Edward Waters 20, Webber International 17

September 27, 2008

Jacksonville, FL-The fourth time was the charm for the Edward Waters Tigers (1-3, 1-1 SEAC) as they defeated their in-state and South East Atlantic Conference rival Webber International (0-4, 0-1 SEAC) by a final score of 20-17 in a matchup for mythical Florida NAIA Football Championship.

Freshman QB Mike McKenzie (Sanford, FL) got his first collegiate start against the Warriors as Senior QB Kamau Leitner nursed a leg injury suffered in last week's contest vs. Concordia. On the Tigers first possession of the game EWC drove the ball down to the Webber 31 yard line but on a third down play, McKenzie's pass was intercepted by DB Lionel McGriff and returned to the EWC 31 yard line. The Warriors capitalized on that opportunity and drove the ball 31 yards in seven play which culminated in an 18-yard TD by TB Rupert Webley TD run to make the score 7-0.

EWC hit the scoreboard in the second quarter as McKenzie engineered a 12 play, 75 yard drive which ended with an 8 yard swing pass to Junior TB Trenttonio Stewart (Middleburg, FL) which was taken to the end zone and knotted the score at 7. After the teams traded punts and turnovers on the next 4 possessions, the first half ended with WIU Kicker Thomas Baertschi nailing a 32-yard field goal to give Head Coach Kelly Scott's Warriors a 10-7 lead at the half.

In the first three contests of the season, Edward Waters has caved under the pressure in the second half being outscored 119-30, but the Tigers were determined not to allow that to happen for a fourth straight contest. EWC took the opening drive of the third quarter and Senior DB/K Nadens Madeus (Port St. Lucie, FL) hit a 32 yard field goal to tie the score at 10 for the only scoring in the quarter.Webber QB Joshua Capps was knocked out of the game midway through the third quarter which hampered the efficiency of the Warrior offense as emergency QB/WR Greg Sneed was called into action.

In the fourth quarter, Webber was sparked by a key third down and long conversion by Sneed to the EWC 24 yard line. WIU was rewarded with a 20 yard TD run by reserve TB Dwayne Sanders to give the Warriors a 17-10 lead with 13:30 remaining. EWC was not to be outdone as they responded with a 7 play, 60 yard drive which ended with a 21 yard TD pass from McKenzie to Senior WR Antonio Bellamy (Valdosta, GA) to tie the score at 17 apiece. After a Webber three and out, EWC drove the ball to the Webber 18 yard line which set up a Nadens Madeus 32 yard field goal attempt, but the kick sailed wide left. The EWC Defense put the clamps on the Warriors forcing another three and out with 2:44 remaining in the contest. McKenzie and the Tiger offense once again drove the ball into Warrior territory, but could get no further than the 25 yard line forcing another Madeus field goal attempt, this time from 42 yards out which would be his career long. Madeus nailed game winner with room to spare giving the Tigers a 20-17 victory.

This win not only was the first of the season, but was the first victory over their in-state rivals since 2004. EWC QB Mike McKenzie finished the contest with 21 completions on 37 attempts for 268 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. The Tigers were led on the ground by Trenttonio Stewart who finshed with 51 yards on 11 carries. Sophomore WR Johnathan Johnson (Miami, FL) led all recievers with 6 catches for 91 yards. Defensively, EWC was led by DBs Nadens Madeus and Jose Cheesbrough (Jacksonville, FL) who had 9 tackles combined.

EWC will return to the gridiron next Saturday as they celebrate Homecoming against the Patriots of George Mason at 3:00 at Earl S. Kitchings Stadium.