WEST PALM BEACH – After both Keiser and Point committed a series of turnovers in the early going, the better team of the two emerged from this kind of adversity on Saturday (Sept. 25).
The seventh-ranked Seahawks, a 30-0 winner over the Skyhawks, began their scoring surge late in the first quarter, thanks to an interception that one of its defenders caught at the Point 10-yard line.
At the 1:05 mark, running back Marques Burgess powered through the line of scrimmage for a 4-yard touchdown run. And with an extra point by kicker Chance Gagnon, Keiser took a 7-0 lead over Point.
“It’s just everything we practiced,” Burgess said. “Just reading my gaps, reading my o-linemen, and just hitting the hole hard and fast.”
Not long after Point’s offense sputtered, Keiser (2-1) got itself into scoring position again. This time, Gagnon connected on a 40-yard field goal at the 11:27 mark of the second frame, which extended Keiser’s lead to 10-0.
And then after both teams lost fumbles for parts of the second frame, Keiser bounced back from this in the closing seconds of the half as quarterback Shea Spencer connected with wide receiver Traionn Jones for a 26-yard touchdown pass with one second left.
“We were off to a slow start, and I told my team at the end that we’re searching for an identity,” Keiser head coach Doug Socha said. “Shea got in there at the last part of the first half and really connected on some plays, got some momentum and confidence. He did some good things.”
Gagnon’s second extra point gave Keiser a 17-0 halftime lead over Point.
“It was really disappointing in the first half, seeing the ball on the ground, not converting and turning the ball over on downs,” Socha said. “Just sloppy stuff we could control. We’re just still searching for an identity.”
The third quarter was all Keiser, as a key play emerged at the 14:03 mark.
Spencer found a way to connect with wide receiver Jerson Jacques for a 66-yard touchdown. Jacques made it look easy as he powered through the opposition for his score.
And with Gagnon’s third extra point, Keiser took a 24-0 lead over Point.
The final score of the game took place when Burgess hit paydirt from 30 yards out at the 3:56 mark.
“He was a guy we wanted to get into rhythm,” Socha said. “Once we get him going, he’s strong through the whole game. He’s a really sound runner, hard to tackle, makes some people miss, has some speed in the open field. He did a good job, but I know he wants to be better.”
For the rest of this game, it was all about Keiser’s defence.
A goal line stand occurred at the 11:56 mark of the fourth quarter, when Point’s scoring attempted was stopped on fourth down at the Keiser 1-yard line, which resulted in a turnover on downs.
And finally, a defensive interception was caught by defensive back Wendol Philord Jr. at the 5:15 mark.
“We all worked as a unit,” said Keiser defensive lineman Victor Alvarez Jr., who had five tackles, one-and-one-half tackles for loss, and one half sack against Point (0-4). “Our defense, we have a bunch of dogs. I knew that I could put my faith in the inside linemen. The linebackers could go ahead and clock in the gaps…We focused and made sure that we took care of the biggest problem we had…paying more attention to detail.”
SIDE NOTES: Burgess finished the game with 21 carries for a career-high 162 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jacques had four catches, one touchdown, and set a team single-game record with 114 receiving yards against Point.
Keiser outgained Point in total yardage, 503-261.
NEXT GAME FOR KEISER: Saturday, Oct. 2 at Florida Memorial University, 1:30 p.m. kickoff
PHOTO CREDITS: Chet Peterman
