Toreros win Homecoming game in style

Jonah Hodges breaks single game rushing record with 273 yards

HUNTER JAMESON
SPORTS EDITOR
@HJamo

The Torero football team defeated the Stetson University Hatters in the annual Homecoming game 31-23, with the coaches wearing purple to raise awareness for domestic violence. Sophomore running back Jonah Hodges gave the 3,405 fans in attendance something to cheer about by breaking the single-game rushing record with 273 yards while adding two touchdowns.

Hodges got the ball rolling with a 53-yard touchdown run on the Torero’s first play of the game. Redshirt junior Trey Wheeler made his first start at quarterback for the Toreros, after sophomore quarterback Keith Williams broke his hand in the previous game against Marist University. Wheeler completed 18 of 31 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

The Hatters kept the game close for the entire game and the score was 24-23 Toreros entering the fourth quarter. Hodges finished his record-setting day, while also clinching the victory, with a 56-yard touchdown run to make the score 31-23. With the Hatters driving down the field with just minutes remaining, redshirt sophomore linebacker Nic Henson forced a fumbled that was picked up by redshirt senior safety Joe Labarbera.

Hodges’s 273 rushing yards broke the record held by Sammy Croom, who ran for 271 yards against Azusa Pacific University in 1972.

With the win, the Toreros improve to 4-1 on the season and their focus is now on the Butler University Bulldogs. The Toreros travel to Indianapolis, IN on Oct. 18 for their game against the Bulldogs, which will begin at 9 a.m. PT.