LAKELAND, Fla.—A career night from
Josiah Neos helped Southeastern close out the 2023 season with a 34-10 win over Ave Maria on Saturday.
As a team, the Fire amassed 332 rushing yards which was the most in a game by Southeastern since rushing for 347 six years ago to the day against Ave Maria. Neos rushed for 248 of those yards on 28 carries and scored three touchdowns.
"He's a great kid and a really good football player and there's been a lot of games where it's been almost and today he opened it up," said coach
Adam Waugh of Neos.
It was the first time the Fire had a player rush for 200 yards in a game since Kamario Bell went for 206 at Faulkner on October 14, 2017. It was the first 200-yard rushing performance at Victory Field since Jarrell Reynolds went for 205 against Point on October 22, 2016.
"I think it just all came together; the offensive line has played better every week and we've developed some depth at the running back position and they found out they like running the ball," said Waugh.
Nate Hayden's QB sneak capped a 10-play, 65-yard opening drive for the Fire to take a 7-0 lead, but it was short-lived as Ave Maria (4-6) picked up a 43-yard field goal on its opening drive then got a 38-yard touchdown pass to take a 10-7 lead with 3:22 to go in the first quarter.
The Fire regained the lead with 7:50 to go in the second on a 13-yard touchdown pass from
Henry Austad to
Tray Jackson.
Neos accounted for all of the scoring in the second half on a seven-yard touchdown with 11:49 left in the third, then scored on a 31-yard run on the first play after a 51-minute lightning delay at the 5:35 mark of the third, and closed the night with a four-yard run with 3:53 to go in the fourth.
The Fire racked up 30 first downs as a team and converted six of their nine third down attempts.
On defense, SEU held Ave Maria to an average of 3.2 yards per carry on the ground and 107 total rushing yards.
James Hamilton led the attack with nine stops.
"They just got after it and had a lot of fun," said Waugh. "The defense put the challenge on themselves to be physical and got the job done."
The Fire finished the season at 5-5 and were 4-3 in Sun Conference play.
"I've been pleased with the development of our culture and what we're trying to build as a program," said Waugh. "We want to get back to that championship level and we're not quite there yet, but I think the kids are really buying into what we're doing."
