For the first time in program history, the Keiser University football team claimed the NAIA Red Banner as National Champions, defeating the No. 1-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) Red Raiders, 31-21, on Monday afternoon.

The Seahawks dominated the ground game, rushing for 373 yards, including a career-high 261 yards by Jaden Meizinger. The Keiser running back had 22 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown run on the very first play of the game en route to being named the game’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Maurico Porcha led all receivers with two catches for 45 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Defensively, the Seahawks held the Red Raiders to just 51 yards on the ground, making it the 10^th game this season in which Keiser has held the opposition to under 100 yards rushing. Maddox Aprile was named the game’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, recording six tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and one strip sack.

Luis Lubin III had a crucial 77-yard kick return for a touchdown with 7:06 left in the game to put Keiser up 31-21. Lubin also picked off Jalyn Gramstad in the endzone with 5:02 left in the game, giving the ball back to the Seahawks with a chance to run out the clock.

The National Championship victory capped off the most-successful season in Keiser history as the Seahawks finished the year with a 12-2 record (12-0 in NAIA play). In just the sixth year of the program, the Seahawks improved to 55-15 all-time as Keiser made its second straight NAIA National Championship appearance.

Keiser Athletics is home to more than 800 student-athletes in 27 different sports. Athletic events are played in the West Palm Beach area, including five on the KU Flagship Campus (Keiser Multi-Purpose Field, Alumni Field, Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center, Arrigo-Vecellio Field, And Silvester Field). The Seahawks have amassed 18 National Championships, 57 conference regular season titles, 55 conference tournament crowns, four Sun Conference Commissioner’s Cups, and one LEARFIELD Director’s Cup Championship.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associates to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 1 in the U.S.in providing Social Mobility by U.S News and World Report in 2023.