WEST PALM BEACH – The Keizer University Seahawks are back in the NAIA championship game.
barely.
Cornerback Louis Lubin broke up a fourth-down pass in the end zone with 26.4 seconds to play on Saturday, allowing the Seahawks to escape with a 28-21 semifinal win over College of Idaho and setting up a rematch in the NAIA final.
Third-seeded Keizer (11-2) will face top-seeded Northwestern College of Iowa (14-0) on Dec. 18 in Durham, North Carolina. The Raiders beat the Seahawks 35-25 in last year’s championship game.
“Very proud of these guys,” Kaiser coach Doug Socha said. “It was a back-and-forth game. … We had a really dangerous quarterback.”
The Seahawks appeared to have the game in hand when they led 28-14 at the start of the fourth quarter. But the 11th-seeded Utes (10-3), who beat second-seeded Grand View of Iowa in the quarterfinals, cut the deficit to one score and then mounted a potential game-tying drive that died on the Seahawks’ 4-yard line. .
“I was planning on working overtime, obviously you have to because you’re in this situation,” Socha said. “It was an amazing performance by our defense and I’m so glad we didn’t have to go to extra time.”
Linebackers Jaden Meisinger and Andrew Burnette combined for 170 yards and three touchdowns for the Seahawks, and Nico Cavanellas kicked two field goals. Meisinger, who carried 20 times for 86 yards and two scores, was the offensive player of the game.
But it was the defense that came in the clutch and stopped Idaho four times inside the 10-yard line. Yotes quarterback Andy Peters threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, but the Seahawks had four sacks and were able to contain the damage.
Defensive back Darrell Livingston, who had a team-high 10 tackles, was the Defensive Player of the Game.
After a slow first quarter, Keizer rallied and scored 17 points in the second quarter to take a 20-14 lead into halftime.
Cavanellas hit a 35-yard field goal for the only points of the first half, while the defense held off two early scoring threats by the Utes.
On first down, Keizer fumbled a punt and Idaho recovered at the Seahawks’ 9-yard line. Two tackles for losses helped get the ball back to the 27, and Peters’ fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
Later in the period, Peters completed three consecutive passes totaling 57 yards to give the Yotes their first down of the Seahawks’ 12. On third-and-2 from the 4, Keizer stuffed two straight plays to force a turnover on downs.
Idaho finally broke through on its next possession, assisted by Caden Cobb’s 30-yard run. Peters threw a 7-yard pass to John Cribbs to give the Yotes a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.
The teams traded touchdowns on the next three possessions.
Keizer hit right back, with Bryce Veasley connecting on passes of 20 yards to Maurico Porcha and 43 yards to Refeno Vangates to set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Meizinger.
After Idaho regained the lead on a 9-yard scoring pass from Peters to Krebs, Lubin pushed back the ensuing kickoff to the 50th minute to set up a quick three-play scoring drive. Meisinger sprinted 39 yards on a reverse to set up a 1-yard touchdown run of his own, giving the Seahawks a 17-14 lead.
Cavanellas added a 32-yard field goal with 5.2 seconds left in the first half.
The Yotes started the second half moving right down the field behind a pass from Peters. On fourth-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line, the Seahawks defense came up big again, stuffing a running play to keep the score at 20-14.
After a scoreless third quarter, Keizer put together an 11-play, 88-yard drive. Burnett carried eight times, going 23 yards before scoring on a 2-yard dive. Veasley passed to Burnette for the two-point conversion to make it 28-14 with 11:38 remaining.
But the Utes refused to leave. Facing fourth-and-10 from the Seahawks 26, Peters completed a 20-yard pass to John Schofield. Two plays later, Schofield took a direct snap, faked a run right and flipped a 1-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Ben Hruby to cut the Seahawks’ lead to 28-21 with 7:18 remaining.
Idaho had one last chance, taking possession at the Keizer 41 with 2:11 remaining after a short punt. Peters ran for 9 yards and threw a 25-yard pass to Cribbs to give the Yotes a first down at 7. Three plays later, Lubin made the defensive play of the game to clinch the Seahawks’ trip to Durham.
The Keizer Football team has had an incredible season, earning themselves a spot in the NAIA Semifinals against the College of Idaho. With their unwavering determination and impressive skill, the team has proven themselves as formidable opponents on the field. As they gear up to face off against the College of Idaho in the upcoming semifinal game, Keizer Football is poised to showcase their talent and perseverance, and hopefully secure their spot in the championship game. The anticipation and excitement surrounding this matchup are at an all-time high, and fans can’t wait to see what the Keizer Football team will bring to the field.