GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 22 Keiser 35, Faulkner 3
Records: No. 22 Keiser University (4-0, 1-0), Faulkner (2-2, 0-1)
Location:  Keiser Football Field, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Time of Game: 4:00 PM
Weather: 84 degrees, Cloudy  

Led by an outstanding defensive performance, the Keiser football team rolled past the Faulkner Eagles 35-3 in the 2019 Mid-South Conference Sun Division opener Saturday afternoon at the Keiser Football Field in West Palm Beach, Fla.
 
The Seahawks defense wreaked havoc on the Eagles all afternoon as they forced a season-high four turnovers, including three interceptions. Keiser held Faulkner without a touchdown on the afternoon, marking the first time in school history that the Seahawks held an opposing offense out of the end zone for an entire contest.
 
Maurice Murphy Jr. was the leading tackler for the Seahawks with nine total tackles, and the junior also came away with his first interception of the season. Marc Laurore and DeAndre Henderson both recorded their first sacks of the year on the afternoon. Henderson also came away an interception, marking his first of the season.
 
Offensively, Marques Burgess led the way with 207 all-purpose yards (139 rush and 68 receiving) and two touchdowns. Quarterback Eli Mathews finished 19-of-28 passing for 200 yards and three total touchdowns.

 
First Quarter Highlights
Keiser 7, Faulkner 0

• The Eagles won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, allowing the Seahawks offense to go to work first.
• Neither team produced much offense on their opening drives as the Seahawks went three-and-out, while the Eagles drive stalled just past the 50-yard line.
• Burgess sparked the Keiser offense on their second possession with a 52-yard run down the far sideline, setting up a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mathews to Caleb Walls. The score capped off a six play 88-yard drive to put the Seahawks up 7-0 early.
• After penalties forced an Eagles punt on the ensuing drive, Sage Chen-Young gave the Keiser offense great starting field position with a 20-yard return to their own 45-yard line.
• The Seahawks were unable to capitalize on the great field position as Mathews was stuffed for a loss of one on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs.
• Faulkner started to find a rhythm offensively after the stop as they pushed the ball to the Keiser 22-yard line, but Schnider Louis put a halt to the Eagles attack as he intercepted Mason Blocker's pass. The interception was Louis' second of the season and his return of 25-yards put the Seahawks at their own 40-yard line with 30 seconds remaining in the quarter.

 
Second Quarter Highlights
Keiser 21, Faulkner 3

• A Mathews 26-yard run put the Seahawks at the Faulkner eight-yard line, and Asfunso Elam took care of the rest as he punched it in from one-yard, finishing off a seven play 60-yard drive. The score put the Seahawks up 14-0 with 13 minutes left in the half.
• Chen-Young came up with a big pass breakup on third down on the Eagles ensuing possession forcing a Faulkner punt, allowing the surging Keiser offense to retake the field.
• The Seahawks didn't need long to find the end zone as Mathews found Burgess on the far sideline, and the sophomore made one man miss and turned on the jets for a 68-yard touchdown. Burgess' touchdown wrapped up a five play 95-yard drive, extending their advantage to 21-0 with 7:37 remaining in the half.
• Desperate for any type of momentum, the Eagles went for it on fourth-and-seven at the Keiser 39-yard line, but an incomplete pass ended the Faulkner threat.
• After a Keiser three-and-out, the Seahawks defense got the ball right back as Ronnie Bennett deflected Blocker's pass and Murphy came away with the interception and returned it to the Faulkner 32-yard line with 58 seconds left in the half.
• However, the Seahawks offense failed to convert on the turnover as they were stopped on a fourth down run attempt.
• Faulkner was able to put points on the board as the first half came to a close as Alvin Renteria connected on a 39-yard field goal attempt to make it 21-3, Keiser at the half. The kick capped off a five play 48-yard drive.

 
Third Quarter Highlights
Keiser 28, Faulkner 3

• Faulkner opened the second half with the ball and pushed it across the 50-yard line into Seahawk territory, but a crucial tackle for loss by Luckaad Dorsainvil put the Eagles behind the chains, leading to a punt.
• Both teams were unable to move the ball effectively on the following drives as the Seahawks were forced to punt and the Eagles failed to convert a fourth down attempt.
• KU found the end zone on their next possession though as they methodically moved their way down the field, leading to a Burgess two-yard touchdown run. The score finished off a 12 play 59-yard drive and made it 28-3, just before the end of the quarter.

Fourth Quarter Highlights
Keiser 35, Faulkner 3

• The Eagles coughed up the ball in the opening minutes of the fourth as Blocker was strip sacked by Henderson leading to a Corey Lamy recovery at midfield.
• Keiser failed to score following the turnover, sending the Seahawks defense back to work.
• The defense came up with another big stand as Victor Alvarez Jr. wrapped up Josh Gaines for a four-yard loss on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs.
• The Seahawks added to their lead on the ensuing possession as Mathews finished off a 13 play 59-yard drive on his own with a one-yard score. Logan Robinson's extra point made it 35-3 with just over three minutes remaining in the contest.
• Laurore almost forced another Faulkner turnover on the following possession as he stripped sacked the backup quarterback. Brock Snyder, but the Eagles were able to retain possession.
• Faulkner would not hold onto the ball for long though as two plays later, Henderson picked off his first pass of the 2019 campaign in the end zone putting the final touch on a stellar defensive performance.

UP NEXT
The Seahawks look to remain unbeaten on the year as they will travel to Lake Wales, Fla. for an MSC Sun Division matchup against the Royals of Warner University Saturday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.


GAME NOTES

• Running Back, Marques Burgess, surpassed 1,000 rush yards for his career in the win over Faulkner
• Burgess' 139 yards rushing was a new Keiser record, breaking the sophomore's previous record of 125 yards set against Edward Waters last season
• The sophomore also set a school record with 207 all-purpose yards, besting his previous total of 159, which he also set against Edward Waters last season
• Eli Mathews 68-yard touchdown pass to Burgess in the second quarter was the longest completion of his career
• The three rushing touchdowns by the Seahawks set a new school record, besting the previous total of two
• Kicker, Logan Robinson, continued his great start to the 2019 season, finishing a perfect 5-of-5 on extra points
• Nine different receivers caught a pass for the Seahawks on the day
• Keiser outgained Faulkner 431-328 for the game
• With the win, Keiser is now 2-0 all-time against the Eagles and 2-0 in MSC Sun Division openers
• The Seahawks improved to 5-1 at home with the win, extending their win streak to five