GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 10 Keiser 39, St. Thomas 32
Records: No. 10 Keiser University (8-0, 5-0), St. Thomas (3-6, 1-4)
Location:  Keiser Football Field, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Time of Game: 5:00 PM
Weather: 76 degrees, Overcast  

Behind a record-breaking performance from junior running back, Asfunso Elam, the No. 10 Keiser football team remained unbeaten with a 39-32 win over St. Thomas University on homecoming Saturday night at the Keiser Football Field in West Palm Beach, Fla.
 
Trailing 24-12 at the beginning of the third quarter, Austin Cha blocked Billy McConnell's punt and Davion Cross came away with the recovery in the end zone for a Seahawk touchdown, sparking 20 unanswered points by Keiser in the quarter.
 
Elam rushed for a school-record, 268 yards on 36 carries and added two scores, including the go-ahead touchdown with 7:22 left in the game. Quarterback, Eli Mathews completed 17-of-31 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end, Jaylen Arnold hauled in six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown to lead the Keiser receivers.
 
Senior, Ronnie Bennett led the way defensively for the Seahawks as the linebacker recorded 11 tackles and a tackle for loss. Defensive back, Sage Chen-Young recorded his sixth interception of the season and added six tackles. Junior, Victor Alvarez Jr. collected five tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in the win.

 
First Quarter Highlights
Keiser 3, St. Thomas 3

• Keiser won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half allowing the Bobcats' offense to take the field first.
• It was a slow start offensively for both teams as Keiser and St. Thomas traded punts on their opening drives of the ball game.
• A short punt by Logan Robinson set the Bobcats up with a short field to work with on their second possession, starting at the Keiser 45 yard line. STU settled for just three points as Billy McConnell knocked through a 21-yard field goal with 8:50 remaining in the quarter. The kick capped off a nine play 41-yard drive.
• The Seahawks coughed up the ball on their ensuing drive as Marques Burgess had it knocked away by Keshun Horton, leading to a St. Thomas recovery by Dametrius Love at Keiser's 35 yard line.
• Keiser's defense stood tall though, forcing an incomplete pass by Kalani Ilimaleota on fourth-and-five, leading to a turnover on downs.
• Led by the legs of Burgess, Keiser marched deep into Bobcat territory on their next drive before ultimately settling for a Robinson 29-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3 with 55 seconds left in the first. Robinson's kick finished off a 14 play 58-yard drive.

 
Second Quarter Highlights
Keiser 12, St. Thomas 24

• St. Thomas' opening drive of the quarter was kept alive by a costly pass interference call against the Seahawks on third-and-seven and the Bobcats capitalized. Keyshon Gardner flipped into the end zone from 11-yards out to put STU back on top, 10-3 with 11:29 remaining. The score wrapped up a 12 play 74-yard drive.
• Keiser answered on their ensuing drive as Mathews connected with Carlos Silencieux on a screen pass from seven yards out, tying the game at 10-10 with 7:16 remaining until the half. Mathews pass capped off a 12 play 68-yard drive.
• The Bobcats punched right back on their following drive as Gardner scored his second touchdown of the contest from two-yards out to make it 17-10 with 4:29 left in the half. Gardner's carry finished off a seven play 75-yard drive.
• During the St. Thomas drive, the Seahawks appeared to have forced their first turnover of the game as Schnider Louis intercepted Ilimaleota's pass, but a pass interference call nullified the turnover.
• Mathews threw his fourth interception of the season on the Seahawks' next possession and the return by Marcus Fowles set the Bobcats up at the Keiser 40-yard line with 3:56 left in the quarter.
• St. Thomas wasted no time capitalizing on the turnover as Ilimaleota capped off a five play 40-yard drive with an 18-yard pass to Anthony Caldwell, extending their lead to 24-10 with 2:25 left before the half.
• After the Keiser offense was forced to punt, the Seahawks defense came through with a big play.
• A fumbled snap deep in their own territory led to a safety as Treykevian Gilbert tackled Ilimaleota in the end zone. The safety made the score 24-12, STU, with 17 seconds remaining before halftime.

 
Third Quarter Highlights
Keiser 32, St. Thomas 24

• Keiser opened the second half of play with the football but were unable to get going offensively and had to punt it away.
• After the Seahawks defense forced a three-and-out, the special teams unit came up with the biggest play of the night.
• Sophomore, Cha came flying off the edge and blocked McConnell's punt, leading to a Cross recovery in the end zone for a Keiser touchdown. Robinson's extra-point cut the Bobcats lead to 24-19 with 11:27 left in the quarter.
• Keiser's defense held strong on the ensuing drive, forcing another STU punt sending the Seahawks offense to work.
• Keiser then took their first lead of the contest as Mathews rolled out to his right and found Arnold in the corner of the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown, making the score 26-24 in favor of the Seahawks with 1:57 left in the quarter.
• A huge 31-yard gain by Elam during the 14 play 86-yard scoring drive moved the Seahawks into Bobcat territory and provided a much needed spark offensively.
• After the Keiser defense forced a three-and-out next drive, Elam went to work on the ground.
• The junior rushed for 63 total yards on the next three plays before capping it off with a 36-yard score to extend the lead as time expired in the third quarter. Robinson's extra-point was blocked, marking the first miss of the season for the junior, making the score 32-24, Keiser.

Fourth Quarter Highlights
Keiser 39, St. Thomas 32

• St. Thomas was forced into a three-and-out on their opening possession of the quarter but were able to get the ball right back as Mathews threw his second interception of the game at the Keiser 35-yard line.
• Defensive back, Chen-Young made sure the Bobcats did not capitalize on the turnover as the sophomore picked off Ilimaleota's pass at the Keiser 17-yard line with 11:16 remaining in the game.
• Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Mathews followed with his third interception of the contest and this time it led to St. Thomas points as Love returned it 26-yards for the score.
• St. Thomas then went for two as Ilimaleota found D'Amaunte Oliver in the back of the end zone, tying the game at 32-32.
• Once again, the Seahawks relied on the legs of Elam as the junior broke free for a 52-yard touchdown run that capped off a seven play 75-yard drive, putting KU back on top,  39-32 with 7:20 to go in the game.
• On the ensuing drive, the Bobcats decided to punt the ball away on a fourth-and-four from their own 46-yard line, giving the ball right back to the hot hand of Elam.
• Elam iced the win for the Seahawks as the junior moved the chains twice as Keiser closed out the game in victory formation.

UP NEXT
The Seahawks return to action Saturday, Nov. 16, for senior day at the Keiser Football Field as they host the Gyrenes of Ave Maria in the 2019 regular season finale. Kickoff for senior day is set for 5:00 p.m.


GAME NOTES

• With the win, Keiser improved to 1-0 all-time against the Bobcats
• The Seahawks are now 7-1 all-time at the Keiser Football Field and own a seven-game win streak inside the friendly confines
• Keiser set a new school record for total yards with 502 surpassing the previous mark of 490, which came earlier this season in a win over Warner
• For the second time this season, the Seahawks rushed for over 300-yards in a game as they finished with 309
• Elam's 268 yards surpassed the previous school record of 176 yards set by Burgess earlier this season against Warner
• The junior also set a new school record for the most carries in a single game with 36
• Junior linebacker, Murphy recorded his 100th career tackle in the win over St. Thomas
• Mathews has now thrown touchdown pass in nine straight games
• Overall, Keiser outgained the Bobcats 502-274 on the night