For the second week in a row the Stetson Hatters gave their fans an adrenaline rush that ended in a clock-expiring victory.

Redshirt sophomore Jonny Messina connected on a 22-yard field goal on the game’s final play Saturday night at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium to lift the Hatters to a 38-35 win over Jacksonville University. It was Stetson’s first win in six tries against the Dolphins, including a loss on the final play one year ago.

The win puts the Hatters at 5-1 overall on the season and improved their record to 3-1 in the Pioneer Football League. With four games remaining this season, Stetson has guaranteed itself at least a .500 record for the first time since the program reignited in 2013.

The last-second win was the second for the Hatters in as many weeks after last weeks’ miraculous final play at Drake.

Stetson offensive records were broken on Saturday. Quarterback Colin McGovern completed 27-of-36 passes for a career-high and Stetson record 391 yards, to go along with three touchdowns. Senior tight end Donald Parham, after having just one catch for seven yards at halftime, caught 13 passes for 143 yards over the final thirty minutes to end the game with a Stetson record 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, Parham was targeted by McGovern 14 times and caught 11 passes, including a 20-yard touchdown catch to knot the score at 35 with 5:38 left to play. He caught a combined seven passes for first downs on Stetson’s final two drives, including three on the final drive, two of which were converted on third down.

While the game ended in dramatic fashion, early on the Hatters gave the 2,437 fans in attendance some excitement. The Hatters scored on their opening drive when McGovern connected with junior receiver Steven Burdette on a 62-yard pass for a 7-0 lead.

Jacksonville tied the score at 7-7 on a 12-play, 65-yard drive on its first possession. That drive was capped by a two-yard touchdown run from sophomore quarterback Calvin Turner, Jr. Turner, who leads the NCAA FCS Division in rushing yards, had another fantastic game on the ground with 26 carries for 196 yards and three touchdowns.

The Hatters answered with touchdowns on their next two possessions to take a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Freshman running back Jareem Westcott scored on a 10-yard run, before McGovern found Burdette again, this time on a 57-yard score, to put Stetson ahead by 14.

Holding a 21-14 lead at halftime, Stetson extended the lead to fourteen points on a six-yard touchdown run up the middle by Westcott mid-way through the third quarter.

The Dolphins got off the matt to score three unanswered touchdowns and took a 35-28 lead with 8:27 to go in the game. Jacksonville’s third score in that stretch came when Turner ran the ball 71 yards on one-play drive to give the Dolphins their first lead of the night.

After that, it became the Donald Parham show. Parham caught six passes on the ensuing drive, including four for first downs, before scoring on a 20-yard touchdown reception with 5:38 to go.

The Hatters stopped Jacksonville on a critical third down and got the ball back with 2:39 to go and the ball on their own 15 after a JU punt.

On the final drive, McGovern completed nine passes, seven of which went to Parham. The 6-foot-9 tight end converted four first downs, including two on third down. Overall the Hatters amassed five first downs on the final drive, with the last one an eight yard dash by Matt Taft on second down to set up Messina’s game clincher.

The win also improves the Hatters to 4-0 at home this season.

Defensively, the Hatters were led by junior Peter Katz with 11 tackles, while redshirt junior Colby Duncan had nine tackles. Junior defensive back Reggie Gantt added eight tackles.

Stetson’s will attempt to record its first six-win season since the 1950s on Saturday, Oct. 27, when they travel to face Davidson (5-3). Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

–GoHatters.com