GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 7 Keiser 24, No. 10 Cumberlands 28
Records: No. 7 Keiser University (9-1), No. 10 University of the Cumberlands (10-1)
Location:  Keiser Football Field, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Time of Game: 3:00 PM
Weather: 80 degrees, Partly Cloudy  

A late interception doomed the No. 7 Keiser football team on Saturday afternoon as they fell to No. 10 University of the Cumberlands 28-24 in the opening round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.
 
The Seahawks concluded their second season in program history with a 9-1 overall record; including their first conference championship and appearance in the NAIA playoffs.
 
Trailing 28-24 with just under two minutes remaining in the contest, the Seahawks were threatening inside Patriot territory at the 21-yard line but were facing a third-and-14. Quarterback, Eli Mathews dropped back to pass but under-threw his intended target, Caleb Walls in the end zone, allowing Myles Betts to come up with the interception, sealing the win for the Patriots.
 
Mathews completed 15-of-24 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore also added 99 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jaylen Arnold led all Keiser receivers with 52 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Senior linebacker, Ronnie Bennett was the leading tackler for the Seahawks, finishing with 14. Maurice Murphy Jr. followed with 10 tackles.

First Quarter Highlights
Keiser 0, Cumberlands 7

• The Keiser offense took the field first on the afternoon as the Patriots won the toss but deferred to the second half.
• After a three-and-out to open the game by the Seahawks, UC marched right down the field all the way to the Keiser 11-yard line before a Sage Chen-Young deflection led to a DeAndre Henderson interception.
• Unfortunately, Keiser was unable to capitalize on the turnover as they were forced into another three-and-out.
• A huge 38-yard punt return by Darius Young set the Patriots up at the Keiser 25-yard line and eight plays later, Martize Smith punched it in from a yard out to put UC up 7-0 with 2:06 left in the first quarter.
• A 24-yard screen pass from Mathews to Asfunso Elam followed by a personal foul penalty on UC put the Seahawks all the way down to the Patriot 16-yard line on their next drive.
• Keiser was unable to find the end zone though as on the following play, Mathews fumbled the ball at the one-yard line leading to a UC recovery just before the end of the first quarter.

 
Second Quarter Highlights
Keiser 14, Cumberlands 7

• After the Keiser defense forced back-to-back three-and-outs at the beginning of the second quarter, the Seahawks offense finally found the end zone for the first time on the day.
• Mathews connected with Arnold on a seam route from 23 yards out to put the Seahwaks on the board. Logan Robinson's extra point tied the game at 7-7, wrapping up a five play 50-yard drive with 9:07 left in the half.
• The Seahawks defense forced their third consecutive three-and-out on the Patriots' next possession thanks to a crucial sack on third down by Victor Alvarez Jr. and Jamian Lovett.
• On the ensuing possession for the Seahawks, Mathews found Arnold for the second time on the day, this time from 13-yards out to give Keiser their first lead of the day at 14-7. Arnold's score capped off a 12 play 87-yard drive with 1:23 remaining in the first half.
• During the drive, a huge 32-yard gain by Marques Burgess on a screen pass helped get things rolling for the Seahawks offense.
• Cumberlands threatened on their next drive as they got all the way down to the Keiser 15-yard line but time ran out in the half with Keiser leading, 14-7.

 
Third Quarter Highlights
Keiser 21, Cumberlands 21

• The Patriots received the opening kick of the second half and tied the game up at 14-14 as Smith broke a couple tackles down the far sideline, scoring from 27 yards out. Smith's second touchdown of the afternoon ended a nine play 55-yard drive with 10:56 left in the third quarter.
• Keiser answered on their ensuing drive as Mathews kept the ball on a zone read and used a nice block on the edge, sprinting into the end zone from 43 yards out to put the Seahawks back in front 21-14 with 7:48 to go in the quarter. Mathews' score concluded a seven play 75-yard drive.
• Back-and-forth the teams went as the Patriots tied it up once again as quarterback, Josiah Robbins found the end zone from seven yards out to end a 10 play 48-yard drive. Devon Mcmillin added the extra point to make it 21-21 with 2:37 left in the third.
• The Seahawks went three-and-out on their following possession, allowing the red-hot UC offense to retake the field.
• On the third play of the ensuing drive, the Seahawks were called for a costly targeting penalty that forced Alvarez to be ejected from the game as the third quarter came to a close.

Fourth Quarter Highlights
Keiser 24, Cumberlands 28

• Fortunately, the Keiser defense came up with a huge stand as the Patriots went for it on fourth-and-three from the Seahawks' 28-yard line and were turned away.
• After a 23-yard lateral from Mathews to Arnold put the Seahawks deep inside UC territory, Keiser regained the lead as Robinson knocked through a 28-yard field goal attempt. Robinson's kick ended a nine play 61-yard drive, making the score 24-21 with 9:43 left in the contest.
• UC responded and recaptured the lead on their following drive as Robbins found the end zone with his legs once again, this time from two yards out to make it 28-24 with 6:08 remaining in the game. Robbins run ended a seven play 80-yard drive.
• Facing a critical third down on the next possession, Mathews connected with Arnold for a 16-yard completion and a Keiser first down. On the ensuing play, Mathews delivered a perfect ball down the middle to Walls for a 49-yard gain to the UC 17-yard line.
• The Seahawks faced yet another crucial third down after a holding penalty put the Seahawks behind the chains on first down. Mathews looked to connect with Walls in the back corner of the end zone but just under threw him as Myles Betts came up with the game-winning interception for the Patriots with 1:26 left in the game.
• Keiser tried to make one last defensive stop on the ensuing Patriots drive, but a nine-yard gain on third-and-two ended the game as the Seahawks were out of timeouts.

GAME NOTES

• Saturday's contest was the first-ever meeting between the Seahawks and Patriots
• The loss snapped the Seahawks eight-game home win streak as Keiser finished the season 5-1 at the Keiser Football Field in 2019
• Mathews has now thrown a touchdown pass in 11 consecutive games
• Overall, the Seahawks outgained the Patriots 405-348