Week 4 Preview: Fort Lauderdale
***DISCLAIMER: This is a very new program, who has played only 2 games of their 4 scheduled this year. Their website is pretty bare bones, and doesn’t contain as much information as I would like for a preview article. Sorry about that, next week will be more in depth again.***
Ft. Lauderdale, N/A (NCCAA)
Broadcast: FLOSPORTS/CST 6 PM EST/7 PM CST
When We Last Saw Ft Lauderdale
2021 Record (0-2)
This is Ft Lauderdale’s first season as a varsity football program, after being a club program for some time. They compete in a non-NCAA division, the NCCAA. As you’d expect from a fledgling program, they’ve been struggling to start. This season they missed their first two games with COVID issues, and then followed that up by playing FCS Presbyterian and D2 Mississippi College. The results, despite the difference in caliber of the two opponent programs, were almost identical, PC winning 68-3 and MC winning 63-0. There isn’t much positive to highlight with Ft Lauderdale after two games. Their offense is averaging an anemic 129 yards per game and 2.2 yards per play, while the defense has allowed over 500 yards rushing and 500 yards passing in just two games. They’ve only registered 1 sack and 7 TFL in two games, and have 2 INT compared to 7 INT thrown. They do have a capable Running Back in former PSAC East All-Conference selection Qmac Quiteh, who has been the brightest spot for the team, averaging 4.2 yards per carry on 78 yards so far this season.
Three Players to Know
RS Senior Qmac Quiteh, Running Back
Fall Stats: 18 attempts 76 yards
Quiteh came to Ft Lauderdale with a solid D2 pedigree, after spending 5 years at Bloomsburg in the PSAC East. In his best season with the Huskies he finished with 208 attempts 979 yards 8 TDs in 11 games. He was named 2nd Team All-PSAC East that year. Over 4 years of play he tallied a total of 1578 yards and 13 TDs on the ground, averaging just under 5 yards per carry. This season for the Eagles, Quiteh hasn’t been able to get much done, but his 76 yards is more than 2x the next leading rusher, and he is averaging a team best 4.2 yards per carry.
Freshman Marvensky Brunelus, Linebacker
Fall Stats: 15 tackles (7 solo) 0.5 TFL
The leading tackler for the Eagles defense, Brunelus racked up 9 tackles (7 solo) against MC last weekend.
Freshman David Bryant, Defensive Back
Fall Stats: 10 tackles (8 solo) 1 INT 1 hurry
Bryant was able to snag one of the two INTs for the Eagles this season, against Presbyterian in their first game. He also leads the team in solo tackles, and has 1 of the 2 QB hurries for Ft Lauderdale so far this season.
Matchup of the Week
UWF’s Backups vs Ft Lauderdale
This isn’t meant to be insulting toward an opponent, I don’t doubt the Eagles will come out and try their best. However, we are looking at a roster of less than 40 players vs a D2 juggernaut on a 9 game winning streak and having won 16 of their last 18 games. The reality is UWF is going to get their backups and young guys in early and often. I’m particularly excited to get a chance to see the young Linemen on both sides of the ball, as well as hopefully getting a look at one or more of the Freshman QBs throwing. I expect UWF’s second and third stringers will probably win this game all over again, when the coaches sit the starters.
Prediction
Name your score game for UWF. I think they have a really good chance to at least tie, if not break, the scoring record (69) set last year against VUL. This will be a game for working out a lot of young players and working on specific things on both sides of the ball. This will be almost like a live practice session ahead of opening GSC play next week against Delta State.
