Faulkner University

Emotions ran high Saturday. That's to be expected in a rivalry game. But at times, the two church-affiliated schools seemed to be trying to emulate Miami and Florida State.

A total of six personal fouls/unsportsmanlike conduct penalties were called, including the rivalry's first ejection. Faulkner defensive back David Crosby, a Stanhope Elmore graduate, was tossed in the second quarter after a personal foul.

"Emotions were high early in the game," Faulkner head coach Jim Nichols said. "When you're playing a team, and you know the players, it can be emotional. Sometimes emotions get the best of people.

But with personal fouls, a lot of times it's the second guy, not the first guy, that they see.

"We had too many penalties and mistakes. You can't win with the penalties and errors we had today."

Faulkner finished with three personal fouls and one unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and Huntingdon drew two personal fouls. The Eagles had a total of 10 penalties for 152 yards and Huntingdon had 17 for 127.

Looking for an identity: Nichols had hoped his team would build off of last week, a 28-21 loss to Edward Waters, against Huntingdon.

Instead, his team's inexperience showed Saturday.

"We just can't get going," Nichols said. "We're so young, it just takes time. I thought we had found an identity last week. But we haven't been able to have a consistent two weeks yet."

Huntingdon head coach Mike Turk said he sees potential in Faulkner.

"They're a young football team, but they're a good-looking football team," Turk said. "I know we need to take advantage of their youth while we can. When they grow up, they'll be tough."

Record attendance: The announced crowd for Saturday's game was 3,723 and set a Samford Stadium record. The previous record was 2,417 when the Hawks played Wesley College for homecoming last year.

Mayor flips out: Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright successfully completed the pregame coin toss without incident Saturday.

He flipped what he called "a two-tailed coin" and Faulkner called tails. The Eagles deferred to the second half.

"It was natural for me," Bright cracked. "I flip a coin many days dealing with issues with the city."

Bright said he practiced his coin-flipping throughout the week to prepare for Saturday's historic duties. It was the inaugural Huntingdon-Faulkner game.

"Absolutely, I did," Bright said. "I wished both teams luck and said we're all proud of them. This is a historic occasion for the city."

Rip and read: Huntingdon defensive end Rishard Davis did more than score a touchdown Saturday.

Davis totaled three sacks that cost Faulkner 30 yards. On one sack, quarterback Chad Kilgore was called for intentional grounding and cost the Eagles 16 yards.

Freshman defensive lineman Chase Hughes had two sacks. He entered Saturday with four tackles this season.

Moment of silence: Huntingdon observed a moment of silence before Saturday's game for Larry Broadway, a longtime school employee who died Friday of a heart attack, school President J. Cameron West said.

Heading into half: Linebacker Granger Shook's 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown marked the second straight game Huntingdon has scored on the final play of the first half.
-- Wesley Lyle and A. Stacy Long