Eagles Trounce Tigers in 52-7 Final

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

Photo Courtesy of Greg Spell/G-RoxPhotos.com

WALESKA, Ga. – Reinhardt dominated on both sides of the ball on Saturday afternoon against Campbellsville (Ky.) at home as the Eagles racked up 562 yards of total offense to roll the Tigers, 52-7.

Reinhardt (2-1) opened the first quarter with three touchdown drives that finished with nice scoring plays – Javarsia Meadows (22-yard rush), Dylan Kelly (26-yard reception) and Billy Hall (13-yard run) – which helped the Eagles take off for a runaway victory.

"Very proud of our young men as I thought we showed up late playing all three phases," head coach James Miller said. "We had some starters out today and had some guys step up in crucial positions and were able to get the job done. Very proud of Solomon Lightfoot and Marquez Washington on the offensive line for stepping in and doing a good job for us up front. We were very physical in the running game, and I thought Devyn Collins had nice plays early on; really was running physically. I think we left plays out there still to be made through the air between dropped balls and some erratic throws – I think we should be better in that phase. We still made plays throwing the football, but I just know we're capable of more. Billy was electric with his feet, and defensively, we harassed the quarterback all day; which was great to see.

We gave up one play or else we would've shut them down for the game. We cannot give up big plays as a defense, and that is something that Coach Blue harps on a lot and we have to be about. From a special team standpoint, I like where we are at as a football team with running hard, playing fast and being very physical. Proud of the guys today and we must continue to get better at everything that we do every single week if we want to get to where we want to be."

Hall found the end zone again in the second quarter immediately following a shank on a punt attempt that went out at the 30-yard-line. It only took one play for the Eagle quarterback to run through the defense and into the paint for a 28-0 lead with 9:34 remaining until halftime.

Campbellsville got on the board less than two minutes later on a weaving 65-yard touchdown reception by Luke Sheperson to get back within 21 points. The Eagles, however, finished the first half on a 10-0 run after Devyn Collins found the paint from nine yards out and Reid Schratwieser hit a hit a 23-yard field goal for a halftime score of 38-7.

Marcus Jefferson opened the scoring in the third quarter – the only points of the period – with a 41-yard touchdown run for a 38-point advantage at 45-7. Backup quarterback Hunter Arters played the entire second half and found the end zone himself on a busted play from the one-yard-line.

Hall finished the contest with 139 yards in the air with a score, along with 51 more on the ground and the aforementioned pair of touchdowns.

Arters went 6-for-8 for 89 yards in relief.

Defensively, Reinhardt gave up just 53 yards rushing to the Tigers on 25 carries. The visitors threw the ball 28 times, completing 15 attempts for 165 yards and a score.

Jalen Everett had six total tackles and an interception. The Eagles as a group tallied six tackles for-loss and three sacks – two of which came from Vertez Shorter (2.5 tackles for-loss).

Jaharie Boone and Kenneth Lowery each made five stops as well.

A road swing of back-to-back games away from Waleska begins next Saturday at Bethel (Tenn.) at 2:30 p.m.

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