Game Preview: No. 10 Reinhardt at Union (Ky.)
By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
Photo Courtesy of Al Levine
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – (Video | Stats | Audio) The road opener within the Mid-South Conference (MSC) Appalachian Division takes place tomorrow afternoon as the 10th-ranked Eagles (3-0) travel to Barbourville, Ky., to take on the 0-3 Bulldogs of Union.
Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.
The hometown squad is 5-0 all time in the series with the Bulldogs, 2-0 at Union, with the most recent competition coming on Nov. 16, 2019 (Homecoming and Senior Day) in a 63-0 rout inside Ken White Field at University Stadium.
Despite their record to begin the year, the host Bulldogs present some challenges that will need to be addressed for Reinhardt to be successful in all three phases of the game.
"The Union Bulldogs are a good football team that plays hard," head coach James Miller said. "They have been putting up some points on offense and do a lot of different fronts and blitzes on defense. We have to execute better and communicate better as a football team; that's what I'm looking for – less mistakes and more communication in all three phases. We need to take care of the football because the football is gold in all phases. We also must have passionate effort on the road.
"I love this team and I am ready to watch them compete hard to achieve this victory. We thank everyone to be able to play this game, as a lot of sacrifices have been made to make this happen, and we appreciate it."
About Union
The Bulldogs lost, 45-27, to visiting Faulkner (Ala.) last Saturday. However, Domonique Thomas and Jessie Caver posted big numbers in helping Union gained 440 yards in total offense. Thomas rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
He also caught a pair of passes for 20 yards and scored a two-point conversion.
Caver completed 18-of-31 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-scoring play.
Last Time Out
The 10th-ranked Eagles dominated the visiting Point (Ga.) Skyhawks last Saturday in all aspects of the game en route to a 52-0 victory at Ken White Field at University Stadium.
The win gave Reinhardt its second win over Point on the year, a 3-0 overall record and a 1-0 record in Appalachian Division play within the Mid-South Conference. The Eagles topped 500 yards of offense for the first time this season (535) and had more takeaways than in the first two games combined.
Individually, Billy Hall was 15-of-22 for 275 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground, the hometown squad ran for 260 yards while the defense held the Skyhawks to just 150 yards of offense.
The quest for a fourth-straight victory – and second within the MSC – begins early Saturday afternoon.
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