Box Score LAKE WALES, Fla.- Webber International rode their ground game to the tune of 361 yards in a 28-21 win over Southeastern, clinching at least a share of the inaugural Sun Conference championship.
The Fire (5-3) picked up a Webber fumble with 6:35 left in the first quarter, and on the following play, opened the scoring with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Pearce to Steven Williams.
Webber (6-3) answered at the 9:09 mark of the second quarter on a five yard touchdown run that capped off a 15-play, 86-yard drive to tie the game at seven. On the following possession, the Warriors came away with an interception, and turned it into an eight play, 75-yard touchdown drive to take a 14-7 lead.
Southeastern responded by driving the ball down to the 5-yard line, but fumbled, and the Warriors recovered. The Warriors drove 94 yards on eight plays and scored on a seven yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left in the first half to take a 21-7 lead at the break.
On the second play of the second half, the Fire recovered a Webber fumble at the Warriors' 15-yard line, but were held at the 1-yard line on three consecutive plays and turned the ball over on downs.
After a bad snap on a punt, the Warriors had the ball at the Fire 10-yard line, but fumbled, and the Fire recovered. The offense then went on a five play, 80-yard drive, ending with a 2-yard touchdown reception by Amari Williams o bring the Fire within a score at 21-14.
The Fire defense forced back-to-back punts, but the offense was stalled each time. The Warriors regained a 14-point lead on a 10-yard touchdown run with 5:17 to play in the fourth quarter, going up 28-14.
"We had our opportunities, and we didn't take advantage of them," said Coach Keith Barefield. "A lot of our problems tonight were caused by the team that we played, they did a wonderful job tonight."
Southeastern picked up their final score on the ensuing drive, with Pearce scrambling in from three yards out after a 12-play, 71 yard drive made it 28-21. The Fire attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by the Warriors.
The Warriors outgained the Fire 436 to 358, and held the ball for 32:53. "We anticipated that they wanted to make it a close game and keep us from getting in a rhythm, and the best way to do that was to control the ball," said Barefield.
Pearce finished the game 25-of-39 for 285 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Steven Williams was the top target, grabbing a team-high eight passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Jarrell Reynolds was held to 75 yards on 20 carries.
Southeastern will play their final home game next Saturday when they host NCAA Division II Limestone College at 7 p.m.
