Score: No. 1 Keiser Seahawks 42, No. 9 Benedictine (Kan.) Ravens 38
Records: Keiser (12-0), Benedictine (Kan.) (11-3)
Location: Keiser Football Field (1,500) - West Palm Beach, Fla.
Time of Game:  3:10
Weather: Rainy, cloudy, wind 19 mph, 76 degrees

Trailing 38-21 with 7:38 left in the game, the No. 1-ranked Keiser football team (12-0) scored 21 unanswered points in the final six minutes, defeating the No. 9-ranked Benedictine (Kan.) Ravens (11-3), 42-38, to earn the team's third straight NAIA National Championship Game appearance.
 
Leading the way for the Seahawks was quarterback Shea Spencer, who threw for a school-record 412 on 26-of-39 passing with four touchdowns. He also rushed for a team-high 72 yards. With his 484 yards of total offense, Spencer became the school's all-time leader in total offense (6,484). Of his 412 yards passing, Spencer accumulated 239 passing yards in the fourth quarter alone, completing 14-of-18 passes, including three that resulted in scores. Spencer was named the Semifinals Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
 
D'Andre Golden led the team with nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. The Keiser tight end scored the first of KU's three straight touchdowns with a 14-yard grab at the 5:50 mark. Four minutes later, offensive lineman Roderick Carter recovered a fumble in the endzone to pull Keiser within three, 38-35. Elisha Edwards scored the game-winner on a 25-yard pass from Spener with 21 second left in the game.
 
The Keiser defense held the Ravens under their season average, allowing 373 yards in the contest. Hunter Hargrave and Tommie Battle IV each registered a team-best eight tackles in the game but it was Evan Jackson, who was named the game's Most Outstanding Defensive Player, posting seven tackles and the victory-sealing pass breakup in the endzone as time expired.
 
With the win, Keiser improved to 13-4 all-time in NAIA postseason play and are now 3-1 all-time in NAIA FCS Semifinal contests.
 

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Benedictine 6, Keiser 0

• The Ravens converted the first of two field goals in the quarter with a 46-yarder by Harry Balke (7:11)
• Looking to get something started, the Seahawks went for it on fourth-and-one from their own 28-yard line but the Ravens defense held strong, forcing Keiser to turnover the ball on downs
• BC converted that possession into three more points as Balke hit a 34-yard attempt with 2:00 left in the first (6-0)
• The Seahawks began their third drive of the quarter from their own 17-yard line
• Keiser advanced to their own 41 before Benedictine's Abram Phillips forced a Shea Spencer fumble which was recovered by the Ravens with seven seconds on the game clock 

Keiser 14, Benedictine 14

• The Keiser turnover at the end of the first proved not to be costly as the defense forced the Ravens to punt
• On the ensuing drive, the Seahawks got on the board as Spencer hit Louis Averhart III for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 8:50 left in the half
• The made extra point by Nico Cavanillas gave Keiser the 7-6 lead
• The drive lasted 10 plays and totaled 80 yards in 5:54
• After a three-and-out by the BC offense, Keiser got the ball in excellent field position after a shanked punt by Christian Klobe sailed only eight yards 
• Keiser took possession on the Raven's 26-yard line with 6:48 left in the half
• Three plays later, Andrew Burnette found the endzone on a three-yard run to give Keiser a 14-6 lead (5:16)
• With under 2:00 left in the half, Benedictine tied the game after recovering a muffed punt in the endzone for the score (1:03)
• A successful two-point conversion tied the game, 14-14
• Keiser nearly regained the lead before the end of the half as the Seahawks moved the ball to the BC seven-yard line 
• However, Isaiah Hasten picked off a Spencer pass in the endzone to end the Seahawks threat

Benedictine 28, Keiser 14

• On the opening drive of the second half, Benedictine drove 50 yards on four plays to take a 21-14 lead
• Jackson Dooley found Jacob Gathright 38 yards and a score to cap off the quick drive (13:18)
• The Ravens extended their lead with a one-yard run by Dooley with 4:03 left in the third (28-14)

