No. 11 Keiser Advances to NAIA FCS Quarterfinals with 16-13 Win at No. 6 Reinhardt

Football | Sat, Nov. 20, 2021 at 5:25 PM

Story by: Keiser University Athletics

NAIA Football Championship Series First Round
Score: No. 11 Keiser 16, No. 6 Reinhardt 13
Records: No. 11 Keiser (9-2), No. 6 Reinhardt (9-3)
Location: Ken White Field, Waleska, Ga.
Time of Game: 12:00 PM
Weather: 50 degrees, Clear Skies

With just over a minute to play, Amari Hayes picked off Billy Hall’s pass and sent the No. 11 Keiser football team to the NAIA Football Championship Quarterfinals as they defeated No. 6 Reinhardt, 16-13, Saturday afternoon.

First Quarter

Keiser 0, Reinhardt 0

Reinhardt won the toss and elected to receive the opening kick, sending the Keiser defense to work first.
A sack on third down by Marc Laurore and Victor Alvarez Jr. forced an Eagles punt, allowing Johnathan Mosley and the Keiser offense to take the field.
The Seahawks threatened on their opening drive reaching the Reinhardt five-yard line but a fumble on the handoff ended the drive as 4:46 remained in the quarter.
The score remained locked at 0-0 through the first quarter of play.

Second Quarter
Keiser 3, Reinhardt 6

Reinhardt quickly got on the board to open the second quarter as Isaiah Blake found the end zone from one-yard out with 13:43 left in the half. James Hardy’s extra point was no good, making the score 6-0 in favor of the Eagles.
Following punts from both sides, the KU offense got on the board with a 24-yard field goal by Chance Gagnon at the 3:39 mark.

Third Quarter
Keiser 10, Reinhardt 6

Caleb Walls provided a much-needed spark for the Seahawks as the junior took the opening kick of the second half 91 yards to the house. After Gagnon’s extra point, KU led 10-6 at the 14:45 mark.
The Seahawks defense responded with a fourth-down stop on the ensuing Reinhardt possession. 
Keiser failed to keep the momentum going though as Mosley was stopped at the RU one-yard line on fourth and goal.
With 1:35 left in the quarter, the Seahawks looked to extend their lead but Gagnon’s kick from 47 yards missed wide left.

Fourth Quarter
Keiser 16, Reinhardt 13

Blake and the Eagles jumped back in front with 5:41 left in the contest as the senior registered his second rushing touchdown of the day with a three-yard score. Hardy’s extra point was good, making the score 13-10 in favor of Reinhardt.
Keiser answered with a nine-play 75-yard drive that was capped off by a strong 12-yard run by Burgess with 2:19 left on the clock. Gagnon’s extra point was no good as the Seahawks held a 16-13 lead.
During the drive, runs by Jerson Jacques (18 yards) and Mosley (17 yards) helped keep the chains moving, setting up the Burgess touchdown run.
Hayes sealed the win for Keiser on the ensuing RU possession as the junior picked off Hall’s pass with 1:17 left in the contest.
Hall and the Eagles were able to get off one final play after the Seahawks turned it over on downs but the pass fell incomplete, sending Keiser to the NAIA FCS Quarterfinals.

Game Notes

• Saturday’s contest marked the third straight year the two programs have met, including the second consecutive postseason meeting.
• With the win, Keiser is now 3-0 against the Eagles.
• In postseason play, the Seahawks improved to 3-2 and 1-1 on the road all-time.
• Against teams from the state of Georgia, KU is now 4-0 all-time.
• The victory improves Keiser to 5-1 on the road this season and 15-5 all-time.
• In the month of November, the Seahawks are 5-2 all-time.
• Against teams ranked in the Top 25, Keiser improved to 9-5.
• Saturday’s win moved the Seahawks to 3-3 all-time against teams in the Top 10.
• Burgess surpassed the century mark for the ninth consecutive game with 155 yards on the ground.
• Hayes’ interception was his first of the season.
• Jaelin Willis, Alessandro Cantillo, Laurore and Alvarez Jr. were all credited with a sack in the win.
• Willis led the Seahawks with 11 tackles in the win.
• Defensively, Keiser held Reinhardt to 28 points below their season average.
• Overall, the Seahawks outgained Reinhardt 258-233.

Passing

• Mosley: 6-of-11 passing for 24 yards

Rushing

• Burgess: 37 carries for 155 yards and one touchdown
• Mosley: 12 attempts for 49 yards

Receiving Leaders

• Jacques: Three catches for 32 yards

Defensive

• Willis: 11 tackles, six solo, one tackle for loss and one sack
• Wesley Scott: Eight tackles, five solo
• Byron Fraley: Eight tackles, a half tackle for loss
• Cantillo: Eight tackles and a half sack

Up Next
Keiser will advance to the NAIA FCS Quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 27. The NAIA will release the quarterfinal matchups tomorrow. Stay tuned to kuseahawks.com for all the latest information.