Time: 1:30 p.m.
Date: Saturday, September 7, 2019
Place: Ken White Field at University Stadium
History: Reinhardt leads 4-0
LAST TIME OUT: UPIKE opened the season last Thursday against NCAA FCS opponent Murray State. The Bears were able to give Murray more than it bargained for through the first half, going into halftime with just a 34-17 deficit thanks to two late touchdowns from Bowen Smith, one on the ground and one through the air to Damian Sutton. Xondre Willis showed his prowess as one of the best backs in the NAIA early with 40 yards on his first three touches. After halftime, Murray's size and speed wore down the Bears as MSU pulled away in the second half.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Reinhardt will enter Saturday's game rested after opening the season with a week zero contest against Webber International. Webber gave Reinhardt a run for their money and held what was a high-powered offense from a season ago in check, but still fell 16-6. Reinhardt was able to hold Webber to six points in part because of a vaunted front seven on defense that held the Warriors to only four rushing yards in the entire game. One of the captains of that defense is defensive end JT Graydon, who had two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss against Webber.
The Eagles are a very run-heavy team that tries to grind opponents down on offense, running the ball 54 times to just 19 pass attempts against Webber. Reinhardt nearly had four different 50-yard rushers against the Warriors, including quarterback Billy Hall who had 13 total attempts for 54 yards. Montralius Mosley led the Eagles with 70 yards, while Trevae Cain, Otis Odum, and M'Calun Lanier are all expected to get touches.
COMING HOME: Saturday's game will serve as a homecoming of sorts for much of the UPIKE roster. Twenty-four players in total on UPIKE's roster hail from the Peach State, the second-most from any state besides Kentucky.
RECORD WATCHING: After last week's performance against Murray State, Xondre Willis is 699 yards away from surpassing Leonard Moore as the Bears all-time leading rusher.
DIVISION REALIGNMENT: Unlike last year's matchup against Reinhardt, Saturday's contest will not count to UPIKE's division standings. The Mid-South Conference went through divisional realignment over summer with Thomas More's arrival and placed UPIKE in the Bluegrass Division with more traditional MSC opponents such as Cumberlands (Ky.), Campbellsville, Lindsey Wilson, and Georgetown.
20 YEARS OF BEARS FOOTBALL: With today's game, UPIKE begins its 20th year of football. Players will wear decals on their helmet all season to signify the anniversary. UPIKE holds an all-time record of 87-114, but head coach Al Holland is turning the program around with winning seasons two of the last three years.
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