McKey was Electrifying in Second Half Comeback

photo by C.B. Leon Photography

Georgetown, KY -  The Reinhardt Eagles followed the remnants of Hurricane Helene to Kentucky in a rain-soaked Saturday game against the Tigers of Georgetown. Reinhardt was bringing a 2-2 record, one-game win streak to the #15 ranked Tigers. It was a statement game for the Eagles and a win should be enough to get the Eagles back in the Top 25. Unfortunately, the first half was all Georgetown and had the Eagles playing catchup the rest of the way.

The Tigers were able to control quarterback Taylor Jackson and the Eagles' offense in the first half, halting them on their first six drives of the game. During that time, Georgetown put 21 on the board in the first half. A few key penalties and tough field positions had Reinhardt running uphill the entire first half.  Tyshun Jordan had a kickoff return in the first quarter that was brought back from a push-in-the-back penalty, which could have changed the first-half outlook completely.  

But the Eagles never quit despite being down three touchdowns. In the final minutes, Jackson and the Eagles marched the ball down the field, and they could score in the final second of the first half.  Jackson hit receiver Gentry Sherman on an 11-yard strike, getting the Eagles on the board going into the halftime break.  Alex Hanson's kick was blocked, keeping the Eagles at six points.  The halftime lead was 21-6 Tigers.

After the halftime break, things started moving for the Eagles.  Runningback and return man Tyress McKey set a tone for the remainder of the game by returning the third-quarter kickoff to the house, getting the Eagles within nine.  Reinhardt went for a successful two-point conversion on a change-of-direction pass from Jackson to tight end JP Paulk. Instantly, Reinhardt was right back in the game, trailing 14-21.

The Eagles stopped the next drive of the Tigers and got the ball back, with most of the third quarter still left.  Reinhardt's drive was stopped at the Tigers' 19-yard line, and the Eagles would let Hanson try a 24-yard field goal. Hanson was successful and got the Eagles within four of the Tigers.

Georgetown was able to get on the board again to start the fourth quarter for their first score of the second half.  A one-yard run that capped off an 83-yard, 15-play drive and had the Tigers up by eleven points, 28-17.

Mr. McKey would answer the Tigers' score again on another 92-yard kickoff touchdown, 28-24, and the game was anybody's after the dominating first half by Georgetown. McKey set an AAC record having two kickoff touchdown returns in one game!

Georgetown got the ball back with around seven minutes left in the game, and they were able to march the ball down the field to get a 39-yard field goal, extending their lead 31-24. Reinhardt got the ball back and was successful as well talking the ball down the field to tie the game at 31 all with just four minutes left in the game.  Jackson was able to find David Friedberg, who had beaten his defender in the back of the endzone for a quick six. Hanson made the extra point.

Reinhardt stopped the Tigers on their next drive with only four minutes left on the clock, which gave the Eagles a good shot at winning the game. Unfortunately, after a few plays by the Eagles, a tipped pass intended for Eagles' receiver Tyshun Jordan floated right into the hands of a Tiger defender, giving the ball around Reinhardt's 45-yard line and a couple of minutes on the clock.  The Tigers steadily moved the ball toward the end zone, taking valuable minutes off the clock.  Georgetown was able to get a few first downs and got the ball to the Eagles' 5-yard line with only a few seconds left on the clock.  The Tigers' kicker nailed the uprights, giving Georgetown the narrow 34-31 win and pushing the Eagles to 2-3 on the season.

Reinhardt was able to get 340 yards of total offense in the game, with a majority of this coming in the air.  Taylor Jackson was 15 of 32 in the game for a total of 234 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Eagles gave up 545 total yards in the game, and the Tigers were very balanced.  They had 278 yards on the ground and 267 in the air.  Keon McGhee and Emmanuel Olaitan led the Eagles defensively with seven tackles each. McGhee had three pass breakups to go with his seven tackles. Olaitan was highlighted with a quarterback and two tackles for a loss. 

Cornerback Bryghton Peters had two tackles for a loss and linebacker Julian Stevenson had an interception which he returned for 10 yards. Punter Colby Harrison had five punts in the game for a total of 193 yards. His average was 38.9 yards and he buried two inside the Tigers' twenty-yard line.

The Eagles will need to heal quickly from this narrow loss as they start the AAC season next week on the road at Pikeville.  Reinhardt still has everything in front of them with all conference games remaining, but they have to take one game at a time and not look over anyone. They are in a similar situation as they were last season. However, they have one more loss at this point going into the AAC schedule.  One of the losses is against NCAA DII opponent Carson Newman. 

The kickoff next Saturday is scheduled for 1:30 pm again in Kentucky.  The next home game for the Eagles is Saturday, October 12th, versus Point University.