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:Â 3:10
Weather:Â 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 clockÂ
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 yardsÂ
- 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 lineÂ
- 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 VangatesÂ
- 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 10Â 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.Â
- 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 leadÂ
- 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 expiredÂ
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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 expiredÂ
- The Seahawks extended their nation's longest winning streak to 23 games
- The win marks the Seahawks 19th 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
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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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