Faulkner University

The Hawks scored twice in the first half at Cramton Bowl and used a 70-yard touchdown run by Jamal Gardner to down Faulkner 21-7 in the second Capital City Showdown.

"That's two-in-a-row. We're setting the right tone for the future," Gardner said. "It's big for us because we're both in the same city and we want to see who's the best in Montgomery. I think we made a point tonight."

Huntingdon won the first meeting 30-12 last season.

"It feels great to beat our big rival and start the season 2-0," Huntingdon quarterback Justin Ridgeway said. "It's huge to come in and play a team that is supposed to outmatch us and outsize us. We came out as a team played our guts out."

The second-year Faulkner program put up a better fight this season. Huntingdon coach Mike Turk said the difference was noticeable.

"It's very obvious that Faulkner is much better than last year," Turk said. "They are a bigger and stronger team and it's obvious that we're going to have our work cut out for us as this series continues."

That was little consolation to the Eagles on Saturday.

"We did some good things, but we shot ourselves in the foot one too many times," Faulkner head coach Jim Nichols said. "We're getting better and we're giving teams better games, but we can't keep making the mistakes we made tonight."

Turk said he was surprised at the low-scoring defensive battle.

"Who would have predicted this score after last week?" Turk said in reference to the Hawks' 41-35 home victory over Maryville and Faulkner's 62-0 loss at Samford. "This was supposed to be a shootout and it turned into an offensive struggle. I never thought 21 points would be enough to win."

Both teams moved the ball, as Huntingdon (2-0) piled up 379 yards of offense and Faulkner (0-2) finished with 291. But finding the end zone was a different story.

"I can't say enough about our defense and the way they responded after last week," Turk said. "Our guys responded the way we hoped they would."

Linebacker Granger Shook led Huntingdon with nine tackles and Chad Hatfield also had nine stops. Turk pointed to a turnover on Faulkner's first possession of the game as helping to set the tone.

Huntingdon's DeAngelo Hill recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchback. The Hawks were unable to capitalize with a score, but the tone had been set.

"That turnover was huge," Turk said of the only turnover in the game. "It took some momentum away from them. If they punch it in there, who knows what that does for them."

Ridgeway guided the Hawks to the end zone late in the first quarter, scoring on a 7-yard run. Gardner made it 14-0 with a 7-yard run with 9:45 left in the half.

"We had a 14-point lead at halftime and we felt good about that," Turk said. "We had some missed scoring opportunities in the third quarter and I was worried that might come back to bite us. Late in the game, we were just trying to run out the clock, but Jamal had other ideas."

Leading 14-7 with less than five minutes to play, Gardner sealed the win with his career-long 70-yard run. "They had crowded the box, and when I went five yards, I was through the secondary and by myself," Gardner said. "I felt like someone was behind me the whole way."

Gardner finished with a career-high 157 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.

"He truly is a dependable football player," Turk said. "I can't say enough about how he responded. A game like this couldn't happen to a better kid."

Ridgeway added 66 yards rushing and passed for 113 yards on a 10-for-20 night. Cody Stepko kicked all three extra points.

Former Edgewood Academy standout Philip Moore led Faulkner with 220 yards on 24-for-43 passing. Moore connected with Frankie Padula for a 15-yard touchdown with 5:16 left in the game. Padula finished with 85 yards on seven receptions.