THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Faulkner football is 2-0 to start a season for the first time since 2021 after the Eagles downed Thomas University 22-7 Saturday night. The first matchup in the history of the two football programs prominently featured defensive high points in the first half as the Eagles carried a 12-0 lead into the locker room.
Faulkner opened the scoring on a
Robin Harris touchdown run of six yards with 4:25 remaining in the first quarter. The play capped a five-snap, 30-yard drive that left the Eagles up 7-0 following a
Jacob Huff PAT.
The margin held for nearly an entire quarter with the Faulkner defense changing the scoreboard at the 4:53 mark of the second with a safety achieved by a
Promise Williams tackle in the end zone.
The Eagles added to the lead on the final play of the half after a bizarre sequence of events. Huff attempted a field goal of 44 yards only to have the effort wiped out by a false start penalty. He then connected on a 49-yard attempt only to see it wiped out by a pre-snap penalty as well. With the ball moved back to the 37, Thomas called a timeout. Huff lined back up before Faulkner burned its final timeout. The Eagles opted to send Huff back on the field with six seconds left in the half, allowing the Montgomery native to drill a 54-yard kick to move the lead to 12-0. The kick marked the longest field goal in program history, giving Huff the three longest field goals ever made by an Eagle.
Faulkner added to the lead at the 3:38 mark of the third quarter when Huff concluded a 13-play, 66-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal for the 15-0 advantage. The drive started at the Faulkner 29 following a
Caleb Williams interception. The pick was the first of the night for a Faulkner defense that forced three fumbles in the first half.
The Nighthawks showed signs of life to start the fourth quarter when Quentavious Hunter hooked up with Shaun Pryor for a 23-yard completion. The play sparked a 73-yard drive that finished when Hunter found Aaron Wilson for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
Caleb Williams turned the momentum back in the Eagles' favor with 6:38 to play when he returned a Thomas punt 49 yards for a touchdown, allowing Huff to add the PAT and move the advantage to 22-7.
Tray Banks looked to get Thomas right back into it less than a minute later when he broke a 63-yard catch-and-run to get the Nighthawks inside the 5. The Faulkner defense stood strong for the next four plays to force the turnover on downs. Faulkner ran out the clock on the ensuing possession to ice the win.
The Eagles held Thomas to 200 yards of total offense, with 181 of them coming through the air. Faulkner allowed only 19 yards on 29 rushes. The Eagles countered with 268 total yards, including 190 on the ground. Harris paced Faulkner with 95 yards on 18 carries.
Styles Hughes added 49 yards on nine rushes.
Elisha McNeil had a strip sack and a fumble recovery to help lead the defense, while Williams finished with five total tackles to go along with a pair of stops for loss, a pass breakup, an interception and a punt return touchdown.
Faulkner (2-0) is unbeaten through two games for just the first time since 2021. The Eagles face a major non-conference test at home Saturday, Sept. 20 when it hosts No. 17 Southeastern for a noon kick.
