Fast Start for Eagles Football at Faulkner

Montgomery, AL - After several weeks of practice and preparation, it was finally time for Coach Miller's Eagles to suit up and show what they have. Reinhardt would travel to the great football state of Alabama to take on #24 ranked Faulkner University.

This was set up to be a tough first-game text for the #9 ranked Eagles and they did not wait long to get the scoring started. The first drive of the game would take two plays and travel 68 yards for the Eagles' first touchdown of the 2022-23 season. Junior, Devyn Collins, would take the second play of the game 42 yards to the house for the first score. This was one of three touchdowns for Collins on the night. He had a tremendous night with hard-nosed running 23 carries in the game for a total of 93 yards.

Freshman wide receiver, Adarrius Harshaw, would get the second touchdown of the game midway through the first quarter with a 20-yard pass from starting quarterback, Hunter Arters. Arters completed 10 passes on 19 attempts in the game for 168 total yards and two touchdowns.

Before the fans could get comfortable in their seats, the Eagles were up 13-0 in the first quarter and it appeared that Reinhardt might run away with the game.

Faulkner would finally answer back with around five seconds left in the first quarter, but they would have to settle for a field goal after the Eagles defense held tight. This would end the first quarter, 13-3 in favor of the Eagles.

The second quarter would belong to Devyn Collins as he would score two touchdowns putting the Eagles up 27-11. His second touchdown of the game would come early in the second quarter on a one-yard run with twelve minutes left in the quarter. The run was set up by a 40-yard rumble by running back Bryce Burgess. Collins' next touchdown would be set up by Tyress McKey who broke several tackles to get into Faulkner's secondary and then bounced it outside for a 42-yard run just shy of the goal line. Collins punched the ball in on a 3-yard run to the flanks where he crossed the goal line.

Faulkner was able to score a couple of touchdowns in the second quarter getting them right back into the game. The Eagles would enjoy a ten-point lead going into the half with a score of 27-17.

The second half would start just as fast as the first half for the Eagles when just two plays into their first drive, Arters would drop back in the pocket giving time for wide receiver, Navarie Solomon, to get loose up the left sidelines. Solomon did a slight "stop & go" movement that got the right corner of Faulkner turned around. Solomon was able to get a good 10-yard lead on the corner and Arters dropped it right in his hands in perfect stride. Solomon's jets were turned on as he sprinted across the goalline for the first touchdown of the second half.  It was the most exciting play of the game which covered 71 yards.  The Arters to Solomon combination should be one that we hear from all season as these two are on the same page and are a threat to take it to the house any time of the game. Solomon ended the game with two receptions with one touchdown. Dylan Kelly led the way for the Eagles with three receptions - but only 19 total yards.

After the long touchdown by Solomon, the game had the feel that Reinhardt would turn it on to finish out the third and fourth quarters, however, it would be the defense led by Jon Perry at defensive end and Tyler Hallum at corner that had to make sure the Eagles would walk away with the season opener win.

Hallum led the Eagles with 5 solo tackles and 3 assists. Perry was credited with 2 solo tackles and 3 solos, but he created havoc on the edges disrupting the Faulkner offense all night. Free Safety, Jalen Everett, had 5 solo tackles to keep Faulkner in check and Kenneth Lowery was solid at linebacker throwing down 4 solo and 3 assists tackles for the Eagles.

The Eagles' offense had several opportunities at the end of the third and all of the fourth to add to the scoreboard, however, the Solomon touchdown would be the last score for the Eagles in the game. The Eagles managed the game the rest of the way as they would just give up 10 points on a touchdown and field goal by Faulkner. Faulkner's touchdown would come around the two-minute mark left in the third quarter ending the third with the score of 34-24.  The only score of the fourth quarter was a 28-yard field goal by Faulkner two minutes into the fourth quarter. Although they did not score, the Eagles' offense did a good job at running time off the clock on their drives allowing just a couple of minutes for Faulkner to move the ball the length of the field.

Reinhardt's defense held strong the rest of the way not allowing Faulkner to get near the end zone the entire fourth quarter. Faulkner's final chance came on a drive with two minutes left in the fourth quarter and they ran the ball three straight times and went for it on fourth down. The Eagles did not allow Faulkner to move the ball from this point and the Faulkner's final play was an incomplete pass allowing Reinhardt to take over deep in Faulkner's half of the field.  Collins would get the ball several times to run the clock out to give Reinhardt the opening season win, 34-27.

This was a great start for the Eagles and the team was excited to get the season off with a big win over an NAIA Top 25 opponent.  Coach Miller let the team know that they got the job done in the game and to enjoy the victory, but at the end of the weekend it was time to start focusing on next week's opponent, Bethel University from Tennessee. Bethel will be another Top 25 opponent, but this time Reinhardt will have the luxury of playing on their home turf.

In addition to the season opener win, this was also Coach Miller's 50 career victory as head coach. This is a huge accomplishment for Coach Miller, however, his focus is on getting the team where it needs to be this season. He has a team that is very talented, fast, and powerful and they have a chance to do great things this season.

The first home game of the season will be Saturday, September 3rd with a noon kickoff at Ken White Field at University Stadium. Make sure to get your tickets now on www.reinhardteagles.com and come out to see great NAIA football!