MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner opened its 2027 home slate Saturday with its first shutout since 2015 as it defeated Union Commonwealth 44-0.
The Eagles worked around a couple of early miscues to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard. After a high snap led to a deflected punt, Faulkner's
Jasiah Ward picked off a pass in the end zone on the ensuing play.
Faulkner's shutout bid was threatened again in the third quarter when Semaj Jenkins broke a run to the Eagle 3 only to have the ball forced loose by Bernard Tindal.
AJ Alozie jumped on it for Faulkner and preserved the defensive goose egg.
The Eagles got the scoring started with 9:49 remaining in the first quarter when
Kamden Wellington went over the top to
Tomon Felton for an 18-yard touchdown strike. Wellington added to the lead with 13:52 left in the second when he found Felton again for a 29-yard scoring pass to move the lead to 13-0.
Robin Harris punched the ball in from a yard out with 5:42 left in the second to move the advantage to 20-0. The lead remained there until midway through the third quarter when Wellington aired it out for
Darian Riggs, allowing the receiver to run underneath it and haul it in for a 63-yard touchdown.
Jacob Huff knocked through a 23-yard field goal at the 9:30 mark of the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 30-0. Wellington found his career-high fourth touchdown pass of the game with 6:36 left when he hit
Jamichael Taylor in the back corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown strike.
Boogie Booker got in on the final offensive series of the game and made the most of his opportunities as he broke a 44-yard touchdown run to ice the game.
With things largely in control for much of the second half, Faulkner turned to the backfield tandem of Harris and
Jordan Moultrie to shorten the game. Harris finished with 74 yards on 19 carries while Moultrie amassed 77 yards on nine rushes. Wellington finished with 206 yards and four touchdowns while completing 14 of 21 pass attempts. Riggs topped all receivers with 82 yards on two catches.
Tindal finished with eight tackles, including two in the backfield.
Aiden Spratt also finished with eight total tackles.
Faulkner's last shutout was a 41-0 victory over Kentucky Christian on Oct. 31, 2015. Saturday's result over Union marked only the third shutout by an Eagle defense and the second in the history of Billy D. Hilyer Stadium. The last time Faulkner pitched a shutout in "The Bill" was Sept. 26, 2015 in a 44-0 victory over Georgetown College.
The shutout of Union Saturday occurred during a game in which Faulkner Athletics Hall of Fame members Brandon Cheatham and Josh Hollingsworth served as honorary captains. That tandem was in town to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Eagles' 95-89 win over the Bulldogs, a game in which the Eagles' honorary captains combined for 12 touchdowns.
Faulkner started Saturday's proceedings by honoring the memory of
Qadir Lyle, the freshman quarterback from Decatur, Ala. who passed tragically in an accident just two weeks earlier. The team welcomed and prayed with the Lyle family. Qadir's brother, Solomon Lyle, started on defense for the Bulldogs and finished tied for a game-high eight tackles.
Faulkner (1-1) goes on the road for its next four games. The Eagles travel to Valley, Ala. to face Point University Saturday, Sept. 12. Faulkner's next home game is Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. against Andrew College.
