LAKELAND, Fla.—In a game that was delayed over two hours due to lightning, the Fire committed three first half turnovers in a 24-2 loss to NCAA Division II Albany State.
The game was finally called with 8:50 remaining in the third quarter. The Golden Rams had just scored on a 92-yard touchdown pass to give ASU 24 unanswered points.
Southeastern got on the board first with 4:17 left in the first quarter when Albany State went to punt, but the snap went over punter Terry Wiley's head, and then was tackled by
Phillip Smith in the end zone for a safety.
Albany State gained the lead with 11:09 to go in the second on a 17-yard touchdown pass by Caleb Edmonds to Ta'Keevian Harris.
The Fire looked to be poised to regain the lead with 1:39 to go, driving the ball to the Albany State 40-yard line when quarterback
Jonathan Pearce was blindsided, drawing the ball loose. It was recovered by defensive end Monte Taylor, who raced 53 yards for a touchdown.
On the second play of the ensuing drive, Pearce was picked off by Nick Scott, which set up a 33-yard field goal with 21 seconds to play in the second.
Pearce was also intercepted on the final play of the half.
"We committed some uncharacteristic turnovers, but when you go against a team that is that big up front and has that much speed at linebacker and in the secondary, those things are going to happen," said coach
Keith Barefield. "We didn't match up well with them, but our kids played hard."
The Fire begin Sun Conference play next week when they host Warner at 7 p.m.
