LAKELAND, Fla.—The Southeastern defense had its work cut out for it against Edward Waters.
The Tigers sported The Sun Conference's second-highest gaining offense and top passing game.
The Fire answered the challenge, totaling eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss in a 51-7 win over Edward Waters on Tuesday night.
The 11 tackles for loss resulted in 97 yards lost, and kept the Tigers at 277 yards of total offense; 75 of those coming on EWC's lone touchdown of the night with 12:00 to go in the third quarter.
"I thought we did a great job keeping our defensive linemen fresh and keeping constant pressure on them," said coach
Keith Barefield. "Our defense came up with the plays when they had to."
The offense did its part as well, shaking off an interception on the second play of the game on a deflected pass, to total 391 yards with 140 coming on the ground.
"The whole offense is getting more in a groove," said Barefield. "From the first game to now, I think we've come a long ways, and we need to keep coming."
Redshirt junior
Jarrell Reynolds was the workhorse, totaling 19 carries for 102 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 19 yards and an additional score.
Reynolds' first three scores gave the Fire (4-1, 2-0 TSC) a 2-0 lead with 1:28 left in the first quarter.
Michael Wheary added an 8-yard TD reception from quarterback
Jonathan Pearce to put SEU up 27-0 at halftime.
Wheary finished with eight catches for 122 yards.
Caleb Winter added a 40-yard field goal with 7:23 left in the third to go up 37-7. Pearce threw his third TD of the night on a third down completion to
Antwain Adams from 30 yards out with 10:47 left in the contest.
Pearce finished the night 18-of-27 for 251.
The defense added the final score when
Malik Chevry picked off freshman quarterback Jerrod Thomas and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown.
Southeastern will return to action on October 15
th at Ave Maria at 1 p.m.
