First-Half Surge Carries Eagles to Victory

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

Photos Courtesy of Greg Spell/G-RoxPhotos.com

WALESKA, Ga. – No. 12 Reinhardt put together a monumental opening half against Bluefield (Va.) on Saturday, but the team sputtered in the final two quarters while holding off the Rams, 49-35, in its divisional opener.

The Eagles improved to 4-2 overall and 1-0 within the Appalachian Division of the Mid-South Conference after creating havoc in all three phases of the game.

"Our kids came out the gate and played great football," head coach James Miller said. "It was an awesome first half as we created turnovers, ran the ball well and threw the ball the best we've thrown it all season. I thought Billy and Navarie Solomon were really clicking. Defensively, we just created some turnovers in the first half, and they gave us some short fields; which we capitalized on them with points.

Second half we did not come ready to play. I'm not really sure what it was or if we let our guard down, but we have to learn how to finish a game. We will look at the film and we will make corrections."

Reinhardt made a statement early and often in front of the home fans, as it took the opening drive of the game and went 75 yards in just six plays – concluding in a Billy Hall 22-yard touchdown run. The lead was bumped to 14-0 just about one minute later as a bad snap went over the head of the Bluefield punter – who tried to kick it out of bounds but missed – and it was picked up by Javarsia Meadows for a diving score.

The Rams would respond, however, with a touchdown pass of their own (but miss the point-after) to make it 14-6, but Hall struck back in just three plays after a 28-yard laser to Dylan Kelly made it 21-6.

Bluefield's Antonio Strickland – who pulled in 11 catches for 180 yards – grabbed his lone touchdown from 15 yards out in the opening minute of the second stanza.

The Eagles would then finish the half on a 28-0 run with scoring plays of 40 yards and 15 yards by  Navarie Solomon, a rush from three yards by Hall and an 8-yard catch for a score after an interception by Terrance Roberts right before intermission.

With the scoreboard reading 49-13 heading into the third quarter, the tone of the matchup changed on both sides. There would be no points allowed in the third period, but the Rams would shut out the hosts, 22-0, in the fourth.

Hall finished the game with 224 yards on 13-of-15 and four scores. He also ran for 53 more and added a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

Solomon racked up 113 yards on five catches with two touchdowns.

Tyler Hallum and Tylan Oglesby combined for 17 total tackles, and Jacorris Lamar recorded two interceptions. Keyovione Whitlock also had an interception that was returned deep into the red zone that set up a score.

Point (Ga.) hosts Reinhardt next Saturday in a 1:30 p.m. conference clash.

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