WEST PALM BEACH – The easy blowout wins for fourth-ranked Keiser (8-0) may have come to an end this season.
After vanquishing No. 12 Arizona Christian (9-2 final record) in the first round of the NAIA playoff last Saturday (April 17) at home, the Seahawks look to earn their second postseason victory against a better opponent this afternoon.
Keiser will face off against eighth-ranked Reinhardt (9-0) today (April 24) at 12:30 p.m. It is the third-year program’s second straight home playoff game in as many weeks.
This one looks to be a battle, as the Seahawks defense will need to put in some work against the Eagles offense. More than likely, this matchup will play a key role in the final outcome.
“We love to come out fast,” Keiser head coach Doug Socha said. “If we’re efficient on first down, then it will make the second down and third down playbook more wide open. We know it’s going to be a physical football game. We gotta come out and be ready to be more physical than those guys in all three phases of the game.”
Last season, Keiser took down Reinhardt in a hard-fought 14-12 victory that helped to give this program a level of relevance on the national scene in the NAIA ranks.
In that one, quarterback Eli Matthews led his team on a game-winning drive that resulted in the final score with less than a minute left.
“It was a dog fight,” Socha said. “We were up 7-0, and then they jumped on us. It was dead after that. It was 12-7 for a long, long time. It was a physical football game. Everything they did and everything we did, we had to earn it.”
Socha spoke more about that game.
“We got the ball at the 2-yard with 1:30 left,” Socha said. “We had 98 yards to go. There was no flinching in the huddle. We were going to get this thing done. The players pulled it off. They made some big time plays.”
Socha would prefer a smoother outcome this time.
“It was a tremendous game to be a part of,” Socha said. “I’m hoping it doesn’t come down to a 98-yard drive again.”
NOTE: The winner of this game will advance to the NAIA FCS semifinals, which will take place on Saturday, May 1.
PHOTO CREDITS: Keiser Football and Zoom
