Score: No. 6 Keiser 31, Florida Memorial 26
Records: No. 6 Keiser (3-1), Florida Memorial (0-6)
Location: Nathaniel Traz Powell Stadium, Miami, Fla.
Time of Game: 1:30 PM
Weather: 86 degrees, Partly Cloudy

Led by a career-high 230 rushing yards from Marques Burgess, the No. 6 ranked Keiser football team held on for a 31-26 victory in their 2021 Mid-South Conference Sun Division opener at Florida Memorial Saturday afternoon.


Keiser 3, Florida Memorial 7

• The Keiser offense took the field first after the Lions won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
• The Seahawks came away with points on the opening drive as freshman kicker, Chance Gagnon, connected on a 39-yard field goal attempt at the 10:02 mark.
• Florida Memorial jumped in front with 4:14 remaining as Terry Smith picked off Jack Strouse's pass and returned it 35 yards for the score. Following Marco Luna's extra point, the Lions led 7-3.
• The deficit marked the first time the Seahawks have trailed in an MSC Sun Division game since Nov. 9, 2019.

Keiser 17, Florida Memorial 14

• Strouse put Keiser back on top four plays into the second quarter as the junior connected with Jerson Jacques for a 30-yard score. Gagnon's extra point made it 10-7, Keiser at the 13:13 mark.
• Tyler Foster kept the scoring drive alive for the Seahawks with a 20-yard catch on fourth-and-six.
• The Lions answered back with a 10 play 71-yard drive, capped off by a one-yard rush by Antoine Williams. After the Luna extra point, Florida Memorial led 14-10 with 5:03 showing on the clock.
• Following punts from both sides, the Seahawks reached Lion territory but a fumble by Burgess ended the scoring threat.
• Keiser's defense stood tall following the turnover, forcing a three-and-out.
• During the drive, Alessandro Cantillo put the Lions behind the chains with his third sack of the year.
• With 34 ticks left on the clock, the KU offense went to work from their own 11-yard line.
• Following a 26-yard Burgess run, Shea Spencer delivered the ball right into the hands of a streaking Caleb Walls for a 63-yard score. Gagnon's extra point gave Keiser a 17-14 lead at the break.

Keiser 31, Florida Memorial 20

• Burgess found the end zone on the Seahawks first drive of the second half as the junior punched it in from three yards out. The score capped off a 10 play 95-yard drive as Keiser led 24-14 with 8:12 left in the quarter.
• Florida Memorial would not go quietly though as Williams found the end zone for the second time on the ground, this time from three yards out. Luna's extra point was no good, making the score 24-20 in favor of KU at the 4:12 mark.
• On the fourth play of the ensuing Seahawks drive, Burgess broke free for a 48-yard score to push the Keiser lead to 31-20 with 2:07 showing on the clock.

Keiser 31, Florida Memorial 26

• Once again, the Lions answered as Williams took it in from 25-yards out for his third rushing score of the day. Williams and the Lions were unable to convert the two-point conversion as KU led 31-26 at the 12:57 mark.
• Following a Keiser punt, Florida Memorial chewed up 5:34 on 12 plays but came away empty as Sage Chen-Young came up with a huge block on a 24-yard field goal attempt. 
• The block kept the score at 31-26 in favor of KU with 5:29 left in the contest.
• Florida Memorial got one final opportunity and reached Seahawk territory before Chen-Young picked off his first pass of the season to seal the win for Keiser.

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• Keiser is now 2-0 all-time against the Lions
• Saturday's contest marked the 2021 MSC Sun Division Opener for the Seahawks
• Keiser improved to 16-2 all-time in Sun Division play, including 12 straight wins
• All-time, the Seahawks are now 16-2 against teams from the state of Florida
• Burgess eclipsed the century mark for the second straight game
• The junior's 200-yard rushing performance was the first of his career
• Overall, Keiser outgained the Lions 455-354

• Spencer: 8-of-10 for 131 yards and one touchdown
• Strouse: 9-of-12 for 85 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions 

• Burgess: 29 carries for 230 yards and two touchdowns

• Jacques: Three catches for 63 yards and a score
• Walls: One catch for 63 yards and a score
• Foster: Three catches for 39 yards

• Davion Cross: Eight total tackles, four solos
• Byron Fraley: Eight tackles, five solo
• Wesley Scott: Seven tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble
• Corey Lamy: Six tackles, one for loss
• Cantillo: Five tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack

Keiser remains on the road as they travel to Grayson, Ky., for their final non-conference matchup of the year against Kentucky Christian. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.