jared Noble and Keyon Phillips.

The Bobcats defense, which allowed just over 15 points per game during their final three games of the 2020 season, also returns three All-MSC First-Team selections in linebackers Donnell Bennett III and Nicholas Engler along with defensive back Sidney Porter.

Florida Memorial's biggest key Saturday will be the improved play of its special teams unit. The Lions' miscues on special teams – which included two missed field goals, a missed extra point, and multiple long returns allowed on kickoffs – did the team zero favors against Edward Waters and needs to be shored up against a St. Thomas team that was ranked No. 3 in the preseason Mid-South Conference poll.
 
Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | Twitter: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | YouTube: Official FMU Lions
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Players Mentioned

Philman Roundtree

#19 Philman Roundtree

DL
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Philman Roundtree

#19 Philman Roundtree

6' 0"
Freshman
DL