Score: Valdosta State 49, No. 4 Keiser 25
Records: Keiser (1-2), Valdosta State (3-0)
Location: Bazemore-Hyder Stadium (3,680) - Valdosta, Ga.
Time of Game: 3:03
Weather: Cloudy, 85 degrees.
The No. 4-ranked Keiser football team closed out the non-conference portion of the 2023 season with a 49-25 loss at NCAA Division II Valdosta State Saturday night.
The Seahawks opened the scoring with a 63-yard touchdown pass from
Bryce Veasley to
D'Andre Golden on the team's opening drive. After two straight scores by the Blazers put Keiser is a 14-6 hole,
Jaden Meizinger made it a one-point game with his third rushing touchdown of the season (a seven-yard run with 9:07 left in the half).
Meizinger and Veasley added rushing scores in the second half, but VSU outscored the Seahawks, 28-12, in the final 30 minutes to hand Keiser its second loss of the season.
Veasley finished the night completing 15-of-28 passes for 217 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for another. Meizinger rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries and two rushing touchdowns. Golden posted a career-high 110 yards on seven catches.
Defensively, Keiser was led by
Darrell Livingston, who registered a career-best 13 tackles.
Jaelin Willis tallied nine tackles to move into second in career tackles at Keiser (187).
Valdosta State 14, Keiser 6
- The Seahawks took their opening drive and scored the first touchdown of the game as Bryce Veasley found tight end D'Andre Golden for 63 yards.
- The touchdown capped off a five-play, 75-yard drive as the Seahawks led, 6-0, with 12:40 on the clock.
- The Blazers took a 7-6 lead on the ensuing drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Sammy Edwards to B.K. Smith with 10:00 left in the first.
- VSU extended its lead to 14-6 as Edwards threw his second TD pass of the quarter with a 37-yard strike to Ted Hurst.
Valdosta State 21, Keiser 13
- A forced fumble by Jaelin Willis recovered by Wendol Philord gave the ball back to the Seahawks with 13:42 remaining in the half.
- The turnover resulted in Jaden Meizinger posting his first touchdown of the evening with a seven-yard run.
- The score cut the Blazer lead to 14-13 with 9:06 on the game clock.
- VSU pushed its lead to 21-13 following a seven-yard touchdown pass from Edwards to Council Allen.
- The Seahawks entered halftime down by eight.
Valdosta State 35, Keiser 19
- The Blazers opened the second half with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Isaiah Flowers, making it a 28-13 game.
- The Seahawks answered as Meizinger registered his second rushing TD of the game, scoring on a two-yard run, 28-19 (5:56).
- After a 60-yard kick return by VSU's Xavier Williams, the Blazers used three plays to take a 35-19 lead with 4:22 left in the third.
- Edwards connected with Rodney Bullard for 21 yards and the score.
Valdosta State 49, Keiser 25
- The Seahawks capped off a 12-play drive to begin the fourth as Veasley rushed for a three-yard touchdown pulling Keiser within 10, 35-25 (13:38).
- The Blazers produced two more touchdowns to put the game out of reach, 49-25.
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- The loss moves the Seahawks to 44-15 all-time.
- Saturday marked the second meeting all-time between Keiser and Valdosta State.
- The Seahawks trail the series history, 0-2.
- Keiser is 4-2 all-time versus teams from the Peach State.
- Saturday marked the fourth time in the last two season in which Keiser faced an NCAA Division II team (0-4).
- Saturday was just the third game the Seahawks played in the state of Georgia (1-2).
- Tight end D'Andre Golden notched a career-high 110 yards receiving on seven catches.
- Both Golden's receptions and receiving yards were the fourth most in a single game in Keiser history.
- Defensive back Darrell Livingston notched a career-high 13 tackles versus the Blazers.
- Junior linebacker Jaelin Willis registered nine tackles on Saturday, moving the native of Fort Myers, Florida, into second place all-time for career tackles at Keiser (187).
- With the loss, Keiser is now 18-12 all-time in non-conference action.
- With two touchdowns on Saturday, Jaden Meizinger has now recorded 30 touchdowns for his career (second all-time at KU).
- Bryce Veasley: 15-of-28 passing for 217 yards, and one touchdown.
The Seahawks will return to action on Saturday, September 30, hosting Thomas (Ga.) in the Sun Conference opener. Game time from the Keiser Multi-Purpose Field is set for 6:00 PM ET.
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