LAKELAND, Fla. -- No. 14 SEU Football returns home to Victory Field this Saturday for a Polk County showdown against Warner University, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. in Lakeland. The Fire enter the matchup at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Sun Conference play, riding a three-game win streak and holding firm in the national conversation with one of the NAIA's most balanced units on both sides of the ball.
The Fire offense has been consistent and explosive, averaging 35.1 points per game to rank 25th nationally, powered by a ground attack that produces nearly 198 rushing yards per contest (15th in the NAIA). The Fire's versatile offense have combined to generate 385.4 total yards per game, keeping defenses off balance with a strong mix of rushing and passing efficiency.
Defensively, Southeastern continues to set the tone as one of the elite units in the NAIA, allowing just 14.0 points per game — eighth-best in the country. The Fire are also 11th nationally against the run, holding opponents to only 85.7 yards per game on the ground, and 15th in pass defense. Collectively, SEU ranks eighth in total defense, limiting opponents to just 258.3 yards per game.
Fans can watch live through the Urban Edge Network app (available on smart TVs and mobile devices) or online at
fire.seu.edu/watchUEN. Live stats are available at
fire.seu.edu/sidearmstats/football, and tickets can be purchased in advance at
fire.seu.edu/tickets.
Fire Facts & Flashbacks
SEU has played just once before on November 1, a 2014 matchup at Webber International that ended in a 28-21 loss, marking the only game in program history on this date. The Fire enter Saturday aiming to even their record on November 1 and write a new chapter under the lights at Victory Field.
Southeastern has built a tradition of success in nearly every setting, boasting an 81-29 all-time record since the program's inception. The Fire are 49-15 in conference play, 56-19 in night games, and a strong 16-7 in November contests. Historically dominant on Saturdays (76-28) and especially in Lakeland (47-15), SEU has also gone 8-2 all-time in Game 8s and 65-22 in games played in Florida — trends they'll look to extend when the lights come on this weekend.
Owning the Middle Eight
Southeastern has made a habit of taking over games during the "middle eight" — the four minutes before and after halftime — outscoring opponents 82-14 in that stretch this season. The Fire have turned those moments into momentum swings, including a 10-0 run last week to erase a 10-7 deficit and build a 17-10 halftime lead in an eventual 23-17 win over Warner.
Over their last three contests, SEU has outscored opponents 45-0 in the middle eight, locking down defensively while capitalizing on short fields and efficient drives. Florida Memorial remains the only team to score on the Fire in that window all season, highlighting SEU's ability to dominate when the game balance hangs in the balance.
Fire Out of the Locker Room
Southeastern has shown a knack for starting each half with focus and execution — a key reason for the Fire's 6-1 start and rise to No. 14 in the NAIA. On their first offensive drive of the game, the Fire have found the end zone four times in seven outings, adding one field goal and two punts along the way. Defensively, SEU has been equally sharp to open games, forcing a punt or takeaway on five of seven opponent first drives, surrendering just two scores all season in that span.
Coming out of halftime, the Fire have kept the pressure on. SEU has scored on its first drive of the second half in five of seven games, with three touchdowns, two field goals, one missed field goal, and one interception. Meanwhile, the defense has continued to set the tone, holding opponents to points on only two of seven second-half opening drives, while forcing four punts and one interception. Whether beginning a game or returning from the locker room, Southeastern has proven adept at seizing momentum early and dictating the flow from the outset of each half.
Red Zone Reliability
When the Fire reach the red zone, they almost always come away with points. SEU has scored on 33 of 36 trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line this season — a 92% success rate that ranks eighth nationally in the NAIA. Of those scores, 26 have gone for touchdowns, giving SEU a 72% touchdown rate, the 24th-best mark in the country.
One of the Fire's three empty trips came on a victory-formation kneel down at the end of the win over Faulkner, meaning SEU has failed to convert just twice all year under competitive circumstances. The offense has been near-perfect of late, scoring on 14 consecutive red-zone possessions with 12 touchdowns in that span. With 20 rushing scores, six passing touchdowns, and seven field goals, SEU balance and execution in the red area continue to be hallmarks of its 6-1 season.
In the Polls and the Power Ratings
Southeastern continues to earn national recognition as one of the NAIA's top programs, holding steady in both human and computer rankings this week. The Fire are ranked No. 14 in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 and also sit No. 14 in the Victory Sports Network (VSN) poll, while NAIAFball has not released an updated media poll this week.
In the computer models, SEU remains firmly in the national conversation — checking in at No. 18 in the Massey Ratings, No. 13 in the Versus Sports Simulator, and No. 11 in the Wolfe Ratings. Across all systems, Southeastern consistently ranks among the top 15 teams in the country, reflecting the balance and consistency that have fueled the Fire's 6-1 start and rise toward postseason contention.
