Turnovers haunt Georgetown in upset loss to Reinhardt

Reinhardt scored a go-ahead touchdown with 1:36 left and forced 5 Tiger turnovers in pulling the upset of #12 Georgetown, 28-24, on Saturday.

After an exchange of punts in the 1st, Reinhardt struck as QB Stephin Craig found Jakari Clark down the left sideline for a 49-yard score to put the Eagles ahead. Georgetown came right back as Dillon Warren took the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to the house, tying the game at 7 just over four minutes in to the 1st. After an Eagles punt, Gehrig Slunaker was intercepted, putting Reinhardt at the GC 36. The Tigers defense held and forced a punt.

Georgetown got the offense going on the next drive. On a 3rd & 7, Slunaker found Darius Neal in the flat for a 12-yard gain to keep the chains moving. Two plays later, Slunaker connected with tight end, Cade Mullins, for 26 yards to the Eagles' 37. Isaiah Cobb followed up with an 18-yard run to move Georgetown into the red zone. Darius Neal capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run, putting the Tigers up 14-7 after 1.

The Tigers got the ball back and used a 9-play, 77-yard drive to add to the lead as Darius Neal ran in from 5 yards away. Georgetown took a 21-7 lead with 11:30 to go in the 2nd. Reinhardt put together a solid drive in response, primarily on the ground. The Tigers D held inside the 25, forcing a field goal try. The attempt from 40 yards away was blocked by the Tigers (credited to Kyren Simpson), keeping the lead at 14 for GC. After a Tiger punt, the defense got the ball back as Tyler Snell pulled in a one-handed interception in front of the Reinhardt bench. Georgetown took over at its own 48 with 1:27 left in the half. Reinhardt's defense answered with another interception on the drive's 1st play, giving the Eagles a shot from the Georgetown 44 with 1:20 to go. Reinhardt would make it down to the Tigers 4-yard line and when brought to a 4th-and-goal, the Eagles elected to go for it. Pressure from the Tigers defensive line forced an errant throw and Georgetown took a 21-7 lead to the half.

In the 3rd, Reinhardt made a quarterback change, which began to open up its offense. On the Eagles' first drive, they took the ball 95 yards on just 8 plays. The final 36 yards came on the legs of Taylor Jackson, which cut the GC lead to 21-14. Dillon Warren responded with another strong return to the Georgetown 48. The Tigers eventually faced a 3rd & 16 from the RU 30. TJ Whetstine took the handoff on a jet sweep, got to the 20-yard line, but was stripped. The Eagles picked up the loose ball and returned it all the way for a scoop and score, tying the game at 21 with just over 4 minutes to go in the third.

Midway in the 4th, Georgetown's defense rose to the occassion as Davon Starks intercepted a pass over the middle, giving GC the ball at the Eagles' 25. The Tigers would march into the red zone, but not the end zone as they had to take a 22-yard field goal from Drew Rader. It gave Georgetown a 24-21 lead with 5:40 remaining. Rader's ensuing kickoff went out-of-bounds, giving Reinhardt a start at its own 35. With Taylor Jackson still in at QB, the Eagles marched down field, going 65 yards in just 7 plays, as Jackson found a wide open Jake Wallace for a 5-yard TD. Reinhardt took a 28-24 lead with 1:36 to go.

On Georgetown's 1st play, Slunaker looked for a crossing receiver but was intercepted for the 3rd time, essentially ending the game. Georgetown would get the ball back on its own 20 with just 17 seconds left. Slunaker's 1st pass bounced off a receiver's hands and into the waiting arms of a Reinhardt defender for Georgetown's 5th turnover, and to seal the game.

Darius Neal led the Tigers offense, carrying the ball 18 times for 91 yards and 2 rushing scores. Isaiah Cobb totaled 51 yards on 9 carries. The passing game was quiet as Gehrig Slunaker completed just 7 passes against a tough Reinhardt secondary. Jeremy Adams, JC Shegog, and Aaron Maggard all had 29 yards each through the air. 

Dillon Warren averaged nearly 54 yards per kick return, including the 96-yard TD in the 1st. Drew Rader converted on all 3 extra points and the field goal. He also averaged nearly 45 yards per punt, including 3 punts inside the Reinhardt 20. Chad Holleran had a team-high 12 tackles. Jacob Brass and Payton Standifer finished with 10 tackles each.

Georgetown will take next week off and prepare for the MSC opener at Bethel on October 7th.