Carson-Newman Drops 2009 Season Opener, 17-12, At Winona State

Winona, Minn. - A late Carson-Newman College rally was not enough as the Eagles fell to Winona State University, 17-12, Thursday night at Maxwell Field in the 2009 season opener for both squads.

Carson-Newman avoided being shut out for the first time in 17 years after going into the fourth quarter without putting any points on the board. After leading the nation in rushing in the 2008 season, the Eagles managed just 108 yards on the ground.

"Our offense is so used to having good things happen and everything else goes on from that," said head coach Ken Sparks, who is in his 30th year. "We couldn't establish our offense like we like to. We just couldn't run the football."

Senior wide receiver Reggie Hubbard (Chattanooga, Tenn.) was the standout performer for Carson-Newman as he reeled in seven catches for 171 yards and both of the Eagles' scores.

Winona State got on the board with a field goal on the very first drive of the game. Cullen Fahey (Crystal Lake, Ill.) capped an eight play, 63 yard drive with a 22-yard field goal. He was set up four plays earlier as quarterback Greg Preston (Taylor Mills, Ky.) completed a 44-yard pass to Derrick Engel (Chaska, Minn.) to bring the Warrior drive inside the Eagle 10-yard line.

Winona State extended their lead to 10-0 just seconds into the second quarter when Curtis Dewberry (Clermont, Fla.) scampered 12 yards for the first touchdown of the game. The Warriors would take the 10-0 advantage into the locker room.

With 3:27 left to go in the third quarter, the Warriors pushed the lead to 17 on a three-play, 51-yard drive that was completed by a two-yard rush by Rayon Simmons (University City, Mo.).

"(Winona State) had a good game plan and played solid football," said Sparks. "When they needed to make a play they did. For us it was one of those nights that sometimes come along that you don't look forward to seeing."

The Eagles wiped the zero off the board with 11:47 left to go in the contest when senior quarterback Alex Good (Greensboro, N.C.) hooked up with Hubbard for a 12-yard pass for the score. It was the second-straight play that Good found Hubbard as the previous attempt went for 46 yards. The Carson-Newman extra-point attempt was blocked by Winona State.

C-N made things interesting late in the game as it marched down the field on a 13-play, 82-yard drive to cut the Warrior lead to five. The Eagles kept the drive alive on third-and-19 when sophomore running back Nate Inman (Fitzgerald, Ga.) plowed through the middle for 23 yards to enter Winona State territory. Good and Hubbard linked up for the seventh time on the night, this time with a four-yard completion for the score.

A failed two-point conversion and subsequent onside kick sealed the victory for the Warriors.

Carson-Newman will stay on the road next Saturday when it travels to Florence, Ala., to face off against perennial powerhouse Northern Alabama. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. CST (8:00 p.m. Eastern) start.