LAKELAND, Fla.—On a night Southeastern honored 13 seniors before the game, that group stepped up in a big way to help the Fire pick up a 39-14 win over Webber International.
The Fire (7-1, 4-1 MSC Sun) had a balanced effort on offense with 39 rushes and 30 passes for a total of 521 yards.
Fifth-year senior
Antwain Adams had the first two touchdown receptions of the night, scoring from eight and 10 yards out to put the Fire up 12-0. He broke the school record for career receiving TDs in the process with 13.
"I would think this group of seniors is probably the winningest group we've had," said coach
Keith Barefield. "It couldn't of pleased me more to see those guys contribute tonight in a significant win against a cross-county rival and go out with the type of game seniors should go out with."
Quarterback
Cooper Jones also had a 29-yard touchdown pass to Wendell Harris in the second quarter to put the Fire up 19-0.
Jones finished the day with his fifth 300-yard passing game, going 24-of-30 for 327 yards to nine different receivers, and had five touchdowns. The sophomore improved to 11-1 as the starting quarterback. He also set the single-season program records for completions, yards, and passing touchdowns.
"Experience has had the most impact," said Jones. "I've become more and more comfortable with Coach (Norman) Joseph's play calling, and with our offensive line. We change personnel a lot, and it almost doesn't matter who's out there because I know they are going to do get the job done, the routes are going to be where they should be and catch the ball."
Webber International (3-5, 2-3 MSC Sun) got a three-yard touchdown on a halfback pass from Davonte Williams to quarterback Brycen Lee to get back within 12. A
Tyrail Davis interception with 3:57 left in the half set up
David Larson for the first of two field goals on the night, succeeding from 37 yards out to put SEU up 22-7 at halftime.
Larson also connected on a school-record 52-yard field goal with 10:17 left in the third, which was also set up by an interception; the second of the night by freshman
Tyland Simpson.
Following a fourth down stop by the Fire defense, Jones found
Eugene Witherspoon for a 77-yard touchdown pass to go up 32-7 with 5:00 left in the third.
"He took over the starting spot around midway last year and we won out, that change gave our offense a lot of confidence and we felt like he brought us together to where we were a playoff contender," said Barefield. "There's a lot of development that he's had and has really had only one bad game."
The Warriors got a 65-yard touchdown pass with 9:05 to go to get the deficit to 18, but Jones hit senior
Adam Toombs for his first career touchdown reception from 10 yards out to close the scoring.
Fifth-year senior defensive end
Phillip Smith was at the top of the tackle chart with seven, and had two sacks. Classmate
Tyrell Williams added six tackles with his first career sack. Davis had five stops with the interception.
Southeastern will close out the regular season next Saturday at Faulkner.
