Southeastern fell to Florida Memorial (Fla.), 31-16, in its The Sun Conference opener on Oct. 3 at Betty T. Ferguson Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Florida Memorial took a 17-0 lead after the first quarter and held a 24-10 advantage at halftime. The loss dropped Southeastern to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Southeastern responded in the second quarter with a 58-yard scoring drive that ended when Colton Dempsey scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 10:12 remaining in the half. Dempsey finished with 44 rushing yards on six carries. Florida Memorial answered with an 87-yard touchdown drive before Joel McGrath made a 52-yard field goal as time expired.
McGrath ties program record
McGrath made all three of his field-goal attempts for Southeastern. He connected from 52, 42 and 35 yards, with the 52-yard kick tying a Southeastern program record.
Southeastern controlled the third quarter, putting together a 12-play, 52-yard drive that ended with McGrath’s 42-yard field goal. The Fire also held Florida Memorial scoreless during the period, cutting the deficit to 24-13 entering the fourth quarter. Florida Memorial answered with a 77-yard touchdown pass early in the final period, and McGrath later added his third field goal with 7:45 remaining.
Southeastern statistical leaders
Zach Pleuss completed 21 of 42 passes for 248 yards. Jermaine Tyler Jr. led Southeastern with nine tackles, while Joshua Wilson Jr. recorded eight tackles. The recap listed Southeastern with 383 total yards and Florida Memorial (Fla.) with 419 total yards.
The team statistics table listed Southeastern with 390 total yards and Florida Memorial (Fla.) with 428 total yards. The table also listed Southeastern with 263 passing yards and 127 rushing yards, compared with 201 passing yards and 227 rushing yards for Florida Memorial (Fla.).
Upcoming schedule
Southeastern is scheduled to play at Thomas on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. The Fire will then host Webber International on Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. and No. 9 St. Thomas on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m.
The remaining listed games are at Warner on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m., against No. 2 Keiser on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m., and at Ave Maria on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Those games follow Southeastern’s 0-1 start in The Sun Conference.
FSB Take
Southeastern’s first-quarter deficit shaped the conference opener, but the Fire responded by outscoring Florida Memorial (Fla.) 3-0 in the third quarter. McGrath’s three field goals, including the program-record-tying 52-yarder, provided Southeastern’s clearest individual bright spot in the loss. The Fire now turn to their scheduled game at Thomas on Oct. 10.
Source: Original report