LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern didn't have the comfortable halftime lead it had had the last two weeks but was able to battle through and come away with a 27-13 win over Florida Memorial at Victory Field to remain unbeaten.
"Our guys are tough and battle," said coach
Adam Waugh. "The first two games, we had in had at halftime and we didn't play as well as we wanted to this game, but it proved our kids are resilient."
The Fire (3-0) went down the field on six plays to open the game, highlighted by a 53-yard pass from
Kaylan Wiggins to
Shane McLaughlin to set up a three-yard run by Wiggins to put the Fire up 7-0 with 13:13 left in the first.
Florida Memorial (1-2) responded with a 12-play, 76-yard drive which culminated in a four-yard touchdown pass on fourth down. The Lions then recovered a fumble on the next drive, but the SEU defense forced a three-and-out to get the ball back.
That set up a program-record 51-yard field goal by
Ashton Garner to put the Fire up 10-7.
The Lions drove to the SEU 1-yard line but the Fire made a stop on fourth down to get the ball back.
"It was awesome because it keeps points off the board, but also gives you momentum and a boost of confidence," said Waugh. "It lets the offense get excited and feel like they could stop them."
With 2:11 left, Garner dialed in a 49-yard field goal to give the Fire a 13-7 lead, but the Lions hit a 41-yarder of their own to make it a three-point game at the break.
Wiggins connected with
Desi Lester for the first of two second half touchdowns on a 24-yard pass with 2:36 left in the third quarter. With 11:51 left in the fourth, the Lions got a 42-yard field goal to get within a possession, but a 66-yard pass by Wiggins to McLaughlin ended the Lions' hopes of a comeback.
Wiggins finished 20-of-34 passing for 285 yards and two touchdowns and added 65 yards rushing on 10 carries with a score.
"Kaylan is dangerous in so many ways," said Waugh. "He can scramble and make something out of nothing, even when pass protection breaks down he can get a first down."
McLaughlin finished with 166 yards receiving on seven catches.
Bryan Bell led the ground game with 72 yards on 15 carries.
On defense,
Marc Viechec led the way with 10 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
"I think in the first half we were a little sluggish and a little slow moving and I think we woke up a little bit in the second half," said Waugh of the defense.
The Fire will host the University of Fort Lauderdale next Saturday at 7 p.m.
