Pensacola, Fla. – The SBU Football team was on the road for the first time this season, taking on the defending NCAA Division II National Champions in West Florida. The #1 ranked Argonauts defeated the Bearcats 63-14 on their home turf, dropping SBU to 0-2 (0-0 GLVC) to begin the year.
 
SBU was the first to receive the ball, beginning on their own 25-yard line after a touchback. On a 3^rd and 2 from the UWF 48, Cooper Callis found Jordan Kent for 20 yards to keep the drive alive. Later, on a 4^th and 2, the Bearcats elected to go for it and the call payed off. Callis connected with Jarrett Massie for a 20-yard touchdown, putting the Bearcats ahead, 7-0. West Florida turned their first drive into points as well, evening the score at 7-7. A failed conversion on 4^th and 1 gave the Argonauts the ball back deep into SBU territory, where they scored once again, making it 14-7 UWF at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was all West Florida, taking a 42-7 lead at the break.
 
The third quarter had a similar ring to it, as the Argonauts scored another pair of touchdowns, leading 56-7. After the hosts scored to open the fourth quarter, SBU began driving once again. On a 3^rd and 8 from SBU's 12-yard line, Cooper Callis connected with Jordan Kent for 16 yards. Preston Carson hauled in a couple more passes on the drive, going for 15 and 18 yards. Cooper Callis capped off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run, creating a 63-14 final score.
 
Cooper Callis was responsible for both touchdowns, completing 22-34 passes for 230 yards in the air in the process. Abel Carter led the team in rushing, picking up 23 yards on 7 carries. Preston Carson and Jordan Kent had nearly identical receiving numbers, both catching 5 passes for 63 and 62 yards respectively. The defending GLVC Defensive Player of the Week, Coleton Smith, led the team once again with 8 tackles. Brenden Smith also brought down 7 Argonauts in the loss. Kayden Myers had an interception late in the game, and Nate Stelken recorded the lone sack for SBU, going down as a loss of 6 yards.
 
The Bearcats return home for their next competition, taking on the University of Findlay on Saturday, September 18 at Plaster Stadium. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for 1:00 PM.