Staunch defense propels No. 24/25 C-N to Homecoming, Senior Day triumph over Anderson
November 2, 2024

Staunch defense propels No. 24/25 C-N to Homecoming, Senior Day triumph over Anderson

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Carson-Newman got off to a slow start, but a second half surge coupled with a hegemonic defensive effort took care of business on Homecoming and Senior Day. The No. 24/25 Eagles regained the top spot in the South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division with a 28-7 victory over Anderson (S.C) at Burke-Tarr Stadium Saturday.

VIDEO: Ashley Ingram Interview

VIDEO: Highlights

VIDEO: Cruz Temple Interview

VIDEO: Jeremiah Carroll Interview

VIDEO: Justin Johnson Interview

VIDEO: Kendall Williams Interview

VIDEO: Jelan Pearson Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Carson-Newman got off to a slow start, but a second half surge coupled with a hegemonic defensive effort took care of business on Homecoming and Senior Day. The No. 24/25 Eagles regained the top spot in the South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division with a 28-7 victory over Anderson (S.C) at Burke-Tarr Stadium Saturday.

"We are 8-1 so we will take it," C-N coach Ashely Ingram said. "I thought our defense played great all day. Coach (Defensive coordinator Larry) Slade had those guys ready to roll. I was proud of their performance throughout the game. Once we scored that first touchdown, I told (offensive coordinator) Chuck (Petersen), we don't need a lot of points to win, we just don't need to do anything foolish and careless with the ball. We got it going and I'm super excited for our guys. Our guys responded in the second half."

The victory over the Trojans (3-6, 1-6), gives C-N 10 victories out of its last 12 games on Senior Day and 10 out of its last 12 on Homecoming.  

With Emory & Henry falling 31-23 at Mars Hill Saturday, Carson-Newman (8-1, 6-1 SAC) controls its own destiny next week when they travel to Greeneville, Tenn. to face Tusculum in the second oldest college football rivalry in the state. A win gives the Eagles an outright SAC Mountain Division title and sets up a Championship Game with the winner of the Piedmont Division. Wingate (7-1, 5-1) currently leads the Piedmont. C-N defeated the Bulldogs 31-28 in overtime on Sep. 21 at Burke-Tarr Stadium.

Carson-Newman's offense moved the ball well in its second possession, Quarterback Tre Luttrell and running backs Jelan Pearson and Jayden Sullins did the work on the ground before the drive stalled out at the Anderson14 yard-line. The Eagles would miss the field goal in what would become a running theme throughout the game. C-N's Bennett Smith missed both his attempts Saturday as did Trojans kickers Drew Turner and Ross Burnette.

The Eagles finally broke the game open with under three minutes to go in the first half. After Justin Johnson replaced a banged-up Luttrell in C-N's previous possession, the freshman QB let it rip on the first play from scrimmage in his second drive, finding Jerimiah Carroll behind the defense for a 73-yard touchdown. It was the first 70-plus yard TD pass for the Eagles since Galen Washington's 83-yard score against UVA-Wise on Nov. 4, 2023. Carson-Newman led 7-0 and took that advantage into the locker room at the half.

"We didn't have Zane Whitson available at quarterback and Tre Luttrell, he's one of the toughest kids I've ever coached, and he was out there scratching and clawing while he's banged up," Ingram said. "We put in Justin Johnson and I thought he played great. …Justin is a very good player. Our intent was to redshirt him. He came from Army's prep school. He can throw, he's savvy and I thought he ran the ball really well too. I was excited for him to get out there and get some real playing time and then to perform as well as he did."

Johnson would finish 3-of-6 passing for 100 yards and a touchdown. He added 12 rushes for 56 yards on the ground after being called in from the bullpen.

"Anytime I was on the sideline, all the seniors came up and told me they were behind me," Johnson said. "That gave me the confidence to rally the troops and go play ball. It was their last one here (at Burke-Tarr), so when they come back, they can speak on it."

The Eagles defense kept Anderson off the board for most of the game, holding Anderson to just nine first downs and 181 yards of total offense in the contest. C-N consistently pounded the Trojans in the backfield. 

AU lost 56 yards on 14 Eagle stops behind the line of scrimmage. The 14 tackles for a loss are the sixth-highest total in school history. Carson-Newman picked up three sacks, with sophomore linebacker Mekhi Brown leading the team with 1.5 to go with his five tackles and three tackles for a loss. Carson-Newman has recorded at least one sack in 20 consecutive games. Christian Hicks led the defense with seven tackles and two tackles for a loss. Cruz Temple had six tackles, half a sack and a tackle for a loss. Kendall Williams recorded five tackles, a tackle for a loss and an interception.

"Coach (Slade) kept calling it and our guys kept coming," Ingram said. "We just played lights out. Cruz Temple, that kid is all over the field. I thought we played great up front."

C-N's halftime adjustments showed up early in the third quarter. On Carson-Newman's first chance with the ball, Sullins broke loose up the middle for a 75-yard run that set the Eagles up at the Trojans' 17. It was Sullins' second 70-plus yard run of the season that didn't score. The junior running back from Cullman, Ala. pushed the ball into the paint three plays later to put the Eagles up 14-0.

"We didn't play very well (offensively)," Ingram said. "A lot of it was the quarterback situation. Tre was injured, but you don't panic because our defense was playing so well. That helped us. …they (Anderson) were kind of bouncing between three different defenses and maybe we were being a little too cute, so we decided we were just going to run the ball right at them and see what happened."

With the offensive recipe in hand, C-N had no trouble driving down the field in its next possession. Johnson did most of the work himself on the ground, but a toss to Pearson, one of only two remaining players from retired head coach Mike Turner's tenure with the team along with offensive lineman Christian Jones, would put the ball into the endzone on a 17-yard pitch and run.

"We got here this spring and Jelan was injured coming off a surgery," Ingram said. "He decided he wanted to come back but got injured again early this year. But he really, over the last couple of weeks, has turned into the most complete slot (back), as far as blocking, running, catching, for him to score there at the end was great."

With a 21-0 lead, Carson-Newman was blessed with a short field thanks to a Kendall Williams interception. Williams stepped in front of a Tyler Wesley pass at the C-N 40 yard-line and returned it 31 yards to the Anderson 29. It was Williams' second pick of the season.

"It felt good to catch an interception and actually getting some yards today," Williams said. "I've been practicing this for a couple of weeks now and being able to do it in a game felt pretty good. …(It was) executing what we saw in practice all week. Making sure our eyes were where they were supposed to be. Reading our keys and making a play."

It took the Eagles four plays to reach paydirt with Sullins breaking loose again for the final 21 yards for his second touchdown of the day. Sullins finished with nine carries for 110 yards and the two scores, giving him his third 100-plus yard game of the season. Coming into the game, the Trojans' defense held rushing attacks to an average of 164.4 yards per game. Carson-Newman piled up 294 yards on the ground Saturday.

Up 28-0 with less than five minutes to go, C-N called on its reserves. Anderson's lone score came with barely more than a minute to go with backup quarterback Rob Sanders hitting Jalon Warthen-Carr for a 21-yard TD pass with 1:12 to go in the game.

Carson-Newman's quest for its first SAC Mountain Division Title takes it to Pioneer Field in Greeneville, Tenn. next Saturday, Nov. 9, when they face off with the Tusculum Pioneers (1-7. 1-6). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network will begin at noon with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM Knoxville) and online at cneagles.com/live.

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