LAKELAND, Fla.—Once the Fire football team found the end zone for the first time, it couldn't be stopped.
Southeastern racked up 467 yards on 60 plays and scored 16 points on defense in a 54-13 win over North American University in the season opener.
After missing a field goal and a punt, the Fire used a 22-yard punt return by
Tray Jackson to set up a two-yard touchdown run by
Josiah Neos to put the Fire on the board with 6:31 left in the first. Just 80 seconds later,
Joseph Bonga forced a fumble which was picked up by
Eddie Davis who returned it 22 yards for a touchdown.
The Fire defense also came up with a safety with 2:38 left in the first when quarterback Randall Moore slipped in the end zone.
Jackson then caught a 34-yard pass from
Kaylan Wiggins with 1:22 left in the first to go up 23-0.
Wiggins set up a 1-yard touchdown run by
Bryan Bell with 14:05 left with a 51-yard run. He finished his first game with the Fire 12-of-16 passing for 204 yards and added another 94 on the ground.
The defense got on the scoreboard again at the 13:01 mark of the second when
Khalid Scott intercepted a pass and raced 39 yards for a score.
Wiggins ran for a touchdown from three yards out after completing passes to
Shane McLaughlin for gains of 34 and 53 yards on the two previous plays to put the Fire up 44-0 at halftime.
Ashton Garner connected on a 25-yard field goal on SEU's first possession of the third quarter after the defense came up with a stop and a blocked field goal on NAU's possession to open the half.
Neos added a five-yard touchdown run with 5:55 to play in the fourth quarter. He finished with 70 yards on 11 carries.
McLaughlin finished with 108 yards on three catches and
Devonte Bowie had 64 yards on five catches.
Ryan Cunningham was at the top of the tackle chart with five stops on defense.
Daniel Craig joined Scott with an interception in the game.
The Fire will travel to Savannah State next Saturday at 6 p.m.
