Wildcats Upset Eagles, 34-33, After Fast Start

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

Photo Courtesy of Bethel (Tenn.) Sports Information 

McKENZIE, Tenn. – No. 6 Reinhardt made a valiant effort to dig out of a 28-0 hole at Bethel (Tenn.) on Saturday, but the Eagles fell just short in their attempt to avoid a second-straight upset to the Wildcats in Tennessee, 34-33, after missing an opportunity to score late in the contest.

The hometown squad is once again at .500 with a 2-2 record.

"First thing I want to say is I'm very proud of our young men," head coach James Miller said. "Down, 28-0, in the third quarter – and to come back and take the lead – we showed great fight and grit. However, we should have never put ourselves in that hole. We weren't playing smart football in the first half, as we had too many drive-killing penalties; not getting off the field on third down and just not playing Reinhardt football.

We are a better team than this. I love these kids, and we will learn, grow and get better as a family. Hats off to Bethel as they played a good game. We are and will be better."

It was nearly a tale of two halves in the Volunteer State after Bethel took control and didn't look back en route to a 28-0 lead with 11:19 remaining in the third quarter. After one of the worst starts in Reinhardt history, the Eagles finally got on the scoreboard at the 5:35 mark in the third period after Devyn Collins rolled into the end zone from eight yards out.

The defense took the spark and ran with it, as that side of the ball came alive for Reinhardt when it needed it most. The Eagles immediately got the ball back to Billy Hall – who made the Wildcats pay on the first play of the drive with a 77-yard run down the right sideline to make the score, 28-14, in less than two minutes.

The momentum continued on the next Bethel drive as the Wildcats continued to unravel. An errant throw on third down was picked off and taken to the house by Tyler Hallum from 60 yards out to get back within one touchdown at 28-21.

Less than three minutes into the fourth period – and less than nine minutes of total game time – Reinhardt found the end zone for the fourth-straight time (but the point-after failed) to get within 28-27 after Collins scored again on a 3-yard run.

Bethel continued to fall apart on the offensive end and gave the ball back to Hall and company, who officially took the lead for the first time at 10:19 remaining in the game compliments of a Hall 21-yard run.

The Wildcats, however, woke up when they needed to, as the hosts went back down the field in less than four minutes to regain the advantage, 34-33, after a touchdown pass and a failed two-point conversion.

The Eagles got the ball back with a chance to go win the matchup and immediately started marching down the field. After a key fourth-down conversion by Dylan Kelly, Reinhardt got down to the 31-yard-line, but wasted its chance at a dramatic finish after Hall missed a wide-open Terrance Roberts for the go-ahead score.

Miller would opt for a 48-yard field goal, but it was short.

Reinhardt collected 423 yards of offense but gave up 488. Hall (135 yards) and Collins (104) had strong days on the ground as the Eagles ran for 354 yards in defeat.

Keyovione Whitlock had nine total tackles to lead the way on defense as eight players made four-or-more stops.

Ave Maria (Fla.) is up next on the schedule in primetime on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.

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