Southeastern edges Faulkner 10-6 in season opener
After a scoreless first quarter Southeastern’s Chris Bryant exploded up the middle for 53 yards setting up an 11-yard touchdown strike from Jonathan Pearce to Matthew Craig just two plays later giving the visitors a 7-0 lead heading into halftime.
Keithon Redding’s 54-yard kickoff return to start the second half landed the Eagles deep in Fire territory, but the momentum came to a grinding halt when Clayton Nicholas’ pass to Xavier Willis was intercepted by Mark Myers in the end zone three plays later.
Southeastern then thwarted another scoring effort when Blade Denmark blocked a Ryan Curran field goal attempt on Faulkner’s ensuing drive.
After the Eagle defense had forced consecutive three and out series, Faulkner again found itself within striking distance on the tail end of a 21-yard reception courtesy of Trent Miles.
The home team advanced inside the Fire 30-yard-line, but the defense drew the line there. Southeastern’s Robert Greenhouse forced and recovered a fumble from Faulkner quarterback Jordan Aubrey on a sack effort just moments later.
The Fire immediately capitalized on the turnover when Pearce connected with Tony Parnell on a 51-yard bomb to the Faulkner 3-yard-line. Another tremendous Eagle defensive stand held Southeastern to a field goal.
The Fire defense continued to cause damage as well, however. After a series of hard knocks left quarterbacks Nicholas and Aubrey trading in and out of play late in the third quarter, it was Nicholas’ fourth sack of the night that ultimately forced the offensive reins into Aubrey’s hands full time.
The freshman out of Theodore, Ala., helped spark Faulkner’s most impressive offensive series of the night with a 31-yard shot to a wide open Willis with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
Aubrey rounded out the 43 second drive with a bullet to Regan Amos who darted 43 yards down the home sideline with defenders in tow for the Eagles’ lone score of the evening. Faulkner missed the point after.
A botched onside kick gave Southeastern control of the clock with just under three minutes to play forcing Faulkner to burn its final timeout.
The Eagles again found new life when the defense came up big with another three and out stop, but a brilliant quick punt from Pearce pinned the Eagles inside their own 1-yard-line armed with just 1:31 to play.
Aubrey’s first toss out of the end zone was picked off by Jimiah Albritton.
Faulkner booked 352 total offensive yards, all of which came through the air after the team managed -1 yards on the ground.
Southeastern accumulated 177 yards rushing and 95 passing.
The event was the first in which Faulkner failed to score multiple touchdowns since its 27-10 loss to Georgetown in 2014.
Nicholas was 18-for-31 with 208 yards and three interceptions on the night.
Aubrey finished the game 7-for-17 with 131 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Joe Jones was a triple threat for the Eagles logging 59 yards on four catches, 43 yards on 10 carries and 14 yards passing.
Terrance Sims had 66 yards on four receptions for the Eagles, while Amos added 52 yards on four snags which included the 43-yard score.
Willis had 47 yards on four catches.
Josh Keys had 11 total tackles for the defense and Banton Price added nine more, including a pair of solo sacks.
“We’ve got the defense to make noise,” head coach Charlie Boren told his team after the loss, “but the offense has got to step up and do its job. You should never lose a football game when your hold your opponent to 10 points – never. We’ve got no one to blame but these black shirts right here. We’re going to find out what kind of character you’ve got now, men. Do you blame someone else? Do you let this knock you down? Or do you pick it up and get better?”
Faulkner will next host Bluefield College (Va.) at Billy D. Hilyer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.
