#2 Cumberlands Patriots (6-0) at #19 Reinhardt Eagles (5-2)
Ken White Stadium Waleska, GA
Saturday, October 26th
Kickoff @ 12:00 Noon
Two top-twenty NAIA programs square off Saturday when 2nd-ranked University of the Cumberlands (KY) visits #19 Reinhardt University (GA). The teams lead their respective divisions of the Mid-South Conference.
Reinhardt is enjoying remarkable success for a first-year program. It was homecoming last weekend in Waleska and the Eagles soundly defeated the Belhaven Blazers by a score of 49-17. The victory moved Reinhardt to 5-2 overall and to 3-0 atop the standings in the Western Division of the Mid-South.
Dynamic freshmen L.J. Stegall and Niagel Curtis led the Eagles on the ground. Stegall rushed for 124 yards with 2 touchdowns, while Curtis chipped in another 110 yards rushing with a touchdown of his own. The Eagles defense also played well. They were able to force the Blazer offense in three turnovers in the game. Travis Nunley intercepted a pass from Blazer’s QB Darrel Williams and raced 92 yards on the return for a touchdown. Jarred Johnson and Blake Barnes led the defense with tackles, each of them racking up 5 solo stops and 2 assisted tackles. The Eagles face perhaps their sternest test of the season on Saturday when the #2 ranked Patriots from the University of the Cumberlands make the long trip from Kentucky down to Ken White Stadium.
The Patriots have powered to an unbeaten record, their latest conquest an exciting 38-35 home victory over #11 Georgetown. UC freshman quarterback Adam Craig (Jackson, TN) was named Mid-South Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Craig was part of four touchdowns in the win against Georgetown; he threw for one touchdown, rushed for two scores, and also caught a touchdown pass. Craig finished with the game with a career-high 145 yards along with 11-of-20 passing for 95 yards. Craig is ranked fifth in the Mid-South in total offense, averaging 187.7 yards per game. Senior linebacker Weston Hazelhurst (Clinton, TN) also garnered a conference weekly award, earning Mid-South Defensive Player of the Week for racking up 11 tackles and two sacks in the win against Georgetown. Hazelhurst ranks eighth in the Mid-South with an average of 7.7 tackles per game.
The game Saturday could be a conference championship preview. Kickoff is noon and the game can be followed by visiting the Reinhardt Eagles website.
Contributors – Reinhardt Sport Studies Program Athletics and Media Relations class.