Keiser 42, Benedictine 38

• Balke pushed the Ravens lead to 17 with a 40-yard FG (13:13)
• Keiser responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Spencer to Refeno Vangates 
• The score capped off a six-play, 67-yard drive as Keiser cut the deficit to 10, 31-21 (10:12)
• BC regained its 17-point lead with a 54-yard run by Xavier Ugorji, taking a 38-21 lead with 7:38 left in the game
• Spencer guided Keiser down the field four passes for 65 yards, including a 14-yard TD pass to D'Andre Golden with 5:50 on the game clock
• The score brought Keiser within 10 again, 38-28
• Benedictine used just under two minutes on its next drive as they were forced to punt, giving Keiser the ball back at their own 16-yard line with 4:03 left in the game
• The Seahawks went 84 yards to score again as offensive lineman Roderick Carter recovered a fumble by Shea Spencer in the endzone. 
• The extra point cut the BC lead to three, 38-35, with 1:54 on the game clock
• Keiser's defense forced the Ravens to punt again, following a tackle for loss by Tommie Battle IV coupled with an offensive holding call which stopped the clock just under a minute to play
• The Seahawks took possession at their own 25-yard line with 51 seconds left in the game
• Spencer found Golden three times on the drive for a total of 50 yards as the Seahawks got to the Raven's 25-yard line with under 30 seconds to play
• Keiser took the lead with 21 second on the game clock as Elisha Edwards scored on a 25-yard pass from Spencer, giving the Seahawks a 42-38 lead 
• Benedictine had a chance to win the game, driving down to the Keiser 14-yard line with six seconds left to play
• However, Dooley's pass attempt to Tanner Zimmermann was broken up by Evan Jackson as time expired 

  

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• Today's captains – Jude Guerrier, Hunter Hargrave, Tivon Sutton and Jaden Meizinger
• The Seahawks wore navy jerseys with navy pants (4-0 this season when wearing this combo)
• Weather at kickoff – Cloudy, rainy, wind 19 mph, 76 degrees
• The coin toss was won by Benedictine, the Ravens deferred, and the Seahawks received
• Keiser is now 7-0 this season when losing the coin toss
• With the win, Keiser improves to 3-1 in the NAIA FCS Semifinals
• Keiser will make their third straight appearance in the NAIA National Championship Game
• Saturday's victory marked the 12th of the season for the Seahawks, tying the school-record set last year for most wins in a season (12)
• Quarterback Shea Spencer threw for a school-record 412 yards on 26-of-39 passes and four touchdowns
• He also rushed for a team-high 72 yards to record 484 yards of total offense
• Spencer became the school's all-time leader in total offense in a career (6,484)
• Spencer was named the Semifinals Most Outstanding Offensive Player (his third straight award)
• Freshman Evan Jackson was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Game (his second of the playoffs)
• Jackson had seven tackles, 1.5 TFL, and sealed the Keiser victory with a pass breakup in the endzone as time expired 
• The Seahawks extended their nation's longest winning streak to 23 games
• The win marks the Seahawks 19^th straight win at home
• With the win, Keiser improves to 34-4 all-time at home
• Keiser improves to 12-0 as the No. 1 team in the nation
• The win improves the Seahawks to 1-0 all-time versus Benedictine (Kan.)
• Keiser is one of two undefeated teams remaining in the NAIA (Grand View - 13-0)
• The 42 points scored versus the No. 9-ranked Tigers, were tied for the fourth-most by a Seahawks team versus a ranked opponent
• The Seahawks are now a perfect 50-0 when scoring 30-or-more points
• The win also improves Keiser to 2-0 all-time versus teams from the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the NAIA Football Championship Series
• The Seahawks have now one 10 straight games in non-conference action

 


The Seahawks will travel to Durham, North Carolina, for the NAIA National Championship Game on Saturday, December 21. Keiser will face the No. 2-ranked Grand View Vikings. Kickoff is set for noon.
 

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