LAKELAND, Fla.—One of the biggest wins on one of the biggest nights in Ave Maria football history came last year at the expense of Southeastern.
The Fire were defeated 23-20 on October 6
th last season in the first home night game in Ave Maria history. It was one of three ranked teams the Gyrenes beat last season, helping them share the Mid-South Sun Division title with Southeastern.
Ave Maria became just the third team to record multiple wins against the Fire, with both wins coming at home.
However, at Victory Field, the Fire have won both matchups against AMU, both by shutout. SEU is currently 22-5 all-time on its home field and has yet to lose a home game in division play.
SEU is coming off of a 44-27 win over Campbellsville a week ago, which saw sophomore quarterback
Cooper Jones set a program record 342 passing yards in just his sixth start with the Fire. It was also his second consecutive 300-yard game. He ranks 12
th in the NAIA in passing yards per game this season at 261.3 and 18
th in efficiency at 150.3.
On defense, the Fire forced three turnovers, and recorded seven sacks to help the winning cause. Southeastern ranks second in the NAIA in sacks per game at 5.3, and is seventh in pass efficiency defense at 89.1.
Special teams also contributed for the third straight game with a blocked kick.
"That's been an unbelievable luxury we've had this year," said coach
Keith Barefield of the blocked kicks. "That's not anything we've counted on or had in the past, and I can't think of any team that I've ever coached that had blocked kicks three weeks in a row."
The Gyrenes enter the contest at 2-2, holding off a late charge from St. Andrews on September 13
th to win 35-33, then winning at Bluefield, 30-13. The losses are forgivable ones; a touchdown game to now No. 11 Cumberlands (Ky.) in overtime, and to FCS Jacksonville in a competitive, two-touchdown game.
Quarterback Will Tate is off to a solid start, ranking seventh in pass efficiency at 169.7, and 11
th nationally in total offense per game at 286.3.
"We need to play a consistent game all the way through for four quarters," said Barefield of the keys to success. "Turnovers killed us a year ago, penalties hurt us badly, and we need to be strong in the kicking game, and continue to play good defense and mistake-free offense."
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Tickets are still available for advance purchase online.
