St. Thomas, Florida Memorial football teams in search of NAIA glory
The St. Thomas University Bobcats are close.
The Florida Memorial University Lions – they insist – are getting there.
STU and FMU — located just more than a mile apart in Miami Gardens — both started NAIA football programs in recent years, with vastly different results.
The Bobcats started in 2019, going 4-6 and 4-3 in their first two years before posting 9-2 records in 2021 and again last year. They narrowly missed the national tournament the past two years.
This year, however, they enter the season ranked 14th in the nation. In addition, the NAIA has expanded its playoffs from 16 to 20 teams, giving the Bobcats more hope that they will make the postseason in 2023.
“We have great expectations,” STU coach Bill Rychel said, “and with that comes great responsibility.”
Rychel is the only coach the Bobcats have ever had, which has given the program continuity.
The Lions, meanwhile, have had two coaches and no winning records. They restarted their program — which had been dormant for more than six decades — during the COVID epidemic in 2020 under coach Tim “Ice” Harris. The Lions went 0-3 before the rest of that season was scrapped.
In 2021, the Lions went 2-9 before Harris stepped down.
Bobby Rome II took over the program last year, going 3-7, and he’s still in charge.
In fact, there’s plenty of optimism at FMU, with offensive coordinator Michael Jones and defensive coordinator Jameel “Jabo” Smith raving about the talent now present on the roster.
At quarterback, the Lions have a competition between holdover Antoine Williams and Cedquan Smith, an Edward Waters transfer.
Running back George Young is the star of the offense as he ran for 511 yards and a 4.9 average last year.
But Young’s playing time is being challenged by a pair of transfers: Walter Wilbon from Iowa Central Community College and Quino Mauricette (Ave Maria).
The Lions have a deep group of receivers, including Keon Brown, who caught 26 passes for 511 yards for a 19.7 average last year.
In addition, the Lions have added a pair of 6-foot-4 receivers: Frank Bentley and Eugene Witherspoon.
“Frank has been dominant in camp,” Jones said. “He is physically gifted, and he’s a leader. Eugene is a three-time all-conference receiver who stretches the field.”
Jamal Brower and Markell Lee are also competing for playing time at receiver, and the same goes for tight ends MJ Frazier and Cedric Maudry. Frazier is an LSU transfer.
The offensive line is led by center Justyn Mack, guard Jeffrey Bonica and tackle Tredarius Moore.
Defensively, the Lions are powered by end Christian Mable, who topped the team last year with 11½ sacks and 25½ tackles for losses.
Linebacker Daeshawn Davis, a transfer from Southern, figures to be another standout.
The biggest game of FMU’s schedule comes on Oct. 14 when the Lions visit the Bobcats in what is billed as “The Battle of Miami Gardens.”
However, it hasn’t been much of a rivalry so far because STU has dominated, winning 38-7 last year and 38-22 in 2021.
The biggest game for the Bobcats this year will come on Oct. 7, when they travel to face the second-ranked NAIA team in the nation, Keiser. That game will likely decide the Sun Conference champion, granting the winner an automatic berth into the NAIA playoffs.
Rychel, a former offensive lineman who will lean on that unit again this year, is confident in his squad.
“We have a veteran group,” he said.
Indeed, STU’s offensive line features four fifth-year seniors: guards Jayce Collins and Lucas Rodriguez, center Josh Young and tackle Jared Noble. Collins was the conference’s Offensive Lineman of the Year last season. Rodriguez is a team captain.
Those linemen open holes for running back Rontavious Farmer, who last year rushed for 1,553 yards, a 6.1 average and 14 touchdowns.
The Bobcats have yet to settle on a quarterback as Keely Watson and veteran Ty’Quan Wiggins are still competing.
“People get nervous about playing two quarterbacks,” Rychel said. “But, to me, it’s like any other position if you have a close competition.”
STU’s top tight ends are Trevor Phillips and Angelo McDowell, and the Bobcats boast C’Quan Jnopierre, David Hayes and Khalitri Zow at wide receiver. Jnopierre led the team last year in catches (42), reception yards (707) and touchdowns (six).
Defensively, the Bobcats are led on the line by captain Nicholas Engler as well as nose tackle Khalill Bryan and FIU transfer Jeremy Moore.
The Bobcats’ 3-4 defense features outside linebackers Donnell Bennett III and Kendall Wilson II. The inside ‘backers are Jordan Lynch, who started as a true freshman last year, and Gavin Paul. Bennett, an all-conference player returning from injury, is the key to the unit.
The secondary features Jhaqwori Austin, who has switched from cornerback to safety.
Alejandro Prado handles the kicking and the punting, and Jnopierre is the top returner on a talented roster.
“Our goal,” Rychel said, “is to win our conference and get into the national picture.”
