GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 9 Keiser 34, Ave Maria 10
Records: No. 9 Keiser University (9-0, 6-0), Ave Maria (5-5, 3-3)
Location:  Keiser Football Field, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Time of Game: 5:00 PM
Weather: 72 degrees, Partly Cloudy

In only their second season, the No. 9 Keiser football team captured their first Mid-South Conference, Sun Division Championship with a 34-10 win over Ave Maria on senior night.
 
With the Seahawks leading 13-10 midway through the third quarter, David McCormick came on to attempt a potential game-tying 54-yard field goal but left it short, allowing the Seahawks to have a chance at a return.
Sophomore, Sage Chen-Young caught the kick deep inside his own end zone and went to work. Chen-Young shed a couple would-be tacklers down the near sideline and kept his balance for a 100-yard touchdown return to put Keiser up 20-10 with 6:38 remaining in the quarter.
 
On the ensuing kickoff, Byron Fraley knocked the ball out of Dimitrius Hirsch's arms and Coby Golden fell on it for the Seahawks giving them the ball right back. Keiser capitalized as Asfunso Elam punched it in from four-yards out to extend the lead to 27-10 with 3:44 remaining in the quarter.
 
Elam led the Keiser offense with 148 yards rushing on 25 carries and two touchdowns. Elam also hauled in one catch for an eight-yard score. Quarterback, Eli Mathews finished the contest with 129 yards of offense and two touchdowns, one rushing and one passing.
 
Defensively, Ronnie Bennett and Victor Alvarez Jr. had 10 tackles each. Bennett also added a sack and one and a half tackles for loss, while Alvarez tallied two sacks and two tackles for loss. Kade Glenn followed the two with eight tackles and an interception.
 
First Quarter Highlights
Keiser 7, Ave Maria 7

• The Keiser defense took the field first as the Seahawks won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
• The defensive unit answered the bell, forcing a quick three-and-out, thanks to a tackle for loss by Bennett and Seth Freeman, putting Ave Maria behind the chains early.
• Keiser marched right down the field on their opening drive behind the legs of Elam and Mathews, with the latter capping off the nine play 61-yard drive with a six-yard run. Logan Robinson's extra point made it 7-0 with 9:32 remaining in the first quarter.
• Ave Maria responded on their following drive as Kristian Marks connected with Kevon O'Connor for the eight-yard score, tying it at 7-7 with 2:46 left in the quarter. The score finished off an 11 play 73-yard drive.
• The Seahawk offense failed to answer on the ensuing drive as a quick three-and-out gave the ball right back to the Gyrenes as the first quarter wound down.

 
Second Quarter Highlights
Keiser 13, Ave Maria 10

• Ave Maria opened the second quarter with a third-and-nine from their own 28-yard line but were forced to punt as Treykevian Gilbert and Alvarez combined for the sack.
• Keiser moved the ball across midfield on their next possession but ultimately had to punt it away after a costly false start on fourth-and-one.
• Marc Laurore recorded the third sack of the night on Ave Maria's ensuing possession, helping Keiser force their third three-and-out of the first half.
• Unfortunately, the Seahawks gave it right back to the Gyrenes on their first play as Mathews threw his seventh interception of the season.
• The Gyrenes capitalized on the turnover as McCormick knocked through a 33-yard field goal attempt to put Ave Maria up 10-7 with 4:30 remaining in the half. McCormick's kick capped off an 11 play 59-yard drive.
• Keiser retook the lead for good on their ensuing possession as Mathews found Elam for an eight-yard score, wrapping up a 10 play 72-yard drive. A fumbled snap on the extra point made the score 13-10 with 38 seconds left until halftime.
• The Seahawks defense forced yet another Ave Maria three-and-out as Keiser took a 13-10 lead into the halftime break.

 
Third Quarter Highlights
Keiser 27, Ave Maria 10

• After a slow start to the third quarter by both offenses, things began to heat up midway through the period.
• Starting with good field position, the Gyrenes put themselves in position to tie the game with a 54-yard field goal attempt but failed to convert as McCormick left the kick short leading to a Keiser return.
• Chen-Young caught the kick deep inside his own end zone and broke free down the near sideline, shedding a few would-be tacklers on his way to a 100-yard touchdown return, extending the lead to 20-10 with 6:38 left in the third.
• More excitement ensued on the following kickoff as Fraley knocked the ball free out of Hirsch's hands, leading to a Golden recovery at the Ave Maria 47-yard line.
• The offense didn't need long to capitalize on the turnover as Elam punched it in from four-yards out, increasing the advantage to 27-10 with 3:52 remaining in the quarter. Elam's run finished off a six play 47-yard drive.
• Elam's touchdown run was set up by a big 36-yard gain by Traionn Jones on a screen pass that put the Seahawks down inside the Ave Maria 10-yard line.
• Ave Maria looked to respond on the ensuing drive as a 23-yard completion on first down put them near midfield, and thanks to a costly targeting call, the ball was moved inside Keiser territory at the 37-yard line.
• A huge sack by Ronnie Bennett on second down helped put the Gyrenes behind the chains as the third quarter came to a close.

Fourth Quarter Highlights
Keiser 34, Ave Maria 10

• Ave Maria failed to capitalize on the penalty as they were turned away by the Seahawks defense on fourth-and-five leading to a turnover on downs.
• After a three-and-out by the offense, the Keiser defense continued their dominance as Alvarez and Wakefield combined for the sixth and final sack of the evening, leading to another Ave Maria turnover on downs.
• Keiser's offense found the end zone one last time on the evening as their six play 60-yard scoring drive was finished off by Elam's 19-yard run with 6:59 remaining in the contest. Robinson's extra point made it 34-10.
• On the ensuing possession, the Keiser defense came up with yet another big play as Glenn intercepted Marks' pass at the Seahawks 32-yard line ending another Gyrene scoring threat.

UP NEXT
With the MSC Sun Division championship and undefeated regular season locked up, the Seahawks turn their focus to the NAIA Football Championship Series. The selection show will take place Sunday, Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m. and can be watched live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PlayNAIA


GAME NOTES

• With the win, the Seahawks claimed their first MSC Sun Division Championship in school history
• Prior to the game, the Seahawks honored their five seniors; Ronnie Bennett, Seth Freeman, Tremane Gabriel, Rashad Harris and DeAndre Henderson
• Keiser improved to 1-1 all-time against Ave Maria
• The Seahawks wrapped up the regular season a perfect 9-0 record and 5-0 mark at home
• Keiser's home winning streak is now up to eight games
• Defensively, the Seahawks set a new single game school record with six sacks
• The Keiser defense also racked up nine tackles for loss in the victory
• Alvarez surpassed 100 career tackles in the victory, while tying his career-high with two sacks
• Mathews has now thrown a touchdown pass in ten straight games dating back to last season
• Running back, Elam surpassed the century mark for the second straight game
• The junior has been on fire the last two games, collecting 416 yards on the ground during that span
• Jones led the Seahawks in receiving with 36 yards on one catch
• Overall, Keiser outgained Ave Maria 289-270