Air Traffic Control
Quarterback
Nate Mikell continues to guide the Fire offense with efficiency and confidence. The junior signal-caller has completed 62% of his passes for 1,192 yards and six touchdowns, averaging more than 170 yards per game while adding mobility on designed runs and scrambles. Backup
Zachary Pleuss has also provided steady depth, tossing two touchdown passes without an interception in limited action.
Ground Force
The Fire's rushing attack has been a steady engine, averaging nearly 200 yards per contest.
Curtis Kimmons leads the charge with 499 yards and 10 touchdowns, while
Jocquet Jiles adds 354 yards and four scores as a tough, downhill complement. Quarterback
Nate Mikell has been effective as a runner as well, contributing 195 yards and a touchdown, with
Z'Orey Cotton adding three more scores to round out SEU's deep and balanced backfield.
Catch Crew
Southeastern's receiving corps has embraced a true team approach, with several players stepping up each week.
Joseph Key leads the Fire with 19 receptions for 252 yards, while
Kamonte Grimes has added 242 yards and two touchdowns as one of the offense's most reliable playmakers.
David Pomales (202 yards, 1 TD) and
Tre McClellan (142 yards, 1 TD) provide consistency across the middle, and
Daithan Davis has been a spark in limited action with two touchdowns on just two catches.
The Front Line
The Fire offensive line has been the foundation of Southeastern's offensive identity, paving the way for nearly 200 rushing yards per game while allowing only eight sacks. The seven-man rotation of
Sebastian Flamenco,
Dendric Reynolds,
Dylon Manganelli,
Kody Chisholm, Rickenson "Rick" Jeantihomme, Phillip "Phil" Jackson, and
Xzavier McKinney has anchored a unit defined by toughness, discipline, and communication. Their consistency in protection and run blocking has made SEU one of the most efficient offenses in the NAIA.
The Wrecking Crew
The Fire defense has built its reputation on disruption, led by linebacker
Brady Nowlan and defensive lineman
Thomas Ibrahim. Nowlan leads the team with 42 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss and three sacks, while Ibrahim has delivered one of the most dominant individual seasons in program history — 39 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, tying for third in the NAIA. Ibrahim's 16 TFLs rank third in SEU single-season history, and his 26.5 career TFLs already sit sixth all-time. Up front,
Berton Venter and
Ehigie Aliu-Otokiti have added a combined 4.5 sacks, helping SEU total 21 as a team, matching the aggressive standard set by past Fire defenses.
Ball Hawks
SEU's secondary has thrived on takeaways, collecting eight interceptions so far this season.
Jamil Jones leads the way with three, while
Cliff Bridges and
Ian Jolly have provided game-changing moments — Bridges with a pick-six and Jolly with a 43-yard return.
Cole Highsmith,
Joe Gardner, and
Willie Hill have each added one interception apiece, giving the Fire a deep rotation of defenders capable of flipping the field at any time.
Special Forces
Special teams have quietly been a difference-maker for Southeastern this season. Kicker
Joel McGrath has converted 9-of-14 field goals, including a 46-yard long, and is 23-of-26 on extra points. In the return game,
Tre McClellan (26.5-yard average) and
Joseph Key (27.0-yard average) have provided explosive field position, while
Jamil Jones adds a spark with a 15.1-yard punt return average. Together, SEU's specialists and return units continue to provide the complementary edge that separates good teams from great ones.
County Lines and Unbroken Streaks
Warner enters Saturday's clash at 1-6 overall and 1-3 in Sun Conference play, coming off its first win of the season — a 33-7 victory over Ave Maria. The Royals have shown flashes of potential but continue to search for consistency, averaging 18.3 points per game while allowing nearly 39. Quarterback Michael Ryan leads the passing game with 822 yards and two touchdowns, while running back R.L. Ward III has provided a spark on the ground with five rushing scores. Defensively, Milton Smith has been the standout performer, pacing the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks as the Royals aim to slow down one of the nation's most balanced offenses.
For Southeastern, the matchup represents a familiar opportunity to extend a decade of dominance. The Fire hold a perfect 10-0 record against Warner since the series began in 2014, outscoring the Royals by a combined 474–124 — an average margin of 47–12. SEU is 6-0 in Lakeland and 4-0 in Lake Wales, having claimed each of the last six meetings by at least 25 points, including a 42-7 victory last fall. Saturday night's meeting at Victory Field marks the 11th edition of the Polk County rivalry — one that has been painted red and black from the very start.
Clash on the Coast
The Fire will hit the road next weekend for one of their toughest tests of the season, traveling south to face No. 2 Keiser University on Saturday, November 8, at 6 p.m. in West Palm Beach. The matchup features two of the Sun Conference's top programs in what could have major postseason implications. Southeastern will look to carry its momentum into a showdown that has become one of the most anticipated rivalries in the conference, as the Fire aim to make a statement against the nationally ranked Seahawks under the lights on the coast.
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