The 2014 Florida Tech Panthers football team represented the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) during the 2014 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by head coach Steve Englehart, who was in his second year at Florida Tech. The Panthers played their home games at Pirate Stadium, approximately one mile from the Florida Tech campus and were a member of the Gulf South Conference. The 2014 season was the Panthers' second, after having football approved at FIT in April, 2010.
The Panthers would record the first winning season in program history at 6-5. Highlights included the program's first ever win over a ranked team in a 37-31 victory over #12 Tarleton State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas as part of the Lone Star Football Festival , their first ever road win in GSC play thanks to a last second 33-32 win at West Alabama and clinching a winning record on a 41-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass from Mark Cato to Xavier Milton as time expired to defeat Shorter, 34-30.
Schedule
Game summaries
At Stetson
Ave Maria
Tarleton State
At Bethune-Cookman
Delta State
At West Alabama
North Alabama
Mississippi College
At Shorter
At West Georgia
Valdosta State
Awards and milestones
Gulf South Conference honors
Nine players from Florida Tech were honored as All-GSC selections by the league's coaches. Wide Receiver Xavier Milton was named the GSC Co-Offensive Player of the Year with West Alabama QB Kyle Caldwell, becoming the first Panther to receive the honor. Quarterback Mark Cato became the first of two consecutive Panthers to win GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year with Antwuan Haynes winning it the following year. Steve Englehart was named GSC Co-Coach of the Year with Delta State's Todd Cooley and would go on to win the award outright in 2015.
Gulf South Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year: WR Xavier Milton Gulf South Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year: QB Mark Cato Gulf South Conference Co-Coach of the Year: Steve Englehart
Gulf South Conference All-Conference First Team Trevor Sand, RB Xavier Milton, WR Gabe Hughes, TE J.J. Sanders, LB
Gulf South Conference All-Conference Second Team Mark Cato, QB Ramsey Sellers, C Matt Garcia, T Chris Stapleton, LB Manny Abad, DB
Gulf South Conference offensive player of the week September 8: Mark Cato November 3: Xavier Milton
Gulf South Conference defensive player of the week September 22: J.J. Sanders September 29: Chris Stapleton November 3: J.J. Sanders
Gulf South Conference freshman of the week September 8: Mark Cato September 15: Mark Cato Mark Cato September 22: Mark Cato September 28: Mark Cato October 13: Mark Cato October 20: Terrance Bynum October 27: Mark Cato November 3: Mark Cato November 17: Mark Cato
School records Most passing yards in a single season: 2,962, Mark Cato Most rushing yards in a single season: 1,105, Trevor Sand Most receiving yards in a single season: 1,116, Xavier Milton Most passing touchdowns in a single season: 32, Mark Cato Most sacks in a single season: 8, J.J. Sanders Most tackles for loss in a single season: 21, J.J. Sanders Most tackles for loss: 4, J.J. Sanders (October 18, 2014)
References