Eagles Make Incredible Second-Half Comeback Over #12 Georgetown

Waleska, GA - Reinhardt Eagles Football did a full reverse of their game two weeks ago versus Southeastern where the Eagles let a solid 20-3 halftime lead slip in the second half to lose 23-20. In Saturday's game with the visiting Tigers of Georgetown College, who are currently ranked #12 in the NAIA, the Eagles gave up an early first-half lead, which forced the Eagles to claw their way back into the game.

The Eagles did just that as they came back from the 21-7 halftime deficit to win 28-24 when the final seconds ticked off the clock.  The win puts a stop to a two-game losing streak which dropped the Eagles out of the NAIA Top 25. It was a big win for the Eagles that kept them in the running for the 2023 NAIA Playoffs, but there is still work to be done to get them across the finish line and back into the playoffs.

The scoring started with the Eagles striking first in the first quarter taking an early 7-0 lead on a 49-yard breakaway from quarterback Stephin Craig to wideout Jakari Clark.  Clark has become a serious deep-threat option for Coach James Miller's offense and he added 4 catches for 90 yards including the 49-yard touchdown catch and run. Clark led all receivers in the game with Tyshun Jordan and David Friedberg coming in next with 4 and 3 receptions respectively.

Craig would end the day throwing 7 of 15 for 87 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception.  His day would come to an end after the second quarter after the team struggled to move the ball in the second quarter. The Eagles did knock on the door in the second quarter with the ball on the goal line, but a false start penalty moved them back to the six-yard line and the 4th down conversion failed.  The Eagles went into halftime losing 21-7 and wondering if they could do enough to pick up the much-needed win.

After the halftime break, the Eagles hit Ken White Field with a new step and the team had a different appearance.  They started moving the ball and stringing together long drives. The first drive of the second half gave Taylor Jackson a shot at running the offense and he took full advantage of it.  He marched the team right down the field with a combination of pass and run, which kept the defense guessing.

With the ball on the six-yard line, Jackson would take the quarterback-keeper right up the middle and work his way into the endzone bringing the Eagles' fanbase. The second-half score brought the Eagles to within one touchdown and a feeling that the Eagles would have a chance to get control of the game.

As the final minutes were dripping off the third-quarter clock, the Eagles found another way of getting the ball across the goal line. With the Tigers rolling down the field and looking almost unstoppable, the defense finally made a stand to stop the Tigers' offense.  Free Safety Kellen Neal made a bone-crushing hit on the Tiger's tight end, which loosened the ball and he put it on the ground. Freshman Braylon Jones picked up the loose ball and ran it back 80 yards for the Eagles' score.

The game went into the fourth quarter tied at 21 and the Tigers would eventually kick a field goal giving the Tigers the temporary lead, 24-21. From this point on, everything seemed too large in favor of the Eagles. Jackson would lead the team down the field and get them inside the 10-yard line.  Jackson would hit the wide-open tight end, Jack Wallace putting them back on top, 28-24. The defense held strong just as they did a majority of the game and the last chance for the Tigers ended up in the hands of Eagles' defender Keon McGhee. McGhee singled-Handley ended the drives of the Tigers twice in the final two minutes on two very nice interceptions. 

At running back, Jerdavian Colbert, had another solid day with 21 carries for 90 yards, but he was not able to reach the end zone. Luis Morris followed just behind Colbert with 4 carries for 21 yards.

Next up for the Eagles is a game with Pikeville on October 7th. This is the beginning of the AAC schedule for 2023 and all of these games are important in order to move into and up the NAIA Top 25.