WEST PALM BEACH FL – It was a breezy night as the Seahawks breezed past the Ave Maria Gyrenes 52-21. They were celebrating their seniors who got to walk across the football field pre-game with their family.
As usual, Keiser started off hot, forcing Ave Maria’s 3 and out and subsequent punt. The Seahawks marched down the field and a Shea Spencer 36 yard pass to Claudell Sherman put them in the end zone first. It was a 3 play, 44 second long drive. With 13:14 left in the first quarter, Keiser led 7-0
Keiser once again shut Ave Maria down and responded with a 1 play, 58 yard touchdown pass to Refeno Vangates to put the Seahawks up 14-0 with 9:16 left in the first. Ave Maria was then able to sputter up a drive, going 75 yards down the field and scoring their first points of the day with the help of QB Andrew Lege and WR Ray DeSanto’s 22 yard pass into the end zone. The score was now 14-7. By the end of the first quarter the score was 21-7 with the Seahawks in front.
The Seahawks could not replicate the same results as the first quarter in the second. They started off the quarter with a Nico Cavanillas field goal from 39 yards out and did not score again. They held Ave Maria scoreless as well. Going into halftime, the score was 24-7.
Keiser came out of halftime with fires a blazing, marching 84 yards down the field and scoring the first touchdown of the second half. This was with the help of senior RB Jaden Meizinger’s 13 yard run into the end zone. The drive chewed up 6:13 off the clock.
They held Ave Maria to no score and once again drove down the field to make it 38-7 Keiser with the help of Refeno Vangates’ second touchdown catch of the night. To end the 3rd quarter, Ave Maria scored a 27 yard touchdown pass to Roman Newkirk to cut the lead to 38-14.
We know by now that Keiser will respond, and they did just that, scoring another touchdown to extend their lead to 45-14. Andrew Burnette ran it in for a 6 yard touchdown. Keiser scored again with a 2 yard touchdown run by Damari Charlton.
The last score of the night comes from the Gyrenes. QB Andrew Lege threw a 29 yard touchdown pass to WR Thomas Schiavon with 1:24 left in the game. The final score read 52-21 and Ave Maria’s season was over. Keiser will be moving onto the NAIA playoffs.
Keiser QB Shea Spencer threw for 234 yards and 4 touchdowns. He passed to a plethora of WRs including Louis Averhart III, who had 3 receptions for 79 yards, Refeno Vangates, who had 5 receptions for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Claudell Sherman, who had 1 reception for 36 yards and a touchdown. The running backs had a game too. Andrew Burnette ran for 121 yards with 1 touchdown, and Jaden Meizinger ran for 76 yards and 1 touchdown as well.
Keiser plays next in the second round of the playoffs as they have a first round bye. That game will be on November 30th at 1:00 PM.
