MIRAMAR, Fla. – Mustapha Kromah recorded 18 tackles, a single-game program record, but Thomas University could not slow Florida Memorial's ground game in a 41-14 loss Saturday at Ansin Sports Complex.
Florida Memorial scored on its first drive, an eight-play, 73-yard march capped by Nygel Osborne's 8-yard run. Jalen Holly's 13-yard touchdown catch made it 14-0 late in the first quarter, and Khalil Washington broke a 40-yard touchdown run in the second. Cedric Madry's 4-yard catch capped a 13-play drive in the third.
Thomas got on the board as the third quarter expired. Ty'Won Walker's 25-yard kickoff return set up the Night Hawks at their own 41, and the drive took seven plays, 59 yards. Roshaun Dudley opened with a 15-yard run to the FMU44. Two plays later, Gray Jennings hit Tre Woodson for 14 yards, and a roughing-the-passer penalty on Florida Memorial added 15 more, moving the ball to the FMU15. Jennings found Gabe Miley for five yards, then kept it himself for one to the 9. A dropped pass on third-and-4 forced a fourth down, and Jennings answered with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Woodson with no time left on the clock. Wyatt Waddell's extra point made it 28-7.
In the fourth quarter the Lions continued their scoring with a 4-yard rushing score from Thomas Jacari.
The second score for the Night Hawks came with 3:28 left in the fourth, after a Florida Memorial punt and a kick-catching interference flag handed Thomas the ball at the FMU25. The drive ran nine plays and 3:19, and it needed every inch of its field position. A false start put the Night Hawks in second-and-15 before Jennings connected with Everett Byrd for 13 yards to the 17. A targeting penalty on FMU moved the ball to the 8, and after Jennings hit Dudley for two, a roughing-the-passer call put Thomas at the 3-yard line. Jennings threw to Aaron Wilson for the 3-yard touchdown, and Waddell's kick made it 35-14.
Holly caught a 22-yard touchdown from David Buggs as time expired to set the final.
Jennings completed 18 of 35 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. Woodson caught five passes for 61 yards and a score, and Jaden Paulk added three catches for 39 yards. Roshaun Dudley led the ground game with 41 yards on eight carries and added three catches for 42 yards. Thomas finished 6-of-12 on third down and 2-of-4 on fourth down, and went 2-for-2 in the red zone.
Kromah's record-setting day, eight solo stops and 10 assists, led a defense that made 68 tackles. Zakari Henderson added nine tackles and Joe Miracle III had eight with two tackles for loss. Kendall Hinton posted a 7-yard sack, and Sekhi Ashley had five tackles and a pass breakup. Aj Traylor picked off the Florida Memorial quarterback in the fourth quarter and returned it 21 yards.
Wyatt Waddell averaged 43.3 yards on three punts, with one inside the 20.
The Night Hawks returns home Saturday, Oct. 31, to face No. 4 St. Thomas University (Fla.) in the Halloween Game at 4 p.m. ET.
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