Eagles Start the 2025 Season Off with a Win Over Florida Memorial

Waleska, GA - Reinhardt Football got its 2025 season underway on a sunny afternoon at Ken White Field.  The Lions of Florida Memorial were the first on the calendar for the Eagles and they did not disappoint with a 49-35 victory to start the season.

 The Eagles jumped out to an early lead on the first of three touchdown passes from the arm of starting quarterback Taylor Jackson.  Jackson hit All-American Tyress McKey on a 25-yard touchdown catch. By the end of the first half, the Eagles had established a solid lead at 28 to 6.  The rest of the scores in the first half came from a first-quarter run by backup quarterback Ethan Rice, who also saw time at receiver for the Eagles.  Xavier Walker and Jamarion Walker scored in the second quarter, giving the equals the 22-point lead.

The third quarter started off with the Eagles' momentum in hand as they would score twice to open the lead further. Wide receiver Jordan Ghant scored on a 14-yard pass from Jackson.  Later, backup running back Harlem Diamond scored on a 2-yard punch in, making the score 42-6.

Despite jumping out to a large lead, the Eagles would have to claw their way to the victory. Florida Memorial scored on the next four possessions, which brought them back into striking range. After scoring the first two touchdowns of the half, Reinhardt would not put the ball back into the endzone until the team was inside the three-minute mark.  Before this score, the Lions chipped away at the big lead until they were just seven points behind the Eagles.

The Eagles' tactical proficiency was evident, as Jackson threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns, while Ethan Rice's 38-yard rushing touchdown was a highlight. Walker's two rushing touchdowns led the Eagles offensively.

On the defensive front, Adam Mweemba and Emmanuel Olaitan were notable, each securing multiple tackles, which played a crucial role in curtailing Florida Memorial's scoring efforts. The Eagles needed every bit of energy from their defense to get the 48-36 win. Mweemba ended the game with 7 tackles, and Olaitan had 6 tackles

Jah Colbert led the Eagles in running the ball on 12 carries for 74 yards.  His long was 22 yards, and he had a 6.2 yards per rush average.

The Eagles are set to face the Cumberland Phoenix this Saturday on the road in Tennessee.  Game time is set for 7 pm and the Eagles will look to grow on Saturday's non-conference win!

photo by Luke Huebner Photography