October 27, 2012

C-N preps for nation’s 18th best rushing attack, road contest at Brevard

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (5-2, 2-2 SAC) takes its high octane rushing offense on the road for a second consecutive week as the Eagles soar back into conference play with a match up with Brevard (1-7, 0-4 SAC) at Brevard Memorial Stadium. The Eagles rushing attack clocks in at second in the nation with 339 yards a contest while Brevard ranks 18th at 226 yards/game.

Carson-Newman

6-2

Brevard

1-8

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Carson-Newman (6-2)	0	7	14	14	35
Brevard (1-8)	7	0	0	12	19

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (5-2, 2-2 SAC) takes its high octane rushing offense on the road for a second consecutive week as the Eagles soar back into conference play with a match up with Brevard (1-7, 0-4 SAC) at Brevard Memorial Stadium.

The Eagles rushing attack clocks in at second in the nation with 339 yards a contest while Brevard ranks 18^th at 226 yards/game.

The Tornados are two weeks removed from a 59-24 thrashing of Southern Virginia where they amassed 559 yards on the ground – the second highest total in Division II this season.

"They are very dangerous and very capable," Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks said. "Anytime you rush for more than 550 yards, even if it's against Lady Goose Elementary, you're pretty doggone good, and they did it against a college football program."

Brevard uses a balanced approach on the ground. The Tornados have six players who average more than 20 rushing yards/game, but none who gain an average of more than 50 on the ground. Dominique Lesine leads the Tornado attack with 45.5 yards/game.

"We'll have to play assignment football, but they mix the option with a great counter game," Sparks said. "We'll have to play disciplined football and play it in a way that gives us a chance to win. You're not saying I've got Joe and I've got same. You're saying that you've got this assignment."

Carson-Newman will try to counter with a resurgent defense. Through the first four weeks of the season, Carson-Newman had given up 149 points and an average of 481 yards of total offense.

In the past three weeks, C-N has allowed 27 points and 246.3 yards on average of total offense. Furthermore, the Eagles opponents are converting on 27 percent of third downs compared to 49 percent through the season's first four games.

In getting opponents off the field, the Eagles individual stats have suffered for the betterment of the team. In the first four weeks, Carson-Newman's leading tackler was Jaycob Coleman (Norton, Va.) and his 35 tackles – 8.75 per game. In the past three weeks, Jon Sites (Hendersonville, Tenn.) leads Carson-Newman with 15, or five a contest.

However, Sparks said Carson-Newman must continue to develop an even-keeled nature that has made an appearance over the past three weeks.

"We have to trust each other that we haven't arrived. All we have to do is look at video if we're honest to see that we're not as good as we ought to be. As long as we aren't making claims that we shouldn't be making, we ought to be fine with that."

The Eagles and Tornados kickoff at 1 p.m. The Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network revs up its coverage at noon with the Farm Bureau Tailgate Show. Fans can listen on cneagles.com or on terrestrial radio on flagship station Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville).

-CN-