Score: Valdosta State (No. 2 - NCAA D II) 36, No. 7 Keiser 21
Records: No. 7 Keiser (1-1), Vadlosta State (1-0)
Location: Bazemore-Hyder Stadium (5,381) - Valdosta, Ga.
Time of Game: 3:10
Weather: Hot and Humid, 79 degrees
The No. 7-ranked Keiser Seahawk's bid to knock off one of NCAA Division II's best teams came up short on Thursday as KU fell to the Valdosta State Blazers, 36-21.
The Seahawks trailed by only two points with 11 minutes left in the game, but 13 unanswered points by the Blazers led the 2021 NCAA Division II finalist to the 15-point win.
Keiser produced 389 yards of total offense but missed some early opportunities in the red zone, resulting in the team's first loss of the season.
Valdosta State 3, Keiser 0
- On the very first drive of the game, Keiser drove 67 yards down to the Valdosta State eight-yard line.
- An interception by Sean Colman of a Shea Spencer pass halted the Seahawks scoring threat with 8:52 on the game clock.
- On the esuing possession, VSU got on the board with a 35-yard field goal by Estin Thiele to take a 3-0 lead with 6:24 left in the quarter.
- Keiser again drove the length of the field, getting to the Blazer's one-yard line but were held out of the endzone, turning the ball over on downs with 2:07 remaining in the first.
Keiser 7, Warner 6
- After forcing the Balzers to punt the ball away, Keiser took possession of the ball at its own 24-yard line with 13:02 on the game clock.
- Spencer connected on a pair of passes to Jaylen Arnold of 12 and 13 yards to get the Seahawks close to midfield.
- Myles Henderson caught two consecutive passes for a combined 35 yards putting KU in a first-and-goal situation.
- Two plays later, Marques Burgess scored the go-ahead touchdown with a two-yard run.
- Chance Gagnon's made extra-point made it a 7-6 game with 8:33 left in the half.
- Jace Stewart made a key play defensive to halt a VSU drive late in the half, jaring the ball loose on a pass attempt as the Blazers went for it on 4th-and-10 from the KU 31 (2:34 on the clock).
- Valdosta State pulled within one with 38-yard field goal by Thiele as time expired.
Valdosta State 23, Keiser 14
- The Blazers took the lead with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Ivory Durham to Davie Henderson (extra point was good), 13-7, with with 12:15 left in the first.
- The Seahawks responded with a score of their own as Spencer connected with Seth Rolle for a 43 yard touchdown pass.
- Gagnon's made extra point gave KU a 14-13 lead with 8:23 left in the quarter.
- Thiele made his third field goal of the game for the Blazers this time from 36 yards, giving VSU a 16-14 advantage with 5:38 on the game clock.
- The Blazers added a touchdown in the final 20 seconds of the third as Jamar Thompkins rushed for five yards and the score, 23-14.
Valdosta State 36, Keiser 21
- Keiser opened the fourth quarter with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that took 4:18 seconds, cutting the VSU lead to 23-21.
- Arnold grabbed an eight-yard Spencer pass for the touchdown with 11:01 left in the game.
- THe made extra point by Gagnon made it a two-point game.
- An 11-yard touchdown run by VSU's Seth McGill extended the Blazer's lead to 30-21 with 7:33 remaining in the contest.
- The fourth field goal by Thiele made the scored 33-21 with 5:49 on the game clock.
- Thiele added one more field goal with 2:11 left to play to make the score, 36-21.
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- Thursday night's game marked the first versus an NCAA Division II opponent for the Seahawks.
- With the loss, KU drops to 0-1 all-time versus Valdosta State.
- The Blazer were only the third team from the state of Georgia to face the Seahawks.
- With the loss, Keiser moves to 4-1 all-time versus teams from the Peach State.
- Thursday marked just the second game played by the Seahawks in the state of Georgia (1-1).
- With the loss, Keiser moves to 34-10 all-time.
- Jaylen Arnold finished the night with seven catches, becoming the first player in KU history to record 100 receptions. Arnold currently sits with 105.
- With one rushing touchdown on Thursday, Marques Burgess has now recorded 45 for his career.
- The 43-yard touchdown reception by Seth Rolle was the first of his career.
- The Seahawk receiving corps produce three players on Thursday that had at least five catches and 55 yards apiece (Myles Henderson, Jaylen Arnold, and Seth Rolle).
- Shea Spencer: 22-of-42 passing for 263 yards and two touchdowns (three interceptions).
Keiser travels to Clinton, Mississippi, to take on NCAA Division II foe Mississippi College. Game time is set for noon.
