Eagles Split Doubleheader at Milligan, Top Cumberland Before Falling to Milligan

Milligan, TN. - Reinhardt University's Eagles women's flag football team earned a split in a Saturday doubleheader at Milligan University on March 14, 2026, riding a five-touchdown performance from quarterback Alexus Wilson to a 32-19 win over Cumberland before dropping the nightcap 33-14 to host Milligan. The decisive sequence of the day came in Game 1, when Wilson's late rushing touchdown with 27 seconds remaining put away Cumberland's fourth-quarter rally and secured the opening victory.

In the opener against Cumberland, Reinhardt overcame an early deficit and methodically built a lead behind Wilson's dual-threat play. Cumberland struck first on a Madison Woodard touchdown pass at the 8:10 mark of the first quarter to go up 6-0 after a missed PAT. Wilson answered less than four minutes later with a scoring pass and successful point-after to pull the Eagles even, 6-6, at the end of the first quarter. From there, Reinhardt's offense found its rhythm and never trailed again.

Wilson put the Eagles in front for good early in the second quarter with another touchdown pass and PAT for a 13-6 advantage. Just before halftime, Reinhardt extended the margin when Bleu A. McFarland hauled in a scoring pass with 13 seconds left in the half, sending the Eagles into the break with a 20-6 lead after the PAT was unsuccessful. Cumberland cut into the margin early in the third quarter when Avery Conger returned an interception for a touchdown, trimming the lead to 20-12 following a missed conversion.

Reinhardt responded to that defensive score with another Wilson-led drive. At the 5:20 mark of the third quarter, Wilson found Rebecca Jenkins on a short touchdown pass to push the advantage back to 26-12 after a failed PAT. Cumberland kept the pressure on in the fourth quarter, as Marley Hyde caught a touchdown pass and the ensuing point-after brought the Phoenix within 26-19 with 9:01 to play. The Eagles' defense held from there, and Wilson delivered the clinching blow with a late rushing touchdown at 0:27 remaining, closing out the 32-19 win.

Wilson paced Reinhardt's offense in Game 1, completing 25 of 37 passes for 248 yards and four touchdowns while adding 68 rushing yards and another score on 13 carries. The Eagles finished with 307 total yards on 52 plays, including 59 yards on the ground, and overcame four interceptions by capitalizing on big-play opportunities in the passing game. Tatianna Allicock provided a key receiving threat with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, helping Reinhardt outgain Cumberland, which managed 272 total yards but was held to negative rushing yardage.

In Game 2, the Eagles ran into a hot Milligan offense led by quarterback Bridget Keyser. Milligan controlled the first half, building a 6-0 lead after a Keyser rushing touchdown in the first quarter, then breaking the game open in the second. Keyser threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter, including a scoring strike to Ashton Whearley with 1:41 left in the half, as Milligan took a 24-0 advantage into halftime. Another Keyser touchdown pass early in the third quarter extended the lead to 32-0, putting Reinhardt in a deep hole despite a more balanced offensive effort.

The Eagles battled through the fourth quarter and finished the day with a late push. Wilson put Reinhardt on the board with a rushing touchdown and PAT at the 5:59 mark of the final quarter to cut the deficit. In the closing seconds, Wilson connected with Nadeya King for a 28-yard touchdown, and the successful point-after set the final margin at 33-14. Wilson closed Game 2 with 27 completions in 44 attempts for 223 yards and one touchdown through the air, while also rushing 13 times for 44 yards and another score. King's fourth-quarter touchdown reception highlighted a balanced passing attack that produced 223 of the Eagles' 267 total yards.

Milligan's efficiency proved to be the difference in the finale, as Keyser went 24-for-34 for 290 yards and five touchdown passes, with receiver Caitlin Quinn catching five passes for 85 yards and a score. The Buffaloes totaled 315 yards on just 42 plays, capitalizing on their early surge to stay in front. For Reinhardt, the doubleheader showcased Wilson's productivity and the Eagles' ability to respond under pressure, punctuated by the Game 1 win over Cumberland and a resilient fourth-quarter showing against Milligan that carried momentum into the final whistle.