Miller Tabbed Coach of the Year as 17 Players Named All-Conference

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

COLUMBIA, Ky. – After claiming the Appalachian Division championship of the Mid-South Conference (MSC) for the fourth-consecutive season last Saturday following a 63-0 blowout of Union (Ky.), No. 13 Reinhardt earned 17 players combined on the league's first and second teams, conference officials announced on Wednesday.

Additionally, after guiding the team once again to the NAIA Football Championship Series, lead Eagle James Miller was selected as the 2019 Ron Finley Appalachian Division Coach of the Year.

The hometown squad (9-2, 6-0 MSC) outgained the Bulldogs, 471-84, despite emptying its bench early to get much-needed playing time for student-athletes who are going to be counted on in the playoffs. Reinhardt wasted no time jumping out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to big plays.

Otis Odom got the party started with a 29-yard touchdown run down the right-side, and then a play-action pass to Navarie Solomon followed for a 60-yard score. In what could be one of the highlights of the year, senior offensive lineman Tre Coney rumbled his way into the paint on a one-yard run for a 21-0 lead following a blocked punt.

The running game would continue to dominant the rest of the way – specifically Montralius Mosley (MSC Appalachian Offensive Player of the Week) – as he scored on runs of 10, 20 and 56 yards. Three additional running backs: Quany Bostic (13-yarder), Nick Harris (19-yarder) and Ahmad Barron (8-yarder) all found the end zone in the victory.

Mosley finished the game with 114 yards and three scores on just seven carries.

In total, the Eagles ran for 401 yards.

Defensively, Sebastian LeGarra led a unit that gave up only 84 yards with six total stops, with a pair coming behind the line-of-scrimmage (a half-sack as well). Seth Fallen joined LeGarra with a half-sack and four tackles.

Bryce Ford had an interception.

Reinhardt earned three offensive linemen on the First Team All-Mid-South list after the group helped propel the running game to an average of 281.4 yards each time out; third overall in the nation. Trevae Cain also made an appearance with 502 yards and eight scores on the ground (6.2 yards a carry). He has also caught eight passes for 82 yards.

Of the eight student-athletes on the MSC First Team, four of them came on the defensive side of the ball – and on all levels of the defense – as the Eagles continue to boast one of the best defensive units in NAIA football.

Reinhardt, coming off a shutout, is surrendering the sixth-fewest points in the nation at 13.1. The Eagles also have 32 sacks on the year – including a forfeited contest – which puts them in a tie for 12^th overall.

They are also the second-best team in the country in preventing first downs.

Nine more players found themselves on the MSC Second Team, with recognition at all levels and on offense, defense and special teams.

Freshman kicker Alex Hardy, the reigning MSC Appalachian Special Teams Player of the Week, was joined by Odom as the return specialist on the second team.

To view the entire release from the MSC, please click here.

Here are the complete lists of recipients:

2019 First Team All Mid-South Conference Appalachian Division:

 
2019 Second Team All Mid-South Conference Appalachian Division:

Reinhardt soon heads to Indianapolis, Ind., to take on No. 2 Marian (Ind.) in the NAIA FCS First Round on Saturday afternoon.

Game time against the Knights is set for 1:05 p.m. inside St. Vincent Field for the first meeting between the two programs in history.

To purchase tickets to the NAIA FCS First Round, please click here.

For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram. 

For more information on Reinhardt Football, please click here.