LAKELAND, Fla.—It's been 14 days since the Southeastern University football team has taken the field. An unexpected bye week gave the Fire an extra week to get ready for their Homecoming tilt with St. Thomas.
Despite some miscues and being shorthanded late in the game, the Fire came up just three points shy of a team that finished last season ranked in the NAIA Top 10.
The defense continues to be a strength for SEU, holding Keiser to just 62 yards in the second half and without an offensive touchdown. Opposing quarterbacks have had some rough days, completing just over 40% of their passes and have been sacked eight times with just two touchdown passes in four games.
Up front, sophomore
Loobert Denelus leads the team in tackles for loss with seven and is third on the team in total tackles with 18. In the secondary, classmate
Khalid Scott has had a pair of big games and has totaled 17 tackles with 5.5 for loss.
Cory Rahman is doing his best to keep his name in the Fire record books as he keeps increasing the program record for career interceptions. He has three in four games this year, good for second in the NAIA and giving him 13 for his career.
On offense, the Fire have four receivers with 10 or more catches this season through four games.
Eugene Witherspoon has been the top target with 20 catches for 403 yards and five touchdowns.
Southeastern defeated St. Thomas, which is in its second season of competition, back on September 19
th by the count of 60-20 in Miami Gardens. Robert Armes leads the Bobcats rushing attack, which is 11
th nationally in yards per game. The sophomore rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown against Southeastern earlier this year.
The Fire are unbeaten all-time on Homecoming, winning half of its previous six Homecoming games via shutout.
Retired Navy Petty Officer First Class Generald Wilson will sing the National Anthem prior to the game. Wilson has performed the Star-Spangled Banner regularly for multiple NFL teams, including the 2020 AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium in January.
The annual postgame fireworks show is scheduled to begin shortly after time expires.
