Reinhardt Closes spring with Black-Gold Scrimmage, Turns Attention to 2026 Opener

Waleska, GA - Reinhardt University Football closed spring practice at Ken White Field at University Stadium with its annual Black-Gold spring game, a final evaluation setting for coaches as the Eagles begin shaping the roster for the 2026 fall season. The scrimmage centered on personnel looks and game-like reps after a 2025 campaign that ended with another Appalachian Athletic Conference championship and a trip to the NAIA National Playoffs.

The most notable work came under center in the first half, where veteran Stephen Craig and NCAA Division II transfer Gordon Armar handled the majority of the snaps. Both quarterbacks produced plays during extended opportunities, giving the staff an early look at two of the main contenders to help replace departed starter Taylor Jackson. Jackson, a three-year starting quarterback, is among several key losses from the 2025 team, along with Jah Colbert, Emmanuel Olaitan, and Ethan Rice.

Braden Bohannon also stood out during the scrimmage because of his versatility. Listed as an all-purpose option, Bohannon moved between quarterback and receiver roles, offering another glimpse of the flexibility Reinhardt could use in the fall. The spring game, split between Black and Gold squads, was designed less as a traditional result-driven contest and more as a chance to evaluate depth, identify playmakers, and test players in live situations.

That context mattered for a program trying to reload after another successful season. Reinhardt entered the spring coming off a repeat AAC title in 2025, but with several major contributors gone, the focus shifted toward finding the next wave of production. The spring practice sessions, along with the spring game, gave the coaching staff a look at returning experience, transfer help, and multipurpose athletes in one final on-field setting before preparations move toward summer preseason camp.

Head Coach James Miller had the following to say about the end of the spring training season and the spring game, "We just wrapped up spring Football. I'm really excited about the team we have coming back. We are young and inexperienced, but hungry to prove people wrong. I think we have talent on both sides of the football. We had some guys really step up today in the game. I saw both quarterbacks, Gordon and Craig, perform well today, making plays through the air and on the ground. I'm excited about our tight end position. I think we have depth and physicality at that position. Skill position, I feel like we have multiple guys who can make players with the ball in their hands. We gotta do a great job of each distributing the ball to our wide receivers and running backs, both through the air and on the ground. Defensively, I thought Ty Holiday, Kevon Rivers, Danquavious Cummings, and Darius Jordan made a lot of plays up front. Our most experienced group is our linebackers, who showed great leadership and a lot of really good development in that room. Our secondary, we added and shifted some people around and were able to find some new homes for a couple of our defensive backs as a whole. I was proud of the team for their effort, attitude, and body language every day through the 15 practices. I want to thank everybody who came out and supported us at the spring game. I'd also like to think our administration and our assistant coaches, who worked tirelessly every day to make our players into the great men of the future."

The next major date on the calendar is the 2026 season opener at Lindsey Wilson on Thursday, Aug. 27. Reinhardt then travels to Newberry before returning home for its first home game on Saturday, Sept. 12, against Southeastern at 7 p.m. at Ken White Field, the program's first night game there since the 2022 opener. The nonconference schedule also includes trips to Florida Memorial and a home game against Faulkner before AAC play begins Oct. 3 at Union.

Conference home dates against Kentucky Christian, Rio Grande, Point University and the University of Pikeville are also on the fall slate, with season tickets expected to go on sale in midsummer as the university plans to expand seating and ticket packages. For now, the spring game served as the last public step in a transition period, with Craig, Armar, and Bohannon among the players who drew attention as Reinhardt looks ahead to 2026.

Stay tuned to www.ReinhardtEagles.com and our social media platforms for season updates and ticket information. 2026 looks to be another exciting season of Eagles Football!