Reinhardt’s ground attack faces tough challenge

Savannah State at South Carolina State, 1:30 p.m.

Furman at Mercer, 3 p.m.

Reinhardt’s rushing numbers are ridiculous.

Deonte Dennis has scored 14 touchdowns. L.J. Stegall averages 11.3 yards per carry. Stegall and Dominique Swope have each scored 11 touchdowns. Reggie Mack averages 11.2 yards.

Those stats help explain why the third-ranked Eagles (11-0) have the No. 1 rushing attack in NAIA, one that will be on display when they host their first playoff game in program history Saturday.

There’s one problem.

Southeastern (7-2), their opponent, ranks No. 1 in the country against the run (only 47.8 yards per game) and hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown this season.

To compare, Reinhardt has scored 64 times on the ground.

“We have to play well to give ourselves a chance,” Reinhardt coach Drew Cronic said. “They don’t give up any points and don’t give up any rushing yards.”

Stegall (Jeff Davis) is Reinhardt’s leading rusher, with 747 yards, but plenty of hands touch the ball in an ground attack that averages 385.9 yards, nearly 100 yards more than the next team.

Swope (Buford) has 534 yards, Dennis (Rome) has 501, Mack (West Laurens) has 382 on only 34 attempts, and the Eagles average 7.2 yards a carry in a system that’s “a combination of Auburn, Oregon and Georgia Tech all wrapped into one,” Cronic said.

And by the way, quarterback Ryan Thompson has thrown for 1,782 yards and they rank No. 2 in the NAIA in total offense (564.8).

“We try to move it around and try to get the guys the ball in space,” Cronic said. “We have guys who fit what we do really well.”

Stegall, who is a speedy 170 pounds, plays the A-back position in Reinhardt’s offense, where he lines up in the slot and often takes handoffs on jet sweeps.

“The line is making creases, and my job, when they make them, is to hit the crease to the best of my ability,” he said. “And when I get to the next level, it’s my job to earn my scholarship and make plays.”

Reinhardt is a fourth-year program that has steadily improved.

The Eagles were 6-4 in each of their first two seasons and went 9-1 last year before losing a first-round playoff game.

With an offense that averages 56 points and a defense that is giving up an average of 11.7, No. 2 in the NAIA, the Eagles haven’t been challenged often this season.

“When you’re no-huddle and go fast, everybody thinks you’re spread. What we do is a little different,” Cronic said. “I haven’t seen anybody else that looks quite like us. It’s a little unorthodox, but we like what we’re doing and we enjoy doing it.”

Sack machine

Berry’s Mamadou Soumahoro (Berkmar) ranks third in Division III with 15 sacks, including four in the final regular-season game.

The Vikings finished 9-1 and tied for the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) championship, but Washington (Mo.) defeated Berry during the regular season and advanced to the playoffs.

Strong season

Cameron Rosendahl (Kell) threw for 2,343 yards and 27 touchdowns for Georgia Military College, which finished 9-2.

“Cam’s best attributes are his toughness, competitiveness and understanding the game,” GMC coach Bert Williams said. “He’s one of the best two or three QBs we have had here in the 20 years I have been at GMC.”

Wolves struggle

West Georgia began the season No. 2 in Division II, but lost three consecutive games in October and finished 7-4. The Wolves had made two consecutive semifinals appearances and gone 24-5 the past two seasons.

Around the state

Clark Atlanta lost its final three games to finish 5-5, its best record since going 6-5 in 2008. … West Georgia’s Lamarcus Franks was the only 1,000-yard rusher in the Gulf South Conference, finishing with 1,009 yards. … Fort Valley State was 1-6, but won its final four games, including the Southern Intercollegiate Championship game with a 33-30 victory over Kentucky State. … Shorter finished 0-11 and was shut out in its final five games, seven times overall. The Hawks scored only 79 points this season.