MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner got it going early and scarcely let up Saturday on its way to a 55-6 victory over Fort Lauderdale. In the first meeting ever between the two programs, the hosting Eagles put up 21 points in the first quarter and turned in one of their most balanced offensive performances in quite some time.
Faulkner opened the scoring by taking advantage of a free play. After a defensive lineman jumped offsides,
Kamden Wellington hit the go-ball down the sideline to
Tomon Felton, who ran it the rest of the way to complete the 49-yard touchdown pass.
After
Chandler Reid intercepted a Fort Lauderdale pass, Faulkner wasted little time cashing in on the opportunity.
Robin Harris reeled off a nine-yard run before
Jamichael Taylor elevated over a defender to pull down a contested catch at the UFL 1. Harris pushed his way into the end zone to cap the march to move the lead to 14-0. Wellington hit a shot play again on Faulkner's third possession of the game, this time finding
Tyrese Keiler for a 54-yard catch-and-run to move the lead to 21-0.
After quarterback Koden Brown found Davidson Loriston Jr. at the back pylon to cut it to 21-6, Faulkner got back to work.
Jordan Moultrie broke a 12-yard run ahead of a 15-yard strike to Felton. Moultrie then finished the drive with a 19-yard touchdown run to make it 28-6.
The Eagles found points on their next possession as well when Moultrie punched it in from three yards out to punctuate a 33-yard drive that took only four plays to move the lead to 35-6.
Jaquan Frank recovered a fumble at the Fort Lauderdale 18 with 2:04 remaining in the half. Faulkner drove the ball to within inches from the goal line before a misconnection on the snap left it having to send the field goal unit on to end the half.
Jacob Huff proved true on the 32-yard attempt to send it to the locker room at 38-6.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. Still, Faulkner took over at its own 5 late in the frame and began a possession that lasted 12 plays and drained 5:58 off the clock. The 95-yard drive saw Wellington connect with four different receivers before handing it off to Moultrie for a 2-yard touchdown run. Just 21 seconds later,
Samir Muhammad picked off a pass and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown and the 52-6 advantage.
Jacob Huff later capped a
Seth Leebern-led drive with a 36-yard field goal to set the final score.
The 55-point outburst marked the first time the Eagles scored 50 in a game since Nov. 13, 2021 when it put up 52 against St. Andrews. The Eagles also scored 52 earlier that season at Bluefield College and scored 51 at Warner in 2019. Saturday's scoring output marked the first time Faulkner hit 50 points in the friendly confines of Billy D. Hilyer Stadium since Sept. 22, 2018 when it put up 73 against Cincinnati Christian.
Wellington finished the day 14 of 18 for 253 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Moultrie led the ground game with 91 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. Harris added 47 yards and a score on 10 rushes. Felton hauled in five passes for 99 yards and a score. Keiler caught three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.
RJ Randolph Jr. led the defense with five total tackles.
Kendrick Wilson recorded a sack while Reid, Muhammad, and
Chase Huff each intercepted a pass.
Faulkner (5-3) heads to Blakely, Ga. next week to take on Andrew College in a game that kicks at 1 p.m. CST at Early County High School. The Eagles wrap up the season at home Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. against Cumberland University.
