WEST PALM BEACH – Don’t call it a comeback.
It’s true that Keiser overcame a 14-13 halftime deficit to score the second half’s only touchdown and two-point conversion for a 21-14 win over No. 23 Webber International. But Seahawks quarterback and Palm Beach Gardens alum Eli Matthews doesn’t see it that way.
It’s that confidence, that leadership, that poise, and that swagger the dual-threat quarterback oozes in these moments. It’s why head coach Doug Socha is comfortable with Matthews as the starter.
With 14:38 left in the fourth quarter, Keiser (5-2; 3-0 in Sun Conference) began the game’s most pivotal drive on its own 32. This came right after defensive back and Atlantic alum Troy Sloan caught an interception thrown by Webber to set up this ensuing moment.
A 68-yard march to the end zone reached its climax when Matthews found wide receiver and Oxbridge Academy alum Carlos Silencieux for a 7-yard touchdown. With the score, Keiser took a 19-14 lead over Webber with 10:19 left in the game.
After the touchdown, Matthews surveyed the Webber defensive and found a way to connect with tight end Jaylen Arnold for the two-point conversion and a 21-14 lead.
The score held up until the final buzzer, and it was made possible by the Seahawks defense in particular.
Late in the fourth quarter, Webber was aiming for a possible game-tying score. But on a fourth-and-2 play from the Keiser 10, Webber would be stuffed for no gain and a turnover on downs.
And to close the game out, Keiser defensive back and Jensen Beach alum Kade Glenn brought it home
with a clutch interception at the :59.4 mark.
“It’s not really a comeback,” Matthews said. “We just prepared all week for them. We had to prepare to go the distance of the game.”
Matthews finished the game with 13-for-15 passing for 110 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Carlos Silencieux. He also did not throw an interception in this one, which was a good thing for Keiser.
“Me and Carlos found a great connection last week,” Matthews said. “We prepared together this week, and we just found each other again.”
Matthews on the two-point conversion to Arnold:
“It was a play we’ve had for a while,” he said. “We just brought it back this week and we scored on it.”
Silencieux finished the game with four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns.
“We just know how to finish,” Silencieux said. “We played good today.”
There were some more standout performances from today’s game.
Keiser linebacker and Clewiston alum Maurice Murphy, Jr. recorded eight tackles and a forced fumble, while linebacker and Royal Palm Beach alum Treykevian Gilbert had three-and-a-half tackles, two first-half sacks, and two tackles for loss.
SCORING SUMMARY
9:45 1st: 25-yard touchdown run by Webber International running back Kwamaine Brown. Extra point good by kicker Mar Mannerstedt.
Webber 7, Keiser 0
1:11 1st: 29-yard touchdown pass from Webber quarterback Brady Ooten to wide receiver Timothy Miller. Extra point good by Mannerstedt.
Webber 14, Keiser 0
14:29 2nd: 40-yard touchdown pass from Matthews to Silencieux. Extra point by kicker Logan Robinson failed.
Webber 14, Keiser 6
3:16 2nd: 92-yard blocked field goal for touchdown by defensive back DeAndre Henderson. Extra point good by Robinson.
Webber 14, Keiser 13
10:19 4th: 7-yard touchdown pass from Matthews to Silencieux; 2-point conversion good from Matthews to Arnold.
Keiser 21, Webber 14 – FINAL SCORE
Next game for Keiser: Saturday, Oct. 20 at home vs. Warner University, 12 p.m. kickoff
Next game for No. 23 Webber International (4-2; 0-2 in Sun Division): Friday, Oct. 19 against Faulkner University, 7:30 p.m. kickoff
