Stephin Craig, Alex Hanson Pulloff Incredible Thirty Second ComeBack at Faulkner

Montgomery, AL - The Eagle's first NAIA game of the year ended up being a nail-biter in the final moments.  A fourth-quarter comeback allowed the Faulkner Eagles to catch up and take the lead, 21-19, with less than thirty seconds remaining in the game. Reinhardt got the ball back in what seemed to be an impossible situation with a whole lot of ground in front of them and not much time to get there.

Somehow, quarterback Stephin Craig was able to march the Eagles down the field with two key passes to wide receivers Tyshun Jordon (17 yards) and Cedric Cullars (19 yards). The two receptions plus a delay of game penalty by Faulkner put the Reinhardt Eagles at the 30-yard line with just seconds left on the clock.  Reinhardt did not have any timeouts left, but they were able to stop the clock on an incomplete pass which allowed the kicking team time to set up.  Reinhardt brought on freshman kicker Alex Hanson to attempt a 47-yard field goal. Hanson was focused and clear-minded as the ball was snapped, and he calmly put the ball right through the uprights, giving Reinhart the narrow 22-21 win.

It was a memorable win for Reinhardt and a win they very much needed after coming off the tough loss to NCAA DII Carson Newman last week.  In addition, Reinhardt controlled the game a majority of the time, only going behind temporarily in the final moments of the first quarter and in the last thirty seconds of the game. It would have been a crushing loss for Reinhart after having the game in hand most of the way.

The first quarter started slow for both teams having several failed drives, but the Reinhardt Eagles were finally able to get on the board when a miscue by Faulkner deep in their side of the field created a safety, putting Reinhart up 2-0. Faulkner was able to get a touchdown late in the first quarter, reclaiming the lead, which they only held twice in the game. Faulkner's lead would not last long because Reinhardt had a nine-play drive covering 52 yards to start the second quarter that resulted in a Jerdavion "Jah" Colbert touchdown reception from Craig. Hanson hit the PAT giving the Eagles a 9-7 lead.

Reinhardt halted Faulkner on their next drive and got the ball back in good field position.  The Reinhardt Eagles quickly put the ball in the endzone one more time in the second quarter on a five-play drive that ended in a 3-yard punch in by freshman running back Jamarion Walker. It was Walker's first touchdown as a Reinhart Eagle and gave his team a commanding 16-7 lead (Hanson PAT good). This was the final score of the first half taking the Eagles into halftime with a good lead.

Reinhardt got the ball to start the third quarter, however, it was a quiet quarter with no points scored. Both teams had several drives in the fifteen minutes, but neither team could penetrate the endzone.

Reinhardt scored early in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard field goal by Hanson, which added to the Eagles lead, 19-7, with only six minutes left in the game.  This is when things started to get interesting for the Faulkner Eagles. Faulkner capitalized on its next drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run, bringing Faulkner within five points of Reinhardt, 19-14.  There were only four minutes left in the game at this point, which was in favor of Reinhart.

Reinhardt's next drive was a killer for the Eagles, as they could only move the ball seven yards and gave Faulkner great field position with under a minute left in the game. Faulkner was able to do the unthinkable by throwing a 34-yard touchdown pass with only twenty-eight seconds left in the game.  It seemed that Faulkner would steal this game away from Reinhardt, but the Eagles did not give up, and Hanson proved that he was a great pickup, hitting all of his extra points and two field goals, including the game-winner! Alex Hanson gets the game ball in this one moving Reinhardt to 1-1 early in the 2024 season.

Reinhardt finished the day with 325 yards of total offense, with the running game picking up most of those yards.  The Eagles had 227 rushing yards, led by Colbert (91), Walker (60), and Craig (49). Cullars led all receivers for the Eagles with 38 yards on two catches.

Bryton Peters and Julian Stevenson led the Eagles in tackles with six each. 2023 AAC Defensive Player of the Year - Keon McGhee - had two interceptions in the game, three tackles, and one pass breakup.

Next Saturday, the Eagles will be in South Florida at Southeastern University for a 7:30 pm kick-off. Southeastern was able to beat Reinhardt last season so the #18-ranked Eagles want to take the upper hand back when they visit next week.  The following Saturday will be the home-opener for Reinhardt with a tough matchup with the Patriots of Cumberlands (Sept 21st, noon kick at Ken White Field).