Eagles Fall at UNC Pembroke, 30-7
PEMBROKE, N.C. — The No. 14-ranked Carson-Newman college football team turned the ball over four times and was shut out until the final minutes of the fourth quarter in a 30-7 loss to UNC-Pembroke Saturday night at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.
PEMBROKE, N.C. — The No. 14-ranked Carson-Newman college football team turned the ball over four times and was shut out until the final minutes of the fourth quarter in a 30-7 loss to UNC-Pembroke Saturday night at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.
With the loss, the Eagles fall to 2-2 on the season. The Braves move to 3-1.
"It seemed like every time I called a play it was six points for them," C-N head coach Ken Sparks said. "The game is still blocking and tackling and if you don't block and tackle, then you get what we had today."
Carson-Newman was held to just 168 yards of offense, with 70 yards coming on a final drive led by backup quarterback Brandon Heywood that saved the shutout The Eagles rushing offense never got rolling. Junior running back Nate Inman led C-N's rushers with 12 carries for 34 yards. The longest run for the Eagles was a 22-yard touchdown run in the last three minutes from Otis Rumph.
Linebacker Ryan Helton, in his second game back after missing the early season with a fractured right arm, recorded eight tackles and jumped over a UNC-Pembroke receiver for an interception when the Eagles trailed 17-0 in the third quarter.
Carson-Newman tried to capitalize on the opportunity, but running back Brandon Baker was tackled one yard short of a first down on a fourth down attempt.
The game broke UNC-Pembroke's way in the first quarter. Braves wide receiver Te'vell Williams scored on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Corey Smith for a 7-0 lead. UNC-Pembroke took a 14-0 lead after a 13-play, six-minute drive capped by a Travis Daniels. Another 13-play drive ended with a 23-yard field goal from Taylor Baskett.
With the first half winding down, the Eagles offense finally began to move the ball. Rushes from Baker and Inman pushed the ball down the field before the drive stalled out at the UNC-Pembroke 19 yard-line. Freshman kicker Matthew Gossett missed a 35-yard field goal attempt with 22 seconds to go to keep Carson-Newman scoreless in the first half.
"We got a chance, but can't kick a field goal," Sparks said. "At the start of the second half, if we can score there we can get some hope, but never did."
Baskett gave the Braves a 20-lead with three minutes left in the third quarter with a 37-yard field goal.
Carson-Newman opened up the offense, but UNC-Pembroke closed it right back. Braves' linebacker Adam Deese jumped in front of a Doug Belk pass intended for Baker for a 43-yard touchdown return.
Baskett put UNC-Pembroke ahead 30-0 early in the fourth quarter with a 48-yard field goal.
The Braves gained 305 yards in the game, with 227 coming from the precision passing of UNC-Pembroke's Smith.
The Eagles threw three interceptions, with Belk accounting for two and muffed a punt.
Allen Jackson recorded six tackles. Byron Bell had two tackles and a sack.
The Eagles are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Brevard College to take on the Tornadoes.
