Jackson to Cullars Saves Game for the Eagles

Waleska, GA - Reinhardt Football has been on a rollercoaster to start the season, and Saturday's game with the University of the Cumberlands added to the ride.  Cumberlands was coming off a big win against Pikeville the previous week, and Reinhardt was recovering from a tough loss at Southeastern. This game had all the ups and downs either team could want, but the Eagles would squeeze out the win coming from behind in the final seconds, 35-31.

Reinhardt started the scoring in the game behind quarterback Stephin Craig. Craig found running back Tyress McKey in the flats for a short pass that McKey took 56 yards putting the Eagles up 7-0.  Both teams finished out the first quarter with halted drives ending the quarter with the Eagles up 7-0 (Alex Hanson kick good).

Reinhardt went up 14-0 on a 35-yard touchdown run by star running back Jah Colbert. Colbert capped off a three-play drive by the Eagles, which covered 63 yards early in the second quarter.  Hanson hit the extra point again to stay perfect in the game. This would be all the points scored in the second quarter until the final minute when Taylor Jackson finished the final two minutes of the first half.  Jackson moved the Eagles quickly downfield, scoring with just seconds left on the clock.  Jackson hit receiver CJ McGhee on a 12-yard touchdown pass, getting the Eagles to 21-0 just before half  (Alex Hanson kick good).

The third quarter started off with a bang as return man Tyshun Jordan received the ball right on his goal line and took it to the house, sprinting up the east sidelines of Ken White Field. Jordan found a seam in the Cumberlands defense and was untouched cruising past his thirty-yard line. Hanson got the PAT and the Eagles lead extended to 28-0.

Everything seemed to be in favor of the Eagles at this point, but things quickly changed. Almost instantly, the Patriots chipped away at the large Eagles lead. Cumberlands scored two touchdowns in the third and two more in the fourth all unanswered by the Eagles.  The heat was pouring down on the field and you could see the energy drain from the Eagles players.  

With the game tied, the Patriots got the ball with six minutes left in the game.  They had one of their best drives of the day which had 11 plays and took over five minutes off the clock.  Fortunately, for the Eagles - Cumberlands had to settle for a field goal. The Patriots took the lead back, 31-28 after trailing 28-0 through the start of the third quarter and they only left Taylor Jackson and the Eagles fifty-one seconds to create magic.

It was a tall task for the Eagles after not being able to move the ball much the entire second half, however, they dug down deep to pull off another incredible win in front of the home crowd.  Jackson was able to find receiver David Friedberg twice in the drive covering 65 yards.  The last catch by Friedberg was a 46-yard strike which Friedberg drug two Patriots the final ten yards setting the Eagles up at Cumberlands' 14-yard line.

On the next play, Jackson looked to his receivers on the right giving time for wideout Cedric Cullars time to work his way to the back of the left-side end zone. Jackson quickly went to his left and floated the ball to Cullars who had turned around the corner covering him.  Cullars calmly secured the catch standing on the back edge of the end zone giving the Eagles the final four-point lead and the win.

This was Reinhardt's second win of the season and had the team in a different mood heading into an awaited matchup with the Tigers of Georgetown.  The game will be at 1:30 pm in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Highlights from the Game

• Taylor Jackson was 10-20 for 162 yards and two touchdown passes. Both touchdowns came in the final minutes of both halves.

• Jah Colbert had 92 rushing yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.

• Tyshun Jordan's 100-yard kickoff touchdown return is an all-time record in the AAC!

• David Friedberg had 5 receptions for 113 yards to lead the Eagles.

• Tyress McKey had 62 yards receiving, 36 yards running the ball, and a touchdown for the Eagles.

• Alex Hanson was 5 for 5 on PATs.

• Jeremiah Rowe and Cortez Brown led the Eagles with 9 tackles each.

• Orlando Gandy, Jr., Nolan Marshall, and Emmanuel Olaitan each had quarterback sacks in the game. Olaitan had two sacks for 9-yard loss total.

• Quan Moss had one interception for the Eagles.