Eagles Dominate Point Again, Earn First Conference Victory

By Brandon Wright, RU Athletics

WALESKA, Ga. – The 10^th-ranked Reinhardt Eagles dominated the visiting Point (Ga.) Skyhawks Saturday in all aspects of the game en route to a 52-0 victory at Ken White Field at University Stadium.

The win gives Reinhardt its second win over Point on the year, a 3-0 overall record and a 1-0 record in Appalachian Division play within the Mid-South Conference.

Reinhardt totaled 530 yards of offense on the day while the defense forced five turnovers and the special teams even blocked a punt.

"Want to congratulate our players and coaches on a great victory," head coach James Miller said. "The defense put up the goose egg, and I don't care who you're playing or what level, any time you shut someone out it's a big deal; so, congratulations to all the defensive players. Coach Williams, Coach Blue, Coach Jackson and Coach Peeples are those guys making it happen. On special teams, we had a game-changing play when Devin Harris blocked a punt – his second of the season. Coach Blue had drawn that up earlier in the week and the kids executed. Offensively, our execution is not where it needs to be. We are making plays and we are moving the football, but we are having far too many self-inflicted penalties or mistakes.

"We have the talent, but we have to do a better job of being locked in and focused on all the small details. I think we did better in the second half and I also think we are throwing the football really well right now. I believe in our kids on offense, and I think we can be as good as we want to be – we just have to focus, and we have to execute for that to happen. I love this football team and I love coaching them. I love the guys that work with this program and I believe in them… Proud to be at Reinhardt and proud to be an Eagle."

The Reinhardt defense started things off for the Eagles, and they did so in a big way, when Jalen Everett forced a fumble on the first play of the game. After Kenneth Lowery recovered, the Eagles took over on the Skyhawks' 23-yard-line.

Five plays later, Reinhardt got on the board by way of a 5-yard touchdown run by Otis Odom. After the successful extra point, the Eagles were on top, 7-0, with 12:57 left in the opening quarter. Things did not go well for the Skyhawks the next time out either, as they were forced to punt after seven plays – totaling just 11 yards. However, Devin Harris had other ideas as he stormed through the line and blocked the punt giving the Reinhardt offense the ball on the Point 14-yard-line.

Unfortunately, Reinhardt could not capitalize this time as a 32-yard field goal was missed wide right.

However, the defense pushed Point backwards five yards on the ensuing drive and forced them to punt yet again. Reinhardt then took over on their own 33-yard-line, and 34 seconds later, quarterback Billy Hall connected with Navarie Solomon for a 45-yard touchdown giving Reinhardt the 14-0 lead.

The defense again came up strong and forced another fumble to give Hall and the offense the ball at the Point 21-yard-line. Six plays later, Hall found Javarsia Meadows for a 13-yard touchdown and the score put the Eagles on top, 21-0, with two minutes left in the opening period.

Reinhardt poured on 17 more points in the second quarter in the form of a strip-fumble recovery touchdown by Bryce Atchison, a James Hardy 32-yard field goal and a Willie McCloud 4-yard touchdown run.

At the half, the Eagles were on top, 38-0.

Hall connected with Isaiah Blake for a 49-yard touchdown in the third quarter and then with Andrew Herring for a 38-yard touchdown in the fourth. This brought the score to 52-0, which ended up being the final.

Reinhardt topped 500 yards of offense for the first time this season and had more takeaways than in the first two games combined.

Hall finished 16-of-23 for 270 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 38 yards of rushing.

Nick Harris led the way on the ground for the Eagles with 51 yards on five carries. Dylan Kelley (four carries), Torrance Roberts (three carries), and McCloud (11 carries) also had successful days on the ground with 33, 39 and 47 yards, respectively.

Odom and McCloud also both found the endzone.

Nine different Eagles caught passes on the day – Blake (4), Solomon (4), Odom (2), Terry Berdin (1), Brody Dorfman (1), Meadows (1),  Harris (1), Logan Garner (1) and Herring (1).

Solomon led the way with 71 yards and one touchdown. Blake, Meadows and Herring had touchdowns as well.

The Reinhardt defense was excellent all day as it only allowed 150 yards and 11 first downs on 57 plays.

As previously mentioned, the Eagles also had five takeaways.

In addition to his forced fumble, fumble recovery and touchdown, Atchison collected a team-high six tackles on the day while Juan Uribe, Garrison Walker, Zaryon Stubbs and Calvin Issac each had four tackles.

Everett added an interception in addition to his forced fumble and Lowery had a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Reinhardt will travel to Barbourville, Ky., next Saturday to face divisional foe Union (Ky.).

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. against the 0-3 Bulldogs.

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