FMU Looking To Play Spoiler At Southeastern Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (2-8, 1-4) at Southeastern University Fire (7-3, 4-1)
When: Saturday, November 13, 2021
Where: Southeastern University, Lakeland, Fla. | Victory Field
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: $11 Adult/$5 Youth Online | $14 Adult/$7 Youth At Booth (Purchase)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University can end its season on a high note this weekend, potentially winning consecutive – conference – games for the first time in the modern-era of the program, while also playing the role of spoiler when it travels to Lakeland, Florida to take on Southeastern University Saturday night at 7 p.m. at SEU's Victory Field.

Fans will be able to attend Saturday's game, which will be the regular season finale for both teams, by purchasing tickets online via Southeastern's athletic website or at the Victory Field ticket booths. The game will also be streamed live online by SEU and will be able to be viewed free of charge.

It's motivation enough for Florida Memorial (2-8, 1-4 Mid-South Conference Sun Division) to put together a strong performance this weekend as to end its 2021 season with a win and create some momentum heading into the offseason. However, there's a bonus to upsetting Southeastern in what will be the first-ever football meeting between the programs in that a loss by the Fire Saturday knocks them out of the contention for MSC-Sun Division Title.

Southeastern, Keiser University, and Ave Maria University all have 4-1 conference records heading into the weekend. Keiser and Ave Maria square off against each other Saturday night at the same time of the Lions-Fire game.

Florida Memorial rides into the weekend riding high coming off its historic, come-from-behind homecoming victory against Webber International University. The Lions rallied from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit thanks to a pair of Warriors turnovers – including a modern-era record-setting 31-yard pick-six by Darius Conley – as quarterback Demarcus McEachern scored two of his three touchdowns in the final 10 minutes to power the 34-31 win.

FMU set a new modern-era program record for most total carries in a game with 63 rushes for 302 yards, led by Amir Brown's career-high 104 yards.

McEachern was credited with 21 carries, though most came on scrambles on passing plays and the seven sacks he took, for just 16 yards but he ran for two big scores during FMU's late rally and ended up completing 8-of-11 passes for 59 yards and a TD pass to Markell Lee.

Despite the 31 points allowed, the Lions' defense did have a productive day against Webber International. Florida Memorial allowed just 285 total yards of offense and forced five total turnovers – three interceptions and two fumbles.

Trying to recreate that kind of performance against Southeastern (7-3, 4-1) will be more of a formidable task for the Lions, though.

The Fire have won their past four games, including victories over ranked opponents in Keiser and St. Thomas University, playing "buttoned-up football" – playing a solid brand of football on both sides and taking full advantage of its opponents' mistakes.

SEU's offensive scheme skews more towards its ground game, largely because of its massive offensive line. The Fire's five starting offensive linemen average 6-foot-4, 320 pounds across and they've paved running lanes for running back Lonnie Parker, who has rushed for a team-leading 906 yards and 6 touchdowns this season.

If Southeastern's rushing attack finds a rhythm early, it could limit the number of offensive possessions that Florida Memorial gets Saturday, meaning the Lions' offense cannot afford to have any lulls in productivity.

McEachern's ability to connect with receivers will be paramount as the Fire will likely bring extra defenders down around the line of scrimmage to try to stymie FMU's run game. Jumping out to an early lead, perhaps electing to receive the ball if they win the coin toss, could be beneficial to the Lions as put the Fire in position to play "catch up" and maybe abandon its own run game.

Florida Memorial head coach Tim Harris Sr. said that his team must continue to build on its positives and limit its negatives against the Fire Saturday.

"I feel like we've been trying to turn the corner in the way we cut down on our mistakes that lead to big plays or points for the other team," Harris said. "We've been starting to generate some of those kinds of plays for ourselves, especially this past week [against Webber International], and we showed the kind of heart and resilience that it takes to be a good football team."

"We cannot beat ourselves with mistakes against a team like Southeastern," Harris added. "We have to find what is working for us and make sure we do that to the best of our ability."

Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | Twitter: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#6 Darius Conley: DB; 5' 10"; Freshman

#11 Markell Lee: WR; 6' 1"; Freshman

#17 Demarcus McEachern: QB; 5' 10"; Freshman

#24 Amir Brown: RB; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#6 Darius Conley
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: DB

#11 Markell Lee
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: WR

#17 Demarcus McEachern
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: QB

#24 Amir Brown
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: RB

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned