Faulkner University

Nadens Madeus picked off a pass by Faulkner quarterback Chad Gilmore and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown in the final seconds to spoil Faulkner's first-ever football homecoming and give Edward Waters a 28-21 victory.

There were more than 4,000 fans at Montgomery's Cramton Bowl as the Eagles fell to 1-4.

Gilmore came on to replace starter Frank Chinoski after Faulkner fell behind 14-0. He led a comeback that tied the game at 21 late in the third period.

"Our game plan all week was do some run, play-action stuff with Frank in there and it just wasn't working," said offensive coordinator Justin Crews.

Kilgore led a 38-yard drive at the end of the first half that cut the deficit to 14-7.

"We got the momentum going into halftime with that score. That really helped us," coach Jim Nichols said. "We came out and played really, really hard."

The Eagles took advantage of a third-period turnover when Kilgore hit former Stanhope Elmore star Jurrell Williams with a 26-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14.

But EWC's Trenttonio Stewart broke a series of tackles and scored on a 25-yard run to give his team a brief lead.

After an impromptu pep talk on the sideline from defensive coordinator Eric Howell, the Faulkner defenders came up with a big play.

Brian Fulgham caused a fumble, which Jermel Bennett scooped up and ran into the end zone. That paved the way for a bizarre finish.

After picking off a Kilgore pass and returning it to the 5, EWC was unable to cash in and had to settle for a field goal attempt. A botched snap left Faulkner with the ball at its 30.

A few plays later, the Eagles had a shot to win the game with the ball near midfield and just over 40 seconds on the clock. Kilgore's pass hit Luther Burton, but it caromed off his hands and to Madeus, who took it the distance for the game's final score.

"We're more worried about our identity and being Faulkner football," said Nichols, who remained upbeat despite the loss. "We're pretty close. The way we played today is what we want to do each week."

Linebackers Fulgham and Sean Thom each recorded 10 tackles. Fulgham also forced two fumbles and recovered one. As a unit, the Eagles defense forced five turnovers.

"All of them flew around the ball all day. I can't say enough about the way they played today," Howell said. "I think we took two steps forward from last week. Hopefully that will carry forward into next week."

Faulkner's fledgling program will face Huntingdon next week as the crosstown rivals meet for the first time in football. Huntingdon's football program is only 4 years old.