Game Day: Southeastern at Ave Maria

#23 Southeastern University Fire (4-1, 2-0 TSC) at Ave Maria University Gyrenes (0-5, 0-1 TSC)
1 p.m. Eastern
AMU Football Field—Ave Maria, Fla.
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Two Deeps:       Southeastern    Ave Maria
Twitter: @SEUFireFootball
 
Fresh off of a bye week, and the second Top 25 ranking in program history, the Fire football team hits the road to take on Ave Maria.
 
In the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll released on Monday, the Fire were ranked 23^rd, marking the first time since 10/19 Southeastern has been listed among the Top 25. When the Fire first appeared in the Top 25, they went on the road and lost to Point, a game that would later be forfeited by the Skyhawks.
 
For the first time this season, the Fire will participate in an afternoon kickoff. All-time, the Fire are 4-2 on the field in kickoffs before 6 p.m., and will be looking for their first win at the AMU Football Field.
 
Each team has one win all-time in the series history, with both teams protecting home field in the previous meetings.
 
Ave Maria enters the contest at 0-5, having played a tough non-conference schedule of NCAA Division II and NAIA Top 25 opponents. The Gyrenes have struggled moving the ball, having scored just one rushing touchdown, and averaging 42.4 yards per game on the ground.
 
However, the Gyrenes may be picking up some momentum under first-year head coach Joe Patterson after a tight game with Warner last week. Eric Pierre picked off a pass and raced 96 yards for the game's first touchdown, giving AMU a 7-0 lead with 11:13 left in the first quarter. The Gyrenes trailed 20-7 with 4:05 left in the fourth quarter, but scored on a 49-yard touchdown pass with 2:33 to play to get back into the contest.
 
Southeastern boasts its best defense in program history. The Fire rank first in the NAIA in rushing defense (46.5 yards per game) and sacks per game (4.5). SEU also ranks in the top 15 in opponent fourth down conversion rate (11.1%), opponent first downs (78), total sacks (18), and opponent third down conversion rate (30.9%).
 
On offense, redshirt junior running back Jarrell Reynolds is coming off of a strong performance against Edward Waters, earning him Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. Reynolds scored four total touchdowns, and rushed for over 100 yards in the 51-7 win. He is currently averaging 105.5 rushing yards per contest, and is closing in on becoming the first 4,000 yard rusher in program history.