LAKELAND, Fla.—It seems every week, there are a new list of "firsts" with the Fire football program.
That's to be expected as the program is still in its infancy stages, having just won for the 14
th time in 18 games on Saturday over Ave Maria, 66-0.
Monday afternoon, a special first was achieved- the first time the program has been ranked in the NAIA Top 25.
"We always set one of our goals to be nationally ranked," said coach
Keith Barefield of the honor. "It's very gratifying when you do it, I've already said it doesn't mean a whole lot at this point of the season, but we're very proud and we're looking to work very hard to stay there."
Saturday, the Fire will be on the road in Valley, Alabama to take on the Point Skyhawks. Both teams currently sit at 3-0 on the year in conference play, with the winner moving into the driver's seat for either program's first conference championship.
"We don't have a lot of experience in our program, but one thing we do have is in the first year, we played in a game for the outright conference championship," said Barefield. "We'll see how much we've grown and matured over the last year and how they approach the game."
The Skyhawks have turned things around in a big way. After a 1-9 season in 2014, new head coach Mike McCarty has Point at 6-2 on the season with its only losses to Reinhardt (currently No. 8 in the NAIA Top 25), and NCAA Division I Kennesaw State. They are fresh off of a 24-21 victory over then No. 23 Webber International in Lake Wales, 24-21.
A 25-yard field goal by kicker Nick Powell with 6:15 to play in the contest was the deciding score.
The tandem of wide receiver Brandon Robertson and quarterback Charles Fortis have powered Point to the tune of 36 points per game, ranking 19
th in the NAIA. Robertson is averaging 155.3 yards per game; 10
th most in the NAIA. Fortis is 12
th in the country in pass efficiency at 146.0, and is 12
th in the NAIA in total offense with 1,817 yards.
The Fire boast an aggressive defense, averaging 3.1 sacks per game, good for seventh in the NAIA. The defense ranks fifth in the NAIA in scoring, giving up an average of just 14.8 points per contest.
On offense, redshirt sophomore running back
Jarrell Reynolds is fresh off of Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 186 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries. The Fire rank fourth in the NAIA in scoring at 47 points per game, and have allowed just 3.5 sacks this season.
"Our defense needs to continue to play the way that they've been playing," said Barefield of the keys to the game. "To limit their scoring, we have to win the turnover battle, we can't make foolish mistakes on offense, and have to be opportunistic early."
Live video of the game is available through
Stretch Internet, and live stats will be provided through
Dakstats.
Follow @SEUFireFootball on Twitter for updates.
