Lakeland, FL – The Webber International Football team traveled to Victory Stadium in Lakeland, Florida for a game against SUN Conference and Polk County Rival Southeastern University. The Warriors were overpowered by the Fire, dropping the game 45-0.

Southeastern received the opening kickoff, which Zachary Van Fleet sailed into the endzone for a touchback. The Fire proceeded to drive down the field and find the endzone on a 13-yard rush to take a 7-0 lead. Ricky Sampson completed his first pass to Kenneth Davis, and Terry Weems Jr had a five-yard rush to give the Warriors a first down. Three straight incompletions would force the Warriors into a punt, with Jaxson Rivera pinning the Fire on their own 25. Southeastern drove down the field again, finding the endzone to make it 14-0 Southeastern. After two rushes from Weems Jr, Trent Grotjan completed a 13-yard pass to Antonio Dawson for a first down. Weems Jr then had multiple plus rushes but not enough for a first down, to bring the game to the second quarter.

Rivera punted again to start the second quarter, putting Southeastern on their own 20. A 45-yard completion set the Fire up in Warrior territory, and four plays later the Fire were in the endzone again, making it 21-0. After a two-yard rush, Grotjan had back-to-back incompletions, and with the Warriors going for it on fourth down, would be sacked. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was also issued after the play, setting up Southeastern on the Webber 16. Southeastern found the endzone for the fourth time, making it 28-0. Grotjan completed a pass to Asaivien McWilliams for seven yards, before a three-yard rush gave Webber a first down, with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty adding another 16-yards to the play. Grotjan found Tim Young for a 10-yard completion and a penalty on the Fire gave the Warriors the ball on the Fire 29. On 3^rd and 12 from the 31, Weems Jr broke out for a 21-yard rush, but would have the ball knocked out by the Fire, fumbling the ball inside the 10-yard line, and turning it over. Southeastern's ensuing drive was run heavy, but the Warriors were able to keep them from crossing midfield, forcing a punt with 1:42 left on the clock. Operating in a two minute drill, Grotjan completed three straight passes to Keyon Dickens, McWilliams, and Young. On 3^rd and 1, a face mask penalty gave the Warriors 16-yards and an automatic first down at the Southeastern 37. After an incompletion, Grotjan would throw an interception for the Warriors second turnover of the game, as they went to half down 28-0.

To open the second half, Davis took the kick 48-yards to the Southeastern 47, setting the Warriors up in plus territory. On 1^st down, the Warriors ran a hook-and-ladder with Dickens and Weems Jr, gaining 11-yards for the first. On 4^th and 5, Grotjan completed a pass to D'Markus Mathis, but would be two-yards short, as Webber turned the ball over on downs. Southeastern was able to get multiple chunk plays and found themselves in goal-to-go. The Warriors were able to hold the Fire to a field goal, making it 31-0. After a rush from Weems Jr, and a completion to Darren Johnson, Grotjan was intercepted again on 1^st down. Southeastern started with the ball in Warrior territory, and found the endzone once more, making it 38-0. A personal foul penalty after a Weems Jr three-yard rush put the Warriors back in Fire territory. A three-yard rush from Mathis and a one-yard rush from Sampson followed by an incompletion had the Warriors with 4^th and 6 to go. Sampson found McWilliams for a 10-yard first down as the game headed to the fourth quarter.

Sampson completed passes to Avery Giddens and McWilliams for another first down, with Mathis rattling off an eight-yard rush on first down. Dawson caught a nine-yard pass on second down and after an incompletion on third down, the Fire had a pass interference penalty called on them to give the Warriors the ball on the two-yard line. Sampson got one yard, before Mathis was stuffed and a pass to Dickens was incomplete. A penalty on the Warriors put the ball on the 15, and an incomplete pass turned the ball over on downs again. Southeastern had a meticulous 14 play drive for another touchdown, making the score 45-0. Sampson broke out on first down for a 42-yard rush, putting the Warriors in Fire territory once again. Sampson completed a 17-yard pass to Keyon Stephens to bring Webber into the redzone. Dj Loriston and Jahseim Lesaine both caught passes before Sampson was sacked on third down. Davaughn Thomas caught the 4th down pass, but was tackled a yard short, and the Warriors turned the ball over. After one play, the time expired as the Warriors fell to the Fire 45-0.

The Warriors were led defensively by Caden Morrell with 10 total tackles including two for loss. Matthew Smiciklas had five tackles. Tre' Mobley also had five tackles including a sack. Harper Henson also had a sack.

As of now, the Warriors will be back in action on Saturday, October 12^th when they travel to Thomasville, Georgia to take on the Thomas Nighthawks.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on Warrior Athletics. Please visit www.webberathletics.com. Follow us on Twitter- @WebberAthletics, Instagram- @Webber_Athletics, and Facebook by searching Webber International University Athletics.