MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Lions’ miracle season comes to an end as they fall to the fourth ranked team in the NAIA, Keiser, by the score of 44-13 at Betty T. Ferguson Stadium. The loss eliminates the chance of sharing the 2023 SUN Football title as 14 seniors were honored in front of a packed house.
FMU quarterback Ceduan Smith completed 19-of-36 passes for 164 yards, including one touchdown and one interception while teammate Jamal Browder led the Lions with three receptions, 55 yards receiving and a touchdown. Fellow Lion Keon Brown snagged a late touchdown, but it was too little too late for FMU, who falls to 5-2 in SUN play, just one year after failing to win a single conference game.
On the defensive end, senior linebacker Joshua Mimms led the way with eight total tackles, including one tackle for loss while teammate Kaven Mwikuta added six tackles to go along with one sack.
Senior quarterback Antoine Williams came in relief of Smith and finished 5-of-6 for 39 yards passing and one touchdown.
The Lions finish the season 6-4 overall, which is their best finish in the modern era since the program resurfaced in 2020. FMU boasted the number one offense (statistically) for the majority of the year, and led by second year head coach Bobby Rome, have been dubbed one of the most improved teams in the entire NAIA by ESPN.
