REINHARDT, Ga. – Reinhardt University will represent the AAC in the NAIA football playoffs after a 62-21 win over the University of Pikeville Saturday afternoon.
 
The Eagles will head into the postseason with a record of 7-3, going a perfect 6-0 in the conference.
 
UPike's season came to an end at 4-6, with a 4-2 record in the league.
 
The Bears scored first, with grad student Xavier Malone hooking up with Ty Perkins for a five-yard score with 10:58 left in the first period. It was the first of three touchdown passes from Malone to Perkins on the day. Freshman Isaac Smith's extra-point was good.
 
Jah Colbert tied the game with a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive.
 
With 4:45 left in the period, Malone again found Perkins, this time from 14 yards out, to go back on top 14-7.
 
By halftime, though, Reinhardt had bolted out to a 28-14 lead.
 
UPike cut it to 28-21 with 8:27 left. This time, Malone and Perkins combined on a 34-yard score.
 
From there, the Eagles scored 34 points to roll to the win.
 
Colbert did most of the damage for Reinhardt, carrying 19 times for 186 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught one pass, taking it 26 yards for another score.
 
Malone finished the day 25 for 44, covering 265 yards and three touchdowns. On the season, he threw 24 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions, passing for 3,492 yards with a completion percentage of 69 percent.
 
Perkins caught seven passes for 106 yards on the day. Senior Jordan Williams led the Bears with nine catches, picking up 52 yards.
 
Sophomore Amon Williams led the Bears on the ground with 70 yards.
 
Sophomore Najmir Bellegarde had 11 tackles, six of them solos. Sophomore linebacker Levi Evans followed with eight tackles, five solos.