CLEARWATER, Fla.--The second season of Fire football started with an offensive explosion, resulting in a 77-7 win over the University of Faith on Saturday afternoon.
The game was stopped due to lightning in the fourth quarter.
The Fire, in the first quarter, showed their versatility by scoring touchdowns on the ground, in the air, and on defense.
Jarrell Reynolds had the opening score rushing from 18 yards out. Next,
Jonathan Pearce would find
Michael Wheary on the first play of their next series from 69 yards, and another score. The next series, the defense would force a fumble on the 3-yard line, and
James Swain Jr. would carry it in for yet another score.
Pearce, an All-Sun Conference selection last season, accumulated 303 passing yards and four touchdown passes, two of them were in the second quarter. Pearce found Wheary and later
Dakota Duron, for the only two scores of the quarter. At halftime, the fire led 35-0.
Wheary was a standout receiver for the Fire, scoring three times, two from long range. In the third quarter, he grabbed his third, from 44 yards out. Also in the third quarter, Reynolds added his second and third scores on a pair of short carries, the second of which was the result of a key interception by
Mark Myers, which set the Fire up in the red zone.
Some of the younger talent of Southeastern got a chance to add to the touchdown total as well. Freshman quarterback
Railond Garrett from Lake Wales added three touchdowns, two were short passes to sophomore Cheyene Cunningham, and the third to
Jordan Phillips.
The Fire return to Victory Field on Saturday, September 5th to take on Faulkner University, who checks in at 10th in the NAIA national rankings.
