Box Score ROME, Ga.- The inaugural football season at Southeastern University finished with the Fire knocking off NCAA Division III Berry College 33-3, thanks in part to a stellar defensive effort.
The Fire defense forced four turnovers, and held the Vikings to just 197 total yards of offense.
"The defense did a great job creating turnovers and keeping us out of trouble," said Coach Keith Barefield.
A forced fumble by Trenton Lowery with 6:55 left in the first quarter led to a 3-yard touchdown run by Jarrell Reynolds to put the Fire on the board with a 6-0 lead. The Vikings answered with a 27-yard field goal of their own with 3:30 left in the quarter to cut the deficit in half at 6-3.
Caleb Winter hit the first of his two field goals with 11:30 left. He also added a 45-yarder in the third quarter. Jonathan Pearce capped off a seven play, 40-yard drive with an 8-yard TD run with 6:50 left in the half to put the Fire up 16-3 at the break.
Pearce also added a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter; the result of an interception by Mark Myers. Pearce closed out the scoring with 7:05 left in the contest on a 70-yard toss to Steven Williams.
Reynolds finished the game with 19 carries for 59 yards. Pearce was 7-of-2 for 160 yards. Williams was the leading receiver at four catches for 114 yards. Leading the defense was Trenton Lowery with 10 tackles, two for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
"I'm proud of these young men, they worked hard, they did everything that we asked of them all throughout the year," said Barefield. "They gave me everything they had every game."
