Game Preview: No. 6 Reinhardt at Bethel (Tenn.)
By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
Photo Courtesy of Al Levine
McKENZIE, Tenn. – (Live Video | Stats | Audio) The Eagles hit the road for the second time this season – and first NAIA trip away from home – as 6th-ranked Reinhardt heads to take on Bethel (Tenn.) tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m. inside Wildcat Stadium.
The hometown squad will be making its first trip to Bethel with revenge in mind, as the Eagles hope to erase the memory of their last encounter in McKenzie, Tenn. – a 31-21 upset as the No. 2-ranked team in the country in the 2018 season opener.
"Bethel is a well-coached team by Mike Jasper and it's going to be a great environment on Saturday," lead Eagle James Miller said. "They have playmakers in all three phases of their football team. They are big on both sides of the line of scrimmage, so we will need to bring our A-game; take care of the football, play physical and win with effort and intensity. What a great challenge for our young men and we will accept that challenge."
It will be the seventh meeting between the two programs with Reinhardt holding a 5-1 advantage in the series.
After giving up nine unanswered points in the first quarter last week, the Wildcats answered with a 50-point unanswered outburst to beat the Union (Ky.) Bulldogs 50-15 in Barbourville.
Bethel got on the board with an 80-yard drive capped off by a De'Ontay Tate 10-yard run. Luis Morales hit the point-after to make it a 9-7 game at the end of one quarter. Nolan Chowbay hit Dieuly Aristilde on a 71-yard pass play to give Bethel the lead. Morales was good again at the 12:19 mark of the second and the Cats took a 14-9 lead. Vonte Bates added to the lead with a 32-yard interception return for a score and after the Morales PAT, Bethel led, 21-9, at the half.
Chowbay hit Quashawn Ford on an 8-yard pass early in the second half and Bethel took command at 28-9. Bethel added more second half scores on a Tate 58-yard scamper. Chowbay struck paydirt again with a 65-yard strike to Davius Prather, and then Chowbay completed his career day with a 35-yard touchdown pass to James Dixon.
The Cats finished things off with a team safety.
Bethel will be playing its 470th game in program history with a record of 179-282-8.
Reinhardt dominated on both sides of the ball last 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.
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.
Miller and company hope to continue the momentum tomorrow afternoon in Tennessee.
For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram.
For more information on Reinhardt Football, please click here.