Former Kathleen, Lakeland football coach Kenny Strong thrives in first Southeastern game; Southeastern, Warner win games

Kenny Strong told his running backs to keep their shoulders square at the line of scrimmage, make one cut and get vertical. Strong also preached falling forward.

This daily enlightenment worked, as Southeastern running back Josiah Neos ran forward, fell forward for an eventual 2-yard touchdown. Neos racked up 11 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, Southeastern football won its fourth Week 1 game in a row, blowing out North American University 54-13 on Saturday at home.

Strong's football career in Lakeland thrives

Strong has been successful as a football coach for the last two-plus decades. Most recently, he was the Kathleen head football coach for the last three years before taking the running backs coaching job at Southeastern in June.

Before the new college opportunity and the Kathleen job opened in 2020, Strong was an assistant football coach for four high schools — Auburndale, Bartow, Lake Gibson, and Lakeland — coaching every position. Strong was on the Lakeland staff that won the state title in 2018.

Long before a state title, Strong graduated from Lakeland in 2004 before using an academic scholarship to go to college at Florida A&M. And leading up to his graduation, he played running back, quarterback and defensive back at Lakeland.

Strong took his Polk County coaching experience to another level on Saturday. And he said he couldn’t get enough of the moment.

“…I loved it. I enjoyed it,” Strong said. “I’m a local guy, so I’m from Lakeland. … It was fun being a hometown guy. I’ve got family that lives over in the Southeastern area, so I kind of grew up hanging around in that area. So just being able to pass by that school every day. Or throughout the summer, just hanging out, and actually being a part of the football program, and being a part of that history and coaching there is kind of (cool). My goal has always been to coach at the college level so it was a dream come true. …”

Strong earned his way to this college position, winning Tampa Bay Buc’s Coach of the Week after winning a home game for the first time in two years in 2020, while also helping to fulfil nine student-athletes' dreams of playing football on the next level: Under Strong’s tutelage, Justin Butts signed his John Hancock to Warner, Jordan Gant signed to Tennessee State, Jeremiah Jackson went to Eastern Michigan, Damaries Glover took his talents to Minnesota Mountain West, Alex Bledsoe eventually would on to Southeastern, Terrance Broome is at Webber International Universal, KyAndre Anderson-Cobbett and Mathew Almanzar went on to Ellsworth Community College, and Nyjah Wooten processed his way to Catawba College.

Strong enjoys Southeastern experience

But the Lakeland native isn’t basking in old glory. Rather, he’s looking ahead to see if his running backs can build on a successful Week 1.

“It’s always great to start a season with a big win — it was in front of the home crowd,” Strong said. “Even with the success that we had, when we look at the film, we still have a lot of things that we can improve on. So we are just eager to get back to practice, kind of work out some of the kinks there and just continue to make improvements and strides throughout the season.”

Southeastern first half takes care of North American University

The Fire threw a haymaker in the first half en route to a 54-13 win.

After two quarters of play, Southeastern went up 44-0 thanks to a Neos touchdown, a 22-yard fumble recovery touchdown from safety Eddie Davis, an NAU safety, a quarterback Kaylan Wiggins 34-yard touchdown pass to Tray Jackson, a running back Bryan Bell 1-yard touchdown, a 39-yard pick-six from defensive back Khalid Scott and a Wiggins 3-yard TD.

The final scoring plays of the game on the SEU side were a 25-yard field goal from kicker Ashton Garner and a Neos 5-yard touchdown.

Wiggins was 12 for 16 for 204 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and he also ran the ball six times for 94 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Shane McLaughlin had three receptions for 108 yards; Devonte Bowie caught the ball five times for 64 yards; and Jackson had four receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, defensive back Ryan Cunningham managed five tackles.

Southeastern (1-0) will next play Savannah State (0-0) 6 p.m., Saturday on the road.

Webber blows out Lincoln

Webber International won its first game in Week 1 in four years after smashing Lincoln University 35-10 on Saturday at home.

The game ended at halftime due to thunder and lightning. But the damage was already done with Webber putting up 263 yards of total offense. The Webber defense also forced two turnovers.

Scoring plays were a quarterback Cody Braden 34-yard touchdown connection to Jacob Moss, a running back Terry Weems Jr. 33-yard touchdown, a 5-yard touchdown rush from all-conference running back Tremon Bright, a Braden to receiver Julian Cervantes 28-yard touchdown hookup and a Braden to receiver Dashaun Young 45-yard touchdown catch.

Braden was 9-for-12 for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Weems rushed the rock six times for 49 yards and two touchdowns. And Cervantes caught the ball three times for 53 yards and a score.

Defensive back Parker Snead produced five total tackles.

Webber (1-0) will next play Cumberland University (1-0) 1:30 p.m., Saturday on the road.

Warner drops first game of season

Warner lost to Keiser University 44-7 Saturday at home.

Royal quarterback Evan Eshback went 9 for 16 for 111 yards, a touchdown and an interception. And receiver Evens Valcourt had four receptions for 69 yards and touchdown.

The Royals lone scoring play was an Eshback to Valcourt 48-yard touchdown connection.

Warner (0-1) will take on the University of West Florida (0-0) 6 p.m. Saturday on the road.

Webber’s Saliba wins award

Former Polk County Player of the Year and Winter Haven baseball player Matt Saliba earned the American Baseball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year.

Some criteria examined included expertise, recruiting, loyalty to the program and respect for the players and the game.

Saliba, entering his fifth season as the assistant at Webber, will be honored with 10 other winners on the main clinic hall stage Jan. 6 at the 79th annual ABCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: college football