Last second TD dive saves Faulkner at Union

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. (faulknereagles.com) – In his final game as an Eagle, senior running back Trent Miles dove into the end zone from the 3-yard line with 12 seconds remaining in the game to give Faulkner (6-4) the 41-35 win over Union (5-6) here in the season finale this afternoon.

After a rough start for both teams, Faulkner got on the board first when quarterback Clayton Nicholas connected with receiver Rob Lockhart in the end zone midway through the second quarter.

Four minutes later quarterback Alex Bell scored Union’s (5-6) first touchdown to tie the game 7-7.

Nicholas threw two more touchdowns, an 18-yarder to receiver Terrance Sims and a 16-yarder to wideout Keithon Redding, to give the Eagles a 21-7 lead at halftime.

The Bulldogs held Faulkner scoreless in the third quarter and got two more touchdowns out of Bell, one by land and one by air, the later to receiver Decorwyne Dunnaway to tie it 21-21 heading into the final period.

The Eagles took the lead two more times on touchdowns from running back Joe Jones on the ground and through the air from Nicholas to Redding. Union answered both times, however, the first on an 80-yard rushing touchdown from running back Izayah Riettie and second on 92-yard kick return from receiver Jalen Ashby. The latter tied the game 35-35 with 8:28 left.

After the two teams combined for four fruitless possessions, Faulkner got the ball back when senior defensive back Austin Wilder picked off a Bell pass with thirty seconds left in the game. Five plays and 65 yards later, Miles put the Eagles on top for good.

After the kickoff following the Miles score, Union took over with eight seconds on their own 45-yard-line. Bell completed two passes, one to the Faulkner 45-yard-line and the other to the Faulkner 10-yard-line, but time expired when the second ball was still in the air.

Nicholas lead the Eagles with 517 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Lockhart caught nine balls for 179 yards and a touchdown, while Redding chipped 126 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.

Defensive linemen Banton Price and William Winters lead Faulkner with 9 and 8 tackles, respectively.

Defensive backs E.J. Armstrong and Wilder each contributed an interception.

The victory secured the program’s fifth straight winning season after after starting things out with five losing seasons.

The 2017 season will see Faulkner move into the new MSC Sun division where it will compete against Florida’s five NAIA football teams for a spot in the NAIA playoffs.