Bluefield, VA – The Rams faced off against the Reinhardt Eagles in a tense conference clash, coming into the game with a record of 3-5 overall and 2-1 in the conference, while the Eagles stood at 4-4 overall, also 2-1 in conference play. After a closely contested match, the Rams ultimately fell to the Eagles by a score of 24-16.
To start the game The Eagles won the toss and opted to receive, quickly striking first with a kickoff return for a touchdown, followed by a successful extra point that put Reinhardt up 7-0. The Rams responded swiftly, starting from their own 25-yard line. A key 55-yard pass from Nathan Herstich to Christian Mack set them up in the red zone. Capitalizing on the momentum, Rayjuan Traynham rushed for 11 yards, bringing the Rams to a 1st-and-goal situation. Herstich then connected with Gio Burns for a 9-yard touchdown, and Riley Stubbs, named AAC Special Teams Player of the Week, successfully converted the extra point, tying the game at 7-7.
The first quarter ended with both teams locked in a defensive battle, unable to score again. As the second quarter commenced, the Rams sought to pull ahead, and Stubbs delivered with a 24-yard field goal, giving Bluefield a 10-7 lead. The Eagles quickly responded with a field goal of their own, followed by a touchdown, bringing the score to 17-10. Just before halftime, Stubbs struck again with a field goal, narrowing the gap to 17-13.
After halftime, Reinhardt extended their lead with a rushing touchdown, making the score 24-13. The Rams rallied, driven by strong performances from Traynham and Zamarreon Younger, allowing Stubbs to add another field goal from 28 yards, closing the score to 24-16. The fourth quarter saw both defenses hold firm, with neither team able to score, finalizing the game at 24-16 in favor of Reinhardt.
Standout Performances:
Passing:
Rushing:
Receiving:
Defensive Leaders:
- Eric Boyd: 6 solo tackles, 5 assists (11 total).
- Nehemiah Carter: 5 solo tackles, 4 assists (9 total), with 3 passes defended.
- Leyton Fowler: 1 solo tackle, 6 assists (7 total), including 0.5 tackles for loss.
- Koda Counts: 3 solo tackles, 3 assists (6 total).
- Jaylan Smith: 3 solo tackles, 2 assists (5 total).
- Quincy Robinson: 2 solo tackles, 3 assists (5 total), with 1 tackle for loss.
- Titus Holte: 2 solo tackles, 2 assists (4 total).
- Stacy Wilson: 3 solo tackles, 1 assist (4 total).
- Kyle Orris: 2 solo tackles, 1 assist (3 total), with 0.5 tackles for loss.
Field Goals:
- Riley Stubbs: Successful field goals from 24 yards, 18 yards, and 28 yards.
Punting:
- Riley Stubbs: 6 punts for 250 yards, averaging 41.7 yards per punt, with a long punt of 57 yards.
Kickoffs:
- Riley Stubbs: 2 kickoffs for 126 yards, averaging 63.0 yards per kickoff.
- Isaiah Bandy: 3 kickoffs for 135 yards, averaging 45.0 yards per kickoff.
Head Coach Dewey Lusk commented on the game, saying, "No question we played extremely hard today and with great energy! Our defense played much better today. However, as a team, we have not been able to make the plays we need to when we need them, or we make critical mistakes at the worst times. We must continue to work on the details, eliminate critical mistakes, and finish the season on a strong note!"
With this loss, the Rams' record now stands at 3-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference. They will look to bounce back as they travel to St. Andrews next Saturday, November 9th, in search of another conference win.
