WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- In a matchup of top-15 teams with major Sun Conference implications, the No. 14 Southeastern Football team gave No. 2 Keiser all it could handle for three quarters before the host Seahawks pulled away late to remain unbeaten, 34-23, Saturday night at KU Football Field.
The Fire (7-2, 4-2 Sun) led 17-14 at halftime and matched Keiser (9-0, 6-0 Sun) in total rushing yards at 174 apiece, but two fourth-quarter scores and a defensive touchdown lifted the defending national runner-up to the victory.
After Keiser opened the scoring with a short touchdown run by Jaden Miller midway through the first quarter, Southeastern answered immediately. The Fire strung together a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by a four-yard touchdown run from
Curtis Kimmons to tie the game at 7-7. On their next possession, a 54-yard strike from quarterback
Nate Mikell to
Tre McClellan set up a 24-yard
Joel McGrath field goal to give SEU a 10-7 lead late in the first.
Southeastern continued to build momentum in the second quarter. After a defensive stop, the Fire marched 60 yards in five plays, highlighted by a 20-yard burst from Kimmons and a six-yard touchdown run by
Jocquet Jiles to make it 17-7. The Seahawks responded with a touchdown pass from Shea Spencer to Elisha Edwards, trimming the deficit to 17-14 at the break.
The two defenses took over in the third quarter. SEU forced a Keiser field goal after an 11-play drive to open the half, tying the game at 17-17. The Fire's offense had difficulty sustaining drives as the quarter wore on, hampered by penalties and two Keiser sacks. Mikell's interception midway through the period ended SEU's best chance to regain the lead.
Defensively, the Fire front seven continued to disrupt the Seahawks' rhythm. Thomas Ibraham led the way with nine tackles, including three for loss and two sacks, while
Cole Highsmith added nine stops. Southeastern twice forced Keiser to settle for field goals or punts after long drives, keeping the game tight into the final 10 minutes.
With the game tied entering the fourth quarter, Keiser methodically drove 57 yards for a go-ahead 40-yard field goal from Dorian Hall to make it 20-17. The Fire went three-and-out on their next series, and Keiser's offense seized control on an 89-yard march that consumed nearly eight minutes of clock. Spencer connected with Ben Hayes on an eight-yard touchdown with 3:44 remaining to extend the lead to 27-17.
On the ensuing possession, Southeastern's comeback hopes dimmed when Malik Razz intercepted a Mikell pass and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown, pushing the margin to 34-17. Backup quarterback
Zachary Pleuss engineered a quick scoring drive in the final minute, finding
Kamonte Grimes for a four-yard touchdown, but the extra point was no good and Keiser recovered the onside kick to seal the win.
The Fire finished with 341 total yards of offense, led by Kimmons' 95 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Jiles added 46 yards and a score, while Mikell threw for 126 yards before Pleuss came on late to add 41 and a touchdown. McClellan was SEU's top receiver with 54 yards on one catch, while
Joseph Key (40 yards) and
Rick Penick (37) also contributed key receptions.
Spencer paced Keiser with 274 passing yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-28 passing, while Miller (98 yards) and Dillon Simon (89) powered the ground attack. Edwards caught seven passes for 113 yards and a score for the Seahawks.
SEU will close out the regular season at home next Saturday for Senior Day and Homecoming, hosting Ave Maria at 4 p.m. at Victory Field. The Fire will look to secure their eighth win and strengthen their postseason résumé heading into the NAIA playoff selection weekend.
