Carson-Newman crushes Tusculum 66-36
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (7-2, 4-2 SAC) racked up a season high 649 yards of total offense in a 66-36 blitzkrieg of the Tusculum Pioneers (2-8, 1-5 SAC) Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
14 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 66 |
|
|
9 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 36 |
The Eagles set a school record for rushing attempts with 79 and had three players rush the football for more than 150 yards – the first time that's happened since 1981 when Boyce Green (10-159) and Van Williams (19-156) pounded the ground against Franklin.
Brandon Baker (Miami, Fla.) led the Eagles with 185 yards on 20 carries to go along with four touchdowns. Baker came within a score of tying Buck Wakefield's school record of five scores – set in 2009 versus Tusculum.
Brandon Haywood (Rockmart, Ga.) and Andy Hibbett (Corryton, Tenn.) followed suit with 22 carries for 172 yards and a score and 23 carries, 161 yards and two touchdowns respectively. Hibbett's numbers are career highs.
"Our offensive line was pretty good at inserting their will today, they were not to be denied," Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks said. "And our two little running backs, they're beat up, but they keep ripping. Baker and Hibbett, they're two winners, that's all you can say about them."
Haywood also went 5-7 through the air for 86 yards and two scores.
The Eagle defense did allow 485 yards of total offense to record-setting quarterback Bo Cordell, who tossed for 358 yards and rushed for more than 100 yards.
However, Sean Rawson (Cape Coral, Fla.) picked off his third pass of the season, while Zack Fleming (Kingsport, Tenn.) and Eric Cain (Jefferson City, Tenn.) each recovered fumbles.
Carson-Newman failed to score on only four possessions (three fumbles and one turnover on downs) and did not punt the entire game.
"Our limitations showed up a lot of times, but any time you don't punt you have to feel pretty good about it," Sparks said. "If you don't fumble every time, which we did a few times which was a little hurtful."
For the first time all season, Carson-Newman began the game on defense. Tusculum moved the football 75 yards in eight plays in 3:21 with a drive finalized by an Xzanvion Smith touchdown catch from 26 yards out.
The team's would trade scores through their first 10 drives, before Carson-Newman took a two-score lead after Jason Brown (Plant City, Fla.) found himself wide open in the middle of the end zone to catch a 12 yard pass from Haywood.
Carson-Newman would further seize momentum headed into the locker room when four-time SAC Special Teams Player of the Week Curt Duncan (Morristown, Tenn.) bombed a 54 yard field goal as the first half expired to break David Ward's 29-year-old school record for longest field goal. Ward hit a 53 yarder against East Tennessee State in 1973.
"That kick was worth more than three points," Sparks said. "Psychologically that was big moment because that put us in at halftime celebrating and it put them in at halftime a little down."
Carson-Newman would score on its opening possession of the second half to put the Pioneers down 16 when Steven Isom (Maryville, Tenn.) got into the end zone for the first time all year with a 26-yard catch and run over the middle of the field.
"That's the great thing too, the courage of our group of kids that are playing a lot of snaps. They could easily cower down. But they don't."
The Eagles have won five in a row and finish the season at home Saturday, Nov. 10 against Mars Hill. The winner of that game will guarantee themselves a spot in the Division II playoffs.
Coverage begins on the Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network at noon for the 1 p.m. kick on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville) and online at cneagles.com.
-CN-
Team Stats
Tusculum
| Game Statistics | Carson-Newman | Tusculum |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 86 | 358 |
| Rushing Yards | 563 | 127 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of Poss. | 33:12 | 26:48 |
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