Score: Mississippi College 26, No. 7 Keiser 8
Records: No. 7 Keiser (1-2), Mississippi College (1-1)
Location: Robinson-Hale Stadium (4,347) - Clinton, Mississippi
Time of Game: 2:44
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 82 degrees
The No. 7-ranked Keiser football team could not overcome a slow start, falling to the Mississippi College Choctaws, 26-8, on Saturday afternoon. A 19-0 deficit in the first quarter was too much for the Seahawks to overcome as KU suffered its second straight loss to an NCAA Division II program.
Mississippi College 19, Keiser 0
- The Choctaws got on the board with a five-yard rushing touchdown by Marcus Williams with 8:48 left in the first quarter.
- A missed extra point (hit the uprights) by Michael Shines made it a 6-0 contest.
- Following a three and out by the Seahawks, Mississippi College drove down the field and converted a 19-yard touchdown run with 3:07 to play.
- Keiser would block the ensuing extra-point to keep it 12-0.
- The Seahawks would get the ball into opposing territory on their third drive of the game before a turnover on fourth down gave the ball back to MC.
- The Choctaws would waste no time as DeAnte Smith-Moore connected with Jacob Stephens on the first play of the drive for a 53-yard touchdown play.
- With just eight seconds left in the quarter, Mississippi College would convert their first point after attempt and have a 19-0 lead.
Mississippi College 19, Keiser 0
- Both defenses would show their strength to open the quarter with three and outs by both sides.
- Keiser would get the ball on their own 28 yard line and methodically make it to the MC 32 before failing on a fourth down attempt with 6:17 to play in the half.
- The Seahawks would get the ball back with 2:32 left in the second quarter and be ready to threaten to score again.
- An 8-for-10 drive by Shea Spencer set up Keiser for a 50-yard field goal attempt that sailed just wide as the clock expired on the first half of play.
Mississippi College 19, Keiser 0
- The Keiser defense would set the tone in the third quarter, forcing a quick punt and setting up the offense with good field position.
- A 12-yard run by Marques Burgess would set up Keiser inside the 10 yard line for the first time on the day.
- The Seahawks showed no fear, once again going for it on fourth down but failing to convert and giving the ball back to the Choctaws with 8:01 showing on the clock.
- Mississippi College would hold the ball for the remainder of the quarter, walking it down to the KU 18-yardline when the third quarter ended.
Mississippi College 26, Keiser 8
- The Choctaws would complete their longest drive of the game with a 4-yard rushing touchdown and extra point to take a 26-0 lead at the 13:29 mark.
- Keiser would strike early in the ensuing drive with a 32-yard pitch and catch from Spencer to Jonathan Santos that put them just outside the MC redzone.
- The Seahawks would break into the redzone on the next two plays but ultimately turn the ball over on downs at the Mississippi College 16-yardline.
- A long drive by the Choctaws would be cut short thanks to a forced fumble by Maddox Aprile, recovered by Brendan Parr and returned all the way to the MC 22 yard line.
- Bryce Veasly would complete his first pass of the game on fourth and four to get Jaden Meizinger down to the one yard line.
- Burgess followed by punching it into the endzone for the first Seahawks score of the game.
- Veasly would connect with Jaylen Arnold on the 2-point conversion to make it a 26-8 game with 4:11 left in the game.
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- With the loss, Keiser moves to 1-2 on the year and 34-11 all-time.
- Both of KU's losses this season have come against NCAA Division II teams.
- Saturday marked the Seahawk's first game played in the state of Mississippi.
- Linebacker Jaelin Willis recorded a career-high 13 tackles on Saturday (11 solo).
- Seven different Seahawks caught at least one pass in the game.
- Wide receiver Seth Rolle led Keiser with a career-high six catches. Rolle has caught five-or-more passes in each of the team's first three games.
- Joining Rolle with a game-high six receptions was Myles Henderson.
- Rolle and Henderson are tied with Jaylen Arnold for the team lead in catches (16).
- Running back Marques Burgess recorded a rushing touchdown on Saturday, boosting his career total to 46.
- Freshman defensive end Maddox Aprile registered the first two sacks of his Keiser career while forcing one fumble versus the Choctaws.
Keiser travels to St. Charles, Missouri, to take on NCAA FCS foe Lindenwood on Saturday, September 17. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET.
