AVE MARIA, Fla.—Sparked by two punt returns for touchdowns in the first quarter, the Fire rode that momentum, and a stifling defensive effort to a 62-19 win at Ave Maria.
After the SEU defense forced a 3-and-out on the first possession of the game,
Michael Wheary returned the ensuing punt 62 yards for a touchdown.
Mark Myers took a punt 70 yards for a score with 2:43 left in the first, giving Southeastern (5-1, 3-0 TSC) a 20-0 lead.
"I thought those two punt returns early got us going in a way I've never had happen before," said coach
Keith Barefield. "Our defense kept Ave Maria backed up and our return unit did a fantastic job."
In between,
Jonathan Pearce rushed for an 18-yard touchdown on 3
rd-and-8. The redshirt junior finished the game 10-of-18 passing for 217 yards and three touchdowns.
Just before the first quarter ended, the Fire took one last shot with the wind at their back, and dialed in a 73-yard touchdown pass from Pearce to
Antwain Adams.
Ave Maria (0-6) built some momentum in the second quarter with an 18-yard touchdown pass and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown to make it 27-13 with 8:38 remaining in the second; a quarter which was delayed twice for approximately 90 minutes by weather and insects.
Pearce found Wheary for the first of his two TD receptions at the 8:21 mark of the second, and then found
Matthew Craig with 2:29 left to build a 41-1e lead.
Following a 77-yard touchdown pass by the Gyrenes,
Jarrell Reynolds ran for a 20-yard touchdown to give the Fire a 41-19 lead at the break.
Reynolds rushed 20 times for 126 yards, and in the process, became the first 3,000 yard career rusher in program history, and just the third Barefield has coached in 18 years.
Wheary's third touchdown of the game was a 39-yard reception from
Railond Garrett, who rushed for a 19-yard score of his own.
The Southeastern defensive front was relentless, limiting the Gyrenes to just eight first downs and -2 rushing yards. Ave Maria was 0-of-14 on third down, and totaled just 135 yards of total offense.
SEU rolled up 460 yards of total offense and 22 first downs.
The Fire return home next Saturday to take on Point at 7 p.m.
