JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Quarterback Kade Bell threw five touchdown passes and Jacksonville University won its fifth consecutive game as the Dolphins beat Stetson, 41-14, in a Pioneer Football League game Saturday.
Bell, a redshirt-senior, completed 23 of 40 passes with one interception in the first night football game ever at D.B. Milne Field played before a record crowd of 6,324 fans. The 5-0 start for JU (3-0 in the PFL) is the best start in school history.
"Overall it was a really good team victory and we are getting better. I told them that championship teams don't settle for staying the same. Great teams keep getting better until the end of the last game," said Head Coach Kerwin Bell. "They've got that attitude each week and it's starting to show."
Bell, whose touchdown passes went to five different receivers, propelled JU early with two first quarter scores. The first was a four-yard pass to running back Orlando Thomas with 8:11 to play and another four-yarder to wide receiver Damien Strange.
"It was good to get a win. The defense played lights out again. The offensive line played really well and we've had some young guys step up this year," said Kade Bell. "We played hard but I think that we can be a lot better and I think that's what we are going to do next week."
JU moved to a 21-0 lead when Bell found wide receiver Andy Jones on a 10-yard scoring strike with 9:40 to play in the second quarter and Stetson (1-4, 0-3) responded on its next possession when quarterback Ryan Tentler connected with Darius McGriff for a 55-yard touchdown pass.
JU went to the break with a 28-7 lead as defensive back Armani Sampson returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown.
Bell threw two more touchdowns in the second half to freshman wide receiver Austin Leach and junior Austin Lawrence. Both receptions were the first career scores for the wide outs.
JU running back Ulysses Bryant led all rushers with 95 yards while Jones led all receivers with 54 yards on five catches while Austin Leach had 70 yards on four receptions.
Tentler completed 13 of 30 passes with a touchdown and two interceptions and 111 yards. His backup, freshman Colin McGovern, passed for 118 yards completing seven of 15 passes with a pair of interceptions.
The JU defense, which leads the PFL, forced five turnovers, four on interceptions and a fumble recovery.
"It was a great atmosphere with all-day excitement from the alumni," said Kerwin Bell. "Our players were really excited and Stetson is a good program that brought up a lot of people. It was a great college football atmosphere."
