Score: No. 25 Keiser 36, No. 16 St. Thomas 31
Records: Keiser (3-3, 2-0 SUN), St. Thomas (4-2, 0-1 SUN)
Location: AutoNation Field (624) - Miami Gardens, Fla.
Time of Game: 2:57
Weather: Rainy, 80 degrees.
The No. 25-ranked Keiser football team overcame a 17-point deficit to remain perfect in Sun Conference action, defeating the No. 16-ranked St. Thomas Bobcats, 36-31, on Saturday afternoon. Forcing five turnovers, the Seahawks handed the Bobcats their first loss at home this season.
Jaylen Arnold and
Marques Burgess each scored two touchdowns as the Seahawks remain atop the Sun Conference Standings.
St. Thomas 21, Keiser 7
- After forcing a three-and-out on STU's first possession of the game, the Seahawks scored on two plays to take a 7-0 lead with 12:55 on the clock.
- Marques Burgess accounted for all 61 yards of the drive, including a 58-yard scamper for KU's first TD of the game.
- The Bobcats responded with a 61-yard touchdown run by Rontavious Farmer on the ensuing drive.
- STU took a 14-7 lead following a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown by C'quan Jnopierre with 8:42 left in the quarter.
- The Bobcats extended their lead to 14 points when Tyler Thomas connected with Michael Griffin for 81 yards and a score (2:38).
St. Thomas 24, Keiser 17
- STU extended its lead to 24-7 following a 41-yard field goal by Alejandro Prado with 12:01 left in the half.
- After a fumble by STU's Jnopierre (forced by Luckaad Dorsainvil and recovered by Brian Edwards), KU drove down the field, going 67 yards on 12 plays to cut the Bobcat lead to 24-14,
- On first-and-goal from the two-yard line, Shea Spencer scored on a quarterback keeper; his first rushing TD of the season.
- A made extra point by Chance Gagnon made the score 24-14 in favor of St. Thomas with 4:45 left in the second.
- On the ensuing drive, Keiser forced St. Thomas to punt but a snap over the head of STU punter Braden Dick resulted in a punt that lost 29 yards and gave the Seahawks the ball at the Bobcat 28-yard line with 1:23 on the game clock.
- A 44-yard field goal by Gagnon as time expired made it a seven-point game heading into halftime.
Keiser 24, St. Thomas 24
- An interception by STU's Sidney Porter gave the Bobcats a golden opportunity to extend their lead as St. Thomas had the ball in Keiser territory (25-yard line) with 9:19 in the game clock.
- One minute later, Prado pushed a 43-yard field goal attempt wide left, giving the ball back to the Seahawks with 8:15 left in the third.
- The Seahawks used 10 plays to go 56 yard and enter STU's redzone but on fourth-and-three, a two-yard loss by Burgess turned the ball over on downs (2:45).
- The KU defense held St. Thomas to a three-and-out, forcing a punting situation.
- Again, STU had trouble getting the ball to their punter as he dropped the snap and recovered it at the Bobcat's own four-yard line, giving Keiser a first-and goal with 2:02 remaining in the quarter.
- Spencer connected with Jaylen Arnold for a four-yard touchdown pass with 1:10 on the game clock.
- The made extra point tied the game at 24-all.
Keiser 36, St. Thomas 31
- The Bobcats opened the quarter, driving down to the KU 25-yard line.
- On fourth-and four, STU went for it resulting in an incomplete pass, giving the ball back to the Seahawks with 11:13 on the game clock.
- On the first play of Keiser's drive, Spencer found Arnold for a 75-yard touchdown pass, giving the Seahawks their first lead since early in the first quarter.
- A missed extra-point attempt made it 30-24 game.
- The Bobcats regained the lead following a 57-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to Hervin Louis with 2:10 left in the game.
- The made extra point by Prado gave STU a 31-30 lead.
- Wendol Philord returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yard to the St. Thomas 20-yard line, giving Keiser first-and-10 from the 20 with 1:59 left in the game.
- Burgess tallied his second rushing touchdown of the game with a 14-yard run as KU regained the lead 36-31.
- The Seahawks failed their two-point conversion attempt making it a five-point game with 1:02 on the clock.
- STU got the ball with 55 second left in the contest and two plays into the drive corner back Darrell Livingston intercepted Thomas' pass, sealing the victory.
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- With the win, Keiser improves to 4-0 all-time versus the Bobcats.
- The Seahawks are now 2-0 all-time versus STU in Miami Gardens; 1-0 at AutoNation Field.
- The Seahawks are now 22-3 all-time in conference action.
- With the win, KU remains atop the Sun Conference Standings.
- KU is now 10-6 all-time versus ranked opponents.
- Scoring 36 points on Saturday, Keiser is now averaging 40.5 points per game versus STU all-time.
- With the win, Keiser improves to 36-12 all-time.
- For the second straight game, Marques Burgess rushed for 100 yards, recording 172 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns .
- The 172 yards increased Burgess' career rushing total to 4,297 yards.
- Burgess scored on a 58-yard run, marking the second straight game in which a KU running back scored on a run of 50 yards-or-more (Jaden Meizinger - 56 yards versus Florida Memorial).
- With two scores, Burgess increased his school record for career rushing touchdowns to 49
- Jaylen Arnold caught three passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday, including a 75-yard TD reception (a season high).
- For his career, Arnold owns the school record for receptions (122), receiving yards (1,624), and receiving touchdowns (24).
- Shea Spencer: 9-of-17 passing for 17 yards and two touchdowns.
- Jaelin Willis: 11 total tackles, four solo, 1.0 TFL.
- Brian Edwards: Seven total tackles, six solo, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery.
- Camron Allen: Six total tackles, three solo, 1.0 TFL.
- Tivon Sutton: Five total tackles, two solo, 0.5 TFL, one fumble recovery.
- Noah Curtis: Five total tackles, one solo, two quarterback hurries.
Keiser will host the Warner Royals on Saturday, Oct. 15. Kickoff from West Palm Beach, Florida, is set for 5:00 PM.
