Marist football head coach Mike Willis can exhale.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sonny Mannino rushed for four touchdowns to get Marist Football their first win of the season and Willis the first win of his Marist head-coaching career. Winning 40-31 against Stetson in a barn burner, the Red Foxes snap a nine-game winless season and break a 13-game losing streak dating back to Oct. 28, 2023.
“I’m so excited for our guys, in particular, our seniors, who I know are counting down the days left they have left those active players in this program. I’m really happy for them,” said Willis. “The goal every week is to be 1-0 a Saturday night, and it’s a lot more fun to celebrate a win.”
Both teams entered the game still without a PFL win: the Red Foxes 0-6 in the conference and the Hatters 0-4. With both teams at the bottom of scoring defense in the conference, the matchup was destined to be a streak-breaking showdown.
Mannino, who shined for the Red Foxes today, propelled the Red Foxes on scoring with his legs, passing for 279 yards while rushing for 91 on 4.5 yards a carry. He dominated with the ball in his hands and open room to run, often scrambling out of the pocket to extend plays and kept the Foxes in the ball game.
“I thought Sonny played really hard and really well today,” said Willis. “Some of those really big plays are credit to receivers running great routes and terrific protection from the offensive line…he then does special things with his feet and with his arm at different points.”
Stetson’s redshirt junior quarterback Brady Meitz became the all-time leading passer today after a 41-yard pass put him over the previous Hatter’s record. Even with the accolade under his belt, the quarterback had four costly interceptions that led to the eventual loss.
Willis commented on the creation of turnovers during their win, including moving freshman Nate Robinson Jr. to the safety position. The effectiveness was a sign that their rotation of players and desire to get the best players on the field worked. Robinson Jr. had an interception that halted any Stetson momentum on offense while the Red Foxes were up 33-31 in the fourth quarter.
Meitz looked to throw under center on the Hatter’s first possession but got picked off by sophomore James Kratchovil, who already had two interceptions on the year. On their very next possession, Kratchovil once again was in the right place at the right time, picking off Meitz as the quarterback got pressured for his second interception of the day and fourth on the season.
Marist jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter with two-straight touchdown drives, getting to the near-goal line with a Mannino 25-yard bullet to redshirt freshman Jackson Connors-McCarthy for the first score. Graduate student Triston Shannon picked up his second rushing touchdown of the year on the corresponding drive to end the first quarter up 13-0.
Stetson did fight back, however. Meitz–who frequently opted to sling it downfield–took advantage of blown Marist man-to-man coverage to get a 39-yard touchdown and get within a score.
Marist’s offense lulled in the second quarter, which let the Hatters creep up on Marist. The Red Foxes punted three times in the quarter leading to two Stetson touchdowns, then finding themselves down 21-13. In an attempt to hit their first field goal in conference play and get points on the board before the half, the Red Foxes missed a 37-yard try and entered the third with work to do.
After forcing a Stetson punt in their own endzone, graduate student receiver Mohamed Diawara contributed on special teams, a much-needed break for the Red Foxes, getting to the endzone on a big punt-return touchdown that kept Marist close to Stetson with plenty of time remaining.
Alas, Mannino’s legs gave Marist the heavy offensive advantage in the third and fourth quarter. His second and third rushing touchdowns gave Marist the lead back when they lost the advantage to the Hatters, including a big 30-yard scramble to the house.
After Mannino’s fourth rushing touchdown, redshirt junior cornerback Austin Tremble made an acrobatic interception–his second of the year–to ice the game and give Marist their much-needed win.
With a win under their belt in a transition season, Marist can relax and gear up for their home finale senior game on Saturday, Nov.16 at 1 p.m. against the 2-4 Presbyterian Blue Hose.
“I think the way you honor a senior is by giving them an opportunity to win a football game,” said Willis.
Graphic Credit: Quinn Difiore
Photo from Marist Athletics
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