WEST PALM BEACH – For the most part, Keiser set the tone for how it wanted to operate against fellow Sun Conference rival St. Thomas.
The NAIA clash between the nation’s No. 9 team (Keiser) and No. 16 team (St. Thomas) was a back-and-forth affair to start the first quarter. Both teams traded scores on their first offensive possessions, respectively.
Watch below to see how both teams quickly ended up in an early 7-7 tie.
13:06 1st: @STU_Football is up 7-0 over @KeiserFootball @keeleywatson12: 1-yard TD run@aleprado2025: XP good (1-for-1)@Coach_Rychel @SunConference @NAIA @NAIAFBALL pic.twitter.com/abOeaRSN8H
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) October 7, 2023
11:28 1st: First offensive possession for @KeiserFootball did not go far.
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) October 7, 2023
But we got an amazing punt here by @MatthewDisisto as he pinned the @STU_Football team to its 4-yard line.@coachSocha @Coach_Gonzo1357 @SCanyonsFB pic.twitter.com/8C5EzeL2Xn
9:08 1st: @KeiserFootball ties the game up with @STU_Football at 7-7
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) October 7, 2023
TE D’Andre Golden: 14-yard TD @CreberLuke: XP good (1-for-1)
TD set up by long punt return by @wendolphilord12 @coachSocha @SunConference @NAIAFBALL @NAIA pic.twitter.com/Jsi3jJN7SX
From that point on, it was mainly about Keiser.
There were several drives in which neither team gained much in terms of yardage. But when it mattered the most in the first half, Keiser (3-2; 2-0 in Sun Conference) came through.
Watch below to see how Keiser started to pull away from St. Thomas (3-3; 1-1 in Sun Conference) en route to a 21-7 halftime lead.
End 1st: @KeiserFootball has a 14-7 lead over @STU_Football @JadenMeizinger: 3-yard TD run with 19.6 seconds left in the first quarter @CreberLuke: XP good (2-for-2)@coachSocha @SunConference @NAIAFBALL @NAIA pic.twitter.com/ScQUhF8qpm
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) October 7, 2023
HALFTIME: @KeiserFootball has a 21-7 lead over @STU_Football @bry0e: 8-yard TD pass on third down to @_vfeno8 with 2:09 left in the second quarter@CreberLuke: XP good (3-for-3)@coachSocha @SunConference @NAIAFBALL @NAIA pic.twitter.com/iABNI0ekRI
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) October 7, 2023
It was a mostly defensive effort in the third quarter for both teams.
The only notable action in this particular frame happened when St. Thomas used its momentum to cut Keiser’s lead to 21-14 with 4:02 left in the third quarter.
The Bobcats scoring was a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Keely Watson to wide receiver C’Quon Jnopierre, followed by an extra point from kicker Alejandro Prado.
4:02 3rd: @STU_Football cuts the lead for @KeiserFootball to 21-14@keeleywatson12: 2-yard TD pass@aleprado2025: XP good (1-for-1)@Coach_Rychel @SunConference @NAIA @NAIAFBALL pic.twitter.com/GIU2RHi8Lw
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) October 8, 2023
From that point on, it was all about Keiser keeping the score intact until the final buzzer.
How did Keiser get it done?
A weather delay occurred at the 14:31 mark of the fourth quarter, with St. Thomas having the momentum just prior to it and right after the game resumed.
But Keiser had other plans.
St. Thomas did not go too far on its offensive possession. When the game got past the 10:00 mark, the Keiser defense came through with key stops and ended any comeback hopes in the process.
Keiser would get the ball back on a punt return at the 9:42 mark of fourth quarter. From there until less than three minutes left, the home team used ball control to kill the clock.
There was one last drive for St. Thomas at the 2:43 mark. For the sake of brevity, we will say that the Bobcats did not get past its own 25-yard line.
Watch the last two plays of the game that sealed the deal for Keiser.
1:03 4th: @STU_Football has the ball at its own 25-yard line.
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) October 8, 2023
But it’s fourth down.@KeiserFootball is going for the win on the next play. pic.twitter.com/NorQ4M35dO
:57.8 4th: @STU_Football fails to convert on fourth-and-3 at its own 25-yard line.@KeiserFootball will get the ball back due to a turnover on downs.
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) October 8, 2023
Score now: Keiser 21 – St. Thomas 14@SunConference @NAIA @NAIAFBALL pic.twitter.com/s82mXMN6nN
TOTAL YARDS
Keiser: 59 plays for 238 total yards
St. Thomas: 63 plays for 327 total yards
TOP PERFORMERS: ST. THOMAS
QB Keely Watson: 12-of-33 passing, 158 yards, 1 TD; 6 carries, 28 yards, 1 TD
WR C’Quon Jnopierre: 4 catches, 46 yards, 1 touchdown; 3 carries, 33 yards
Armond Anderson: 10 tackles
K. Wilson II: 10 tackles
TOP PERFORMERS: KEISER
QB Bryce Veasley: 10-of-13 passing, 151 yards, 2 touchdowns; 7 carries, 11 yards, 1 touchdown
RB Jaden Meizinger: 25 carries, 97 yards; 1 catch, 30 yards; 127 total yards
WR D’Andre Golden: 4 catches, 53 yards, 1 touchdown
WR Refeno Vangates: 1 catch, 8 yards for the touchdown
Jaelin Willis: 8 tackles
Tivon Sutton: 5 tackles
PHOTO CREDITS: Alison Vilela
