Reinhardt Loses Heartbreaker in NAIA First Round

(Story by Reinhardt Sports Information)

COLUMBIA, Ky. - It was a cold and windy day in Kentucky as the 9th-ranked Eagles headed into the first round of the NAIA Playoffs. Reinhardt had been paired with #8 Lindsey Wilson in the first matchup and the game proved to be a closed game with two closely ranked teams.

The first quarter would begin with each team getting several chances at the ball, but all drives ending in punts. Both teams played strong defense against one another as the offenses stayed in conservative modes trying to figure each other out. It was a game of field position as each coach tried to gain momentum by pinning the other one deep.

The game would not see its first score until seven minutes into the second quarter when the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson kicked a 24-yard field goal.  The Eagles did have a shot as Hunter Arters hit Kamonta Stockdale on a 30-yard pass which put the Eagles at the 18-yard line.  This would be the Eagles' best field position of the game so far and seemed that the offense was now waking up. The momentum quickly returned to Lindsey Wilson on the next play when Devyn Collins fumbled to give the ball back to the Blue Raiders.

After a few more drives by each team, the first half would end with Lindsey Willson having the slight 3-0 lead. It was definitely a defensive struggle game and each team's fan base was waiting for their teams to break out.

Lindsey would get the kick-off to start the third quarter and they would use their halftime to get things going.  The first drive for Lindsey Wilson would result in another field goal and a six-point lead. The Blue Raiders definitely had chances to score with decent field position with all their possessions, but the Eagles' defense was holding strong making it tough and causing them to settle for the field goals. 

The Blue Raiders would get one more field goal before the third quarter ended making the score 9-0, but the Eagles still had hope that at any moment the offense would get going and start putting points on the board.  The game at 9-0 was something that could easily be caused by the Eagles, however, the offense had been struggling the entire game trying to move the ball against the talented Blue Raider defense.

The fourth quarter would start with Lindsey Wilson continuing a drive from the third quarter after they held the Eagles inside the 10-yard line. A bad punt resulted in great field position for the Blue Raiders as time ran off the clock in the third quarter.  Three plays into the fourth quarter, Lindsey Wilson would get the first touchdown of the game making the score 16-0 and complete control of the game.

Even though it was 16-0 in the fourth quarter, there was still a feeling that the Eagles could get something going and points on the board. The next drive for the Eagles did give the Eagles some hope as Arters and the offense moved the ball down to the Blue Raiders' 19-yard line. Arters hit Jerdavian Colbert, Louis Morris, and Jakari Clark on pass plays that would get the offense moving. The last pass to Clark resulted in a personal foul being called on Lindsey Wilson as the defender picked up Clark and slammed him to the turf giving the Eagles an extra 15 yards. As things seemed to move in favor of the Eagles, Arters next pass was tipped and picked off by Lindsey Wilson, and returned 95 yards for a Blue Raider touchdown. The score was now 23-0 and the wind had been ripped out of the Eagle Nation's sail.

Arters and the offense did not seem to be phased by the score and just three plays later, Arters hit David Friedberg on a 55-yard bomb and a touchdown. The point after attempt pass from Arters to Javarsia Meadows was on the money bringing the score to 23-8 with about seven minutes left in the game. What seemed to be an easy win for the Blue Raiders quickly changed and the thought of an Eagle comeback started to be taken more seriously. 

The remainder of the game seemed to go in favor of the Eagles as they had their most successes of the day and everything they did went perfectly. They tried an onside kick to get the ball back and the Eagles were able to recover. Arters and the offense were finally rolling and the Eagles' opponent now became the clock. After the onside kick recovery, Arters hit Louis Morris with a pass play that gained 12 yards. Next, he tried another long pass to Navarie Solomon which resulted in a pass interference call against Lindsey Wilson near the end zone. This put the ball at the 13-yard line and striking distance for Arters. On the final play of this drive. Arters hit Sotkcdale for a 7-yard touchdown. Again, the Eagles were able to convert the PAT on a quick run by Meadows putting the Eagles just 7 points behind Lindsey Willson.

Lindsey Wilson would get the ball back, however, they could not move the ball again and they gave the ball back to the Eagles. The Eagles would get the ball back with just over two minutes left in the game on their own 26-yard line.  The offense would get the ball moving quickly with several pass plays to Solomon, Collins, and a couple to Friedberg placing the ball at the Blue Raiders' 41-yard line. Again, Lindsey Wilson would get called for a penalty - but this time it was a defensive holding call on Solomon resulting in the ball being placed at the 11-yard line. On the next play with just 18 seconds left, Arters hit Morris in the endzone bringing the Eagles to just one point of Lindsey Wilson, 23-22.

The next play would decide the Eagles/ outcome in the game and the Eagles' kicker Reid Schratweiser nailed the extra point tieing the game 23 all, but there was a penalty on the play. This moved the ball slightly closer to the goaline and a chance for the Eagles to punch the ball in the endzone and come away with the amazing win. Reinhardt decided to go for it and have Arters run the ball in an attempt to win the game.  Arters pushed his way behind John Cano and the left side of the line and the ball came up just short of the goal line.

As heartbreaking as it is to lose the game in the end, the Eagles never gave up despite having a rough day getting the offense going for about three and a half quarters. They made it exciting and an inch or two more and the Eagles are the team moving onto the next round of the playoffs. Coach Miller and his team have given Eagle Nation an exciting brand of football and a team full of great guys. They have several seniors that will be missed and were not ready to have their season end in the first round, but they have had much success with the Eagles football program in their careers. The last few minutes of this playoff game were very exciting and the "Never Say Die" spirit of the team showed through til the end.