2017 Florida Tech Panthers football team

The 2017 Florida Tech Panthers football team represented Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) during the 2017 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Steve Englehart. The Panthers played their home games at Florida Tech Panther Stadium, approximately one mile (1.6 km) from the Florida Tech campus, and were members of the Gulf South Conference.

2017 Florida Tech Panthers football
ConferenceGulf South Conference
Record5–6 (3–5 GSC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJayson Martin (5th season)
Defensive coordinatorRick Minter (1st season)
Home stadiumFlorida Tech Panther Stadium
Seasons
← 2016
2018 →
2017 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 12 West Alabama $^   7 1     10 3  
No. 2 West Florida ^   5 3     11 4  
No. 21 Delta State ^   5 3     9 4  
No. 19 West Georgia ^   5 3     9 4  
Valdosta State   5 3     5 4  
North Alabama   5 3     5 5  
Florida Tech   3 5     5 6  
Mississippi College   1 7     1 9  
Shorter   0 8     0 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Schedule

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Florida Tech announced its 2017 football schedule on April 11, 2017. The schedule consists of 5 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Panthers will host GSC foes Shorter, West Alabama, West Florida, and West Georgia, and will travel to Delta State, Mississippi College, North Alabama, and Valdosta State.[1]

The Panthers will host only one non-conference game against Virginia University of Lynchburg and travel to McNeese State of the Southland Conference and North Greenville whom is independent from a conference.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 27:00 p.m.VUL*W 44–01,230
September 97:00 p.m.at McNeese State*L 21–4211,101
September 167:00 p.m.Shorter
  • Florida Tech Panther Stadium
  • Melbourne, FL
W 31–61,450
September 238:00 p.m.at Mississippi CollegeW 35–03,934
September 307:00 p.m.West Florida
  • Florida Tech Panther Stadium
  • Melbourne, FL (Coastal Classic)
ESPN3L 21–233,422
October 77:00 p.m.at North AlabamaL 7–307,002
October 1412:00 p.m.at North Greenville*W 42–312,400
October 212:00 p.m.No. 18 West Alabama
  • Florida Tech Panther Stadium
  • Melbourne, FL
ESPN3W 41–392,900
October 287:00 p.m.at Valdosta StateL 14–423,018
November 41:00 p.m.No. 25 West Georgia 
  • Florida Tech Panther Stadium
  • Melbourne, FL
L 13–203,800
November 113:00 p.m.at Delta StateESPN3L 20–426,555

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011Final
AFCARVRVRVRVRV

Game summaries

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Virginia-Lynchburg

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1 2 3 4 Total
Dragons 0 0 0 0 0
Panthers 3 7 14 20 44

At McNeese State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 0 7 14 0 21
Cowboys 14 7 7 14 42

Shorter

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hawks 6 0 0 0 6
Panthers 14 7 3 7 31

At Mississippi College

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1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 0 14 14 35
Choctaws 0 0 0 0 0

West Florida

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1 2 3 4 Total
Argonauts 7 6 7 3 23
Panthers 7 7 7 0 21

At North Alabama

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1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 0 0 0 7
Lions 3 0 21 6 30

At North Greenville

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1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 21 7 7 42
Crusaders 7 10 14 0 31

West Alabama

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1 2 3 4 Total
Tigers 14 3 0 22 39
Panthers 7 13 7 14 41

At Valdosta State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 0 0 7 14
Blazers 0 14 14 14 42

West Georgia

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wolves 0 0 3 17 20
Panthers 6 0 0 7 13

At Delta State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 13 0 0 7 20
Statesmen 0 21 14 7 42

Awards and milestones

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Gulf South Conference honors

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Five players from Florida Tech were honored as All-GSC selections by the league's coaches.[2]

Gulf South Conference All-Conference First Team

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  • Antwuan Haynes, RB
  • Adonis Davis, DL

Gulf South Conference All-Conference Second Team

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  • Romell Guerrier, WR
  • Kevin Purlett, TE
  • J.T. Hassell, LB

Gulf South Conference offensive player of the week

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  • September 18: Antwuan Haynes [3]
  • October 16: Mark Cato [4]
  • October 23: Mark Cato [5]

Gulf South Conference defensive player of the week

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  • October 16: Adonis Davis [6]

Gulf South Conference special teams player of the week

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  • September 4: Max Erdman [7]

References

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  1. ^ "Florida Tech Announces 2017 Football Schedule" (Press release). Florida Institute of Technology Department of Athletics. April 11, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  2. ^ "GSC Announces 2017 Football All-Conference Awards". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  3. ^ "GSC Football Players of the Week: September 18". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  4. ^ "GSC Football Players of the Week: October 16". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  5. ^ "GSC Football Players of the Week: October 23". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  6. ^ "GSC Football Players of the Week: October 16". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  7. ^ "GSC Football Players of the Week: September 4". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved January 7, 2019.