MONTGOMERY, Ala. – It was No. 10 Faulkner's home opener and for Southeastern, the Eagles' opponent here Saturday night, the game marked its first venture into the  intercollegiate football world. Both teams left Billy D. Hilyer Stadium with mostly positive vibes, however, as the Eagles stayed unbeaten with a 45-24 victory and the Fire showed competitive signs that are seldom seen in such an infant program.

The Eagles, behind the masterful and dominating performance of senior quarterback Terrell Robinson, led 38-3 headed to the fourth quarter before the Fire heated up. In front of one of the largest home crowds in three years, the visitors from Lakeland, Fla., scored three times in the fourth quarter, much to the delight of the hundreds of Southeastern fans who made their way to Montgomery for the historic night. It wasn't near enough to overcome the play of Robinson, who passed for 320 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a 121 yards and another score.

"I'm happy we won the game, but we have so many things we have to fix," Faulkner head coach Charlie Boren said. "Give Southeastern credit. Their team and their fans stayed in it until the end, and I think they're pretty good too. If we're going to compete in our league, though, we have to get a lot better and quit making some of the mistakes we're continuing to make."

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Faulkner (2-0) had 621 yards of total offense, with tailback Raquis Hale adding 127 yards on the ground. It was the first time in program history that the Eagles have had a pair of 100-yard rushers in a game. Despite his 441 all-purpose yards, Robinson was quick to point out that his team has a lot of improving to do if goals are to be met.

"You can't get to 3-0 unless you start 2-0, and we were able to do that, but we have to stay focused and continue to work hard through all four quarters," the Chattanooga transfer said. "It's one thing trying to figure it out during the game, but where we're going to improve is getting in the film room and studying the mistakes we're making and why we're making them. I know this – for a first game Southeastern played their hearts out and they're going to be a good team."

For the second straight week penalties were a problem for the Eagles, who committed 16 for 138 yards on the night. Last week in a 34-20 victory at Webber International, Faulkner committed 19 penalties for 150 yards. The game officials weren't one-sided, however, throwing 17 flags for 106 yards.

"That's just totally unacceptable," Robinson said. "If we don't correct that, it's going to get us beat somewhere down the road. We're going to get back to work tomorrow, and do our best to become a more sound football team."

Faulkner scored first with 3:38 to play in the opening quarter when Hale bulled into the end zone from two yards out, culminating a 73-yard, 12-play drive. Cameron Golob's extra point gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead. Faulkner struck again on its next possession, with  Robinson cutting across the field and outracing the entire Fire defense 33 yards  to the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Golob converted again, and the advantage was 14-0 after one quarter.

Southeastern placekicker Caleb Winter scored the Fire program's first-ever points early in the second quarter, making good on a 45-yard field goal attempt to trim the margin to 14-3. The field goal was set up after a fumble by receiver Rashad Pargo, who had caught a short pass from Robinson. The Eagles answered right back, with Robinson finding wideout Rob Lockhart for the first of two scoring connections, the first coming from 32 yards out with 9:13 to play in the second quarter. Golob's kick pushed it to 21-3, and his 26-yard field goal with six seconds left in the half handed Faulkner a 24-3 lead at intermission.

A 69-yard drive midway through the third quarter resulted in another Robinson-to-Lockhart scoring play, this one a 10-yard strike that added to the Faulkner lead. Golob's point-after made it 31-3. With three minutes left in the period the Eagles found themselves backed up deep in its own territory, but a little Robinson magic once again added to the lead. From his own 7-yard line, Robinson heaved a long pass downfield that was deflected by a Fire defender into the hands of Faulkner receiver Jazeric Peterson, who raced the final 40 yards to the end zone for the 93-yard score. Golob kicked it to 38-3, an advantage the Eagles took to the fourth quarter.

The Fire failed to go out in the closing 15 minutes, with quarterback Jayce Barber passing 22 yards to Sennua Lawson for their first touchdown on the opening play of the final  quarter. Will May added the extra point to make it 38-10. Robinson closed out the Faulkner scoring less than a minute later with his fourth scoring pass, finding wideout Gabe Chambers from 20 yards out. Southeastern scored the game's final two touchdowns – coming on 5- and 1-yard run by tailback Jarrell Williams. The three Fire scoring drives were 75, 75 and 60 yards. For the night, Barber was 18-of-36 for 194 yards for the Fire. His 65 yards rushing also led the Southeastern ground attack.

"We've got to finish games," Boren said. "We'll figure it out and will make some changes if we have to. We're still learning about this team."

Defensive back Dushonta Broughton picked off his second pass of the season for the Faulkner defense, which allowed 367 yards of total offense – 171 of which came in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Caleb Taylor had 10 total tackles, including five solo stops, to pace the Eagles' defensive effort. David Washington, Austin Kerr and Holden Keith each added eight total stops, while Keylan Smith pitched in seven. Tyson Kee's five solo tackles led the Fire effort.

Chambers and Lockhart both had seven catches to pace Faulkner receivers, with Chambers amassing 103 yards and Lockhart 93.

"I thought we did some good things on both sides of the ball," Boren said. "We just lack consistency right now, but the season is still young. It'll come, because we're going to keep working hard, like always."

Faulkner hosts Mid-South Conference foe Union next Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1:30 at Billy D. Hilyer Stadium.