story by Tripp Reynolds

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Nineteenth-ranked Faulkner (2-2) outgained No. 14 Georgetown College (3-1) on the ground and in the air in Saturday afternoon's Mid-South Conference matchup, but penalties and turnovers grounded the Eagles in the 35-21 loss.

The Tigers ignited the back and forth battle 5:36 into the game when running back Zach Harris scampered in to the end zone from three yards out for his first score of the day.  

Quarterback Clayton Nicholas answered for Faulkner exactly a quarter later when he connected with wide receiver Jonathan McNair on an 8-yard touchdown strike to even out the score.

Georgetown quarterback Ozzie Mann catapulted the home team back into the lead just over four minutes later when he fired and 8-yard touchdown pass of his own to tight end Conner Ford.

The Eagles again tied the game at 14-14 when Nicholas found all-American receiver Rob Lockhart from 21-yards out just under five minutes into the second half.

The Tigers regained the lead early in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard run from J.J. Jude, but Nicholas answered again through the air three minutes later, this time with receiver Keithon Redding. The 12-yard touchdown pass capped Faulkner's scoring efforts for the outing.

Harris recorded the go-ahead touchdown for Georgetown with a 9-yard rush to give the home team the 28-21 advantage with 1:24 remaining in the game, but the knockout blow occurred just fifteen seconds later on Faulkner's first play from scrimmage.  

Nicholas attempted a screen pass to running back Reagan Amos in the flats, but linebacker Max Nussbaum read the play all the way and took the interception 22 yards for the game-sealing touchdown.

"Our defense continued to play well today," said head coach Charlie Boren. "Georgetown is always a tough opponent, and I was proud of the way we played, but we weren't able to get in the end zone enough. We also shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers and penalties. We can't make this many mistakes if we want to win in this conference."

Faulkner was penalized nine times for 119 yards, threw four interceptions and lost a fumble against the Tigers.

Nicholas was 28-for-43 with 255 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.  

Running back Joe Jones added 98 yards on 13 touches, while Lockhart led the receiving corps, notching six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Mann, who led the MSC East in passing coming into the game, was held to 235 yards and one touchdown. His top receiver, Bart Bell, who leads the East in receiving, was held to a single catch for seven yards.

Faulkner will take on Campbellsville University (1-3) in the first West Division showdown of the season on Saturday. Kickoff is 11 a.m. central time in Campbellsville, Ky.