Box Score MONTGOMERY, Ala.- For the first time, the Southeastern University Fire football squad took the field in an intercollegiate football game. The night was full of firsts, but the first win will have to come another time as the Fire fell to 10th-ranked Faulkner 45-24.
"It was a long time coming," said Barefield of the first game. "I was really proud of the way they played and stuck in there and competed all the way."
After winning the coin toss, the Fire got the ball and opened up the game with a 42-yard pass from Jayce Barber to DeVontae Mack. However, the drive stalled in the redzone after a pass was intercepted by Dushonta Broughton.
The Eagles marched all the way to the Fire 23, but their 40-yard field goal attempt was blocked, keeping the game tied at zero. The Eagles were able to score the first points of the game on a two yard run by Raquis Hale to cap off a 12-play 73-yard drive. They added a second score before the end of the first to take a 14-0 lead at the end of the period.
Freshman kicker Caleb Winter scored the first points in Fire history, drilling a 45-yard field goal to make it 14-3. The Eagles answered right back with 17 straight points to take a 24-3 lead at halftime, and led 38-3 in the third quarter.
Sennua Lawson scored the first Fire touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 22 yard pass from Barber to make it a 38-10 game. After giving up a touchdown pass, the Fire struck back with a pair of Jarrell Reynolds touchdown runs to close out the night.
Barber finished the night 18-of-36 for 194 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Jonathan Pearce finished the game, going 4-of-7 for 59 yards. Dakota Duron was the top target with six catches for 45 yards. Mack finished with five catches for 73 yards.
Both teams were hampered by penalties with the Fire being flagged 17 times for 106 yards and the Eagles 16 times for 138 yards.
The Fire host their first contest next week when they take on 1-1 Warner.
