MIAMI GARDENS, FL – It was a overcast drowsy day on Saturday where the number 1 ranked Keiser Seahawks traveled an hour and a half down south to Miami Gardens to face off against rival St. Thomas University. Kickoff was at 12 PM.
Despite the gloomy weather, Keiser started off fast, forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff. Jaden Meizinger started off the first drive of the day, running 7 yards but then fumbling it, recovered by Keiser QB Shea Spencer. With a complete pass to Seth Rolle, it put them in the redzone at the Bobcat’s 18 yard line. The drive sputtered out and they had to settle with a field goal. After the first drive, it was 3-0 with 12:10 left in the first.
St. Thomas’s first drive of the day was a 3 and out which put Keiser’s potent offense right out on the field again. They marched 81 yards down the field with the help of a 58 yard run by Andrew Burnette to set them up in the redzone. Another Burnette rush put them in the endzone for the first time of the day. Within the first 7 minutes of the game, it was already 10-0.
By the end of the first quarter, Keiser led 24-3. It was a complete and utter domination from the Seahawks. The second quarter was not on the same level, both teams were not able to find any footing. The score remained 24-3 at halftime.
To open up the second half, the Seahawks had the ball first but had to punt it to STU. They capitalized on the stop with a 16 yard touchdown pass to David Hayes to make it 24-10. Keiser once again could not start up the offense and the Bobcats scored a field goal to put the game within two scores.
This takes us to the 4th quarter which is where the fireworks started. To start off the quarter, St. Thomas scored a touchdown from Khalitri Zow. After a failed 2 point conversion, the score was the closest it had ever been: 24-19. Keiser’s next drive took almost 7 minutes off the clock but ended with an insane pick-6 interception from Nicholas Engler, a D-lineman from St. Thomas. He ran it back 58 yards to give STU their first lead of the day. They attempted a two point conversion and failed, but a flag was called for roughing the passer which gave them another chance and they ran it in to convert.
Keiser responded fast, with Shea Spencer throwing a 70 yard bomb to Refeno Vangates for the touchdown to reclaim the lead. The score was now 31-27, the Seahawks in the lead. With one last chance with 5:11 left in the fourth, St. Thomas went three and out and had to punt the ball to the Seahawks.
Keiser ran the clock down the last 3:16 left in the game with some controversy. On a fourth and two, Andrew Burnette took the ball and ran it to the first down line. It was so close they had to bring out the chains and STU thought they stopped them short but the refs saw it otherwise, giving Keiser the first down and effectively ending the game.
There were three clear MVPs of the game for Keiser. First, QB Shea Spencer went 17/27 with 3 touchdowns for 270 yards. RB Andrew Burnette gained 123 yards and 1 touchdown. Last but not least Refeno Vangates had 4 receptions for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Keiser is now 4-0 and will travel home to face off against the Warner Royals on October 12th at 6:00 PM. It is 561 day and the Breast Cancer Awareness Game at the Keiser Multi-Purpose Field.
