Carson-Newman travels to Catawba Saturday
Oct. 9, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY - When looking back at Carson-Newman's 2007 season, only one team held the distinction of picking up a win against the Eagles - Catawba.
Carson-Newman will be looking for a little bit of payback Saturday night. The 21st-ranked Eagles travel to Catawba for a 7 p.m. South Atlantic Conference showdown.
"Last year we had the one loss, to Catawba," said Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks, whose squad went 10-1 last year and shared the conference title with the Indians. "That one loss kept us out of the playoffs."
Already with two losses on its resume this season, Carson-Newman can't afford another slip-up and hope to make the postseason for the first time since 2004.
"We've put ourselves in a hole, there is no question," Sparks said. "Every week from here on out is a must-win situation for us."
Carson-Newman (3-2, 1-1) enters the contest fresh off a 61-49 shootout win over Mars Hill in which the two schools combined for 1076 yards of total offense. It tied a C-N record for the most combined points in a contest.
Quarterback Alex Good (Greensboro, N.C.) and the Carson-Newman offense totaled 529 yards. Good was 6-of-8 through the air for 238 yards and four touchdowns.
Reggie Hubbard (McCalla, Ala.) had two catches for 107 yards, while fellow receiver Otis Miller