The Seahawks also improved to 9-4 all-time in NAIA Football Championship Series.
(jasondannelly) Published Sunday, December 10, 2023 – 04:54 AM
The No. 3-ranked Keizer football team returns to the NAIA National Championship Game for the second year in a row, following a 28-21 win over the No. 11 Idaho College Yotes in the NAIA Football Championship Series semifinals on Saturday.
The Seahawks used four defensive stops in the red zone to pick up the team’s 11th win of the season (the most in school history). Holding the Yotes to 76 yards on the ground, the Seahawks earned the team’s 10th straight win of the season.
Jaden Meizinger was named Offensive Player of the Year in the semifinals, rushing for 86 yards on 20 carries with two rushing touchdowns. Defensive back Darrell Livingston was named the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Semifinals, recording a team-high 10 tackles, including two key stops in the red zone.
First Quarter
Keizer 3, College of Idaho 0
- After the Seahawks had the opening possession, Keizer’s defense was able to stop the Yotes on third down, but a muffed penalty gave the ball back to the Yotes on the Keizer eight-yard line with 10:34 remaining in the first.
- However, KU’s defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs after a College of Idaho drive back -18 yards.
- This will be the first of four red zone stops for the Seahawks on the day.
- After a Keizer punt, the Yotes drove into Keizer territory but a fumble recovered by Maddox Aprile stopped the scoring threat with 4:58 on the clock.
- From there, the Seahawks got their first goal of the day which ended with Nico Cavanellas’ 35-yard field goal.
- The score capped a seven-play, 29-yard drive that consumed 4:09.
Second Quarter
Keizer 20, College of Idaho 14
- The Yotes would start the second quarter moving the ball, getting to the Keizer three-yard line.
- Once again, Keizer’s defense stood tall in the red zone, stuffing the Yotes on fourth-and-1 as Darrell Livingston and Jaelin Willis stopped wide receiver Jon Schofield on the three-yard line with 12:46 remaining in the half.
- After the Seahawks were forced to punt, the Yotes drove into the red zone and got their first touchdown of the game on a seven-yard run as Andy Peters connected with John Cribbs (10:11).
- Up by three, the Seahawks responded with two big throws from Bryce Veasley to Maurico Porcha (20 yards) and Refeno Vangates (43 yards) giving Keizer a first-and-goal from the Yotes five-yard line.
- KU converted a scoring opportunity two plays later with a five-yard rushing touchdown by Jaden Meizinger (7:34).
- On the ensuing possession, COI went on a scoring drive, driving 75 yards in seven plays, capping the drive with a nine-yard run from Peters to Cripps (3:14).
- Once again, the Seahawks were unfazed, and went on a three-play, 50-yard scoring drive that marked Meizinger’s second touchdown of the day, this one from within a yard, giving Keizer a 17-14 lead.
- The Seahawks ended the half with the ball as Cavanellas nailed a 32-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in the half.
Third quarter
Keizer 20, College of Idaho 14
- The Yotes started the second half with the ball, methodically moving 74 yards down the field, all the way to the Keizer one-yard line.
- At that point, the Seahawks made another stop on fourth down when Livingston and Hunter Hargrave stopped Schofield on the KU one-yard line, marking the team’s third red stop of the game.
The fourth quarter
Keizer 28, College of Idaho 21
- Early in the fourth, Keizer got off to a fast start with a 33-yard bomb from Veasley to Vangates that set up Keizer for a first down in Yotes territory.
- Andrew Burnett later chipped in 23 yards to give Keizer first-and-goal on the COI five-yard line.
- Two plays later, Burnett launched himself over the offensive line for a quick two-yard score (11:38).
- Veasley and Burnette would connect on a pass play to convert the two-point conversion, giving Keizer a 28-14 lead.
- The Yotes countered with an 11-play drive that ended with a 1-yard passing score on a trick play from Schofield to Hruby (7:20 remaining in the game).
- COI got the ball back with 2:11 left in the game, leading by seven.
- The Yotes drove down to the KU three-yard line (2nd and goal).
- Willis’ tackle for loss set it up on third-and-goal from the KU four-yard line.
- After an incomplete pass put it on fourth down, Luis Lubin III broke up a pass attempt in the end zone to seal the win for the Seahawks.
Game notes
- With the win, Keizer improved to 11-2 on the year.
- The 11 wins in one season are the most in program history.
- The Seahawks remain perfect versus NAIA teams this season (11-0).
- The Seahawks also improved to 9-4 all-time in NAIA Football Championship Series.
- The Seahawks are now 2-1 all-time in NAIA semifinals.
- With the win, Keizer improves to 1-0 all-time against the Yotes.
- With the win, the Seahawks return to the NAIA National Championship for the second year in a row.
- The win raises the Seahawks to 54-15 all-time.
- The win also improved Keizer to 28-4 all-time in games at Keizer Multi-Purpose Stadium.
- Keizer is now 18-7 all-time against ranked teams.
- Keizer now improves to 3-1 all-time during the month of December.
- The Seahawks held the Yotes to just 76 yards rushing, the ninth time Keizer has held an opponent under 100 yards this season.
the next
The Seahawks will face the Northwestern (Iowa) Raiders on Monday, December 18 in the NAIA National Championship game. Kickoff from Durham County Memorial Stadium (Durham, North Carolina) is set for noon (ET).
Football game results
In a thrilling matchup, No. 3 Keizer pulled off a hard-fought victory over No. 11 College of Idaho, with a final score of 28-21. The game was filled with intense plays, momentum swings, and standout performances from both teams. It was a game that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle blew. The victory solidified Keizer’s position as a top contender in the league, while College of Idaho showed their resilience and talent in a closely contested matchup.