Football Pummels Point in the Rain, 19-0
By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
VALLEY, Ala. – The rain and wind played havoc on both No. 20 Reinhardt and Point (Ga.) – and it wasn't pretty – but the Eagles held strong in divisional play in a road shutout win over the Skyhawks, 19-0, Saturday night.
The Eagles (6-2) continued to hit their stride under the lights with three-consecutive victories to start Appalachian Division play within the Mid-South Conference (3-0).
"Terrible conditions and I thought in the second half we handle it much better and were able to create big plays and score twice," head coach James Miller said. "We left plays out there on offense and we have to continue to preach to do our job. Defensively, we were dominant at the line of scrimmage and created turnovers. Special team-wise I thought we handled the ball really well with what we dealt with.
Proud of the kids and their effort as the conditions were very, very hard; we found a way to win a tough game being on the road for the fifth time in the last six weeks."
Neither squad could get a grip on the wet football the entire night, as the two programs combined for 11 fumbles with six lost. Reinhardt was able to overcome its seven total fumbles (three lost) to get into the end zone first with the only points in the first half compliments of Billy Hall on a 13-yard rush with 8:07 on the clock in the first quarter.
The visiting defense gave no options to Point the entire night, surrendering just 51 total yards – 31 of which came on the ground on 30 carries. Reinhardt got to the quarterback four times as well, keeping the Skyhawks constantly behind the chains and giving momentum to the Eagle offense.
The score would hold still in the third quarter with Reinhardt threatening to add more points as the game moved to the final period, but Hall (0-for-4 passing) was intercepted deep in Point territory on a long third-down attempt.
Three-straight Point incompletions would follow, setting the stage for the Eagle offense to take full-control of the contest with a long drive. The hometown team would come through in the clutch with a nine-play, 84-yard drive in less than four minutes.
Montralius Mosley gave the team a spark with a 46-yard carry as the Eagles began to establish its dominance in the running game. Run after run, Reinhardt pushed its way into scoring position before Trevae Cain earned the second touchdown of the night from 10 yards away for the 13-0 lead after an unsuccessful point-after.
The outcome would still be somewhat in doubt late in the game after the Eagles would go for it on fourth-down at the Point 29 yard-line unsuccessfully with three minutes left. The Skyhawks would instantly give Reinhardt life on the very next play by fumbling the football once again.
M'Calun Lanier would rumble into the paint from 23 yards out one snap later to ultimately ice the game at 19-0 after another failed PAT.
Lanier led the Eagles in rushing with 72 yards on 12 carries and a score. Hall added 59 and a touchdown.
Defensively, Reinhardt was unstoppable on that side of the ball with four sacks (two by Seth Fallen), numerous pressures and allowed the Skyhawks nothing on offense.
Malik Ransom and Kenneth Lowery each collected five total tackles. Lowery had three stops for-loss in the win.
The final road battle of the regular season takes place next week with a trip to North Carolina to take on St. Andrews.
Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
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