Faulkner University

The wait was finally over for 5,000 Faulkner fans who gathered on Saturday to watch the Eagles play the first home football game in school history. Webber International eventually spoiled the coming out party, however, taking a 26-7 victory at Cramton Bowl.

"It was great just to see all those people in the blue and white sitting in the stands when we came out underneath the stadium," Faulkner coach Jim Nichols said. "Just to know that those people are there supporting us for our very first ever home game is something I'll never forget."

Faulkner elected to receive the ball and was unable to find a rhythm on its opening drive, giving way to a WIU attack that was stymied against The Citadel last week. The Eagle defense looked strong on the first two plays, setting the Warriors up in a third and long situation. But Faulkner's susceptibility to the big play resurfaced when quarterback Andrew Carr connected with receiver Michael Shannon for a 57-yard touchdown pass to cap a three play, 52-yard drive.

"The first play they scored on was a third and long. It was kind of a go route," Nichols said. "They just threw it up in the air and our guy kind of slipped. The guy caught it and went 50-60 yards."

The Eagles' next drive was halted prematurely when WIU defensive back Jimmie Barfield picked off a Frank Chinoski pass, setting the Warriors up at the Eagle 30 with 7:11 to go in the first quarter. The WIU threat was snuffed out a few plays later when Fred Poindexter intercepted a pass from Carr for his first of two picks on the afternoon.

"I just blew a coverage right before I got the first (interception)," Poindexter explained. "The guy broke across the field and I didn't think I was going to get there. I stuck my arms out and got it."

The game remained a one-touchdown contest until defensive lineman Michael Frazier grabbed a Chinoski pass and returned it to the Faulkner 8-yard line. That play set up a Rupert Webely 2-yard touchdown that produced a 13-0 Webber lead.

The Eagles returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 34-yard line. From there, Chad Kilgore captained a nine play, 66-yard drive that drained 4:24 off the second quarter clock. Kilgore kept it himself on third and goal, scoring the second touchdown in school history on a one-yard run. Douglas Farrington added the extra point to cut it to 13-7 where it would stand at the half.

"That's a big play. The offense was really comfortable on that drive," Kilgore said. "They were confident and that's a big thing."

WIU started the second half strong, marching down the field on a seven play, 73-yard drive that ended with Carr finding Sergio Rivera on a 28-yard touchdown pass. The drive took 2:25 off the clock and left the Warriors with a 20-7 lead.

"The first half of the Pikeville game and the first half of this game, going into halftime, something happens," Nichols said. "We've got to find a way to eliminate that,"

Faulkner again struggled to find offensive continuity throughout the third quarter and had yet another drive stunted when Jamarcus Watkins plucked a Chinoski pass with 4:42 remaining in the third period. It would take only 34 seconds for Poindexter to bail his offensive counterparts out with his second pick of the game.

Webber's Cass Carter added another score early at the third quarter buzzer when he picked up a blocked punt for a touchdown. The missed point after left the game where it would end at 26-7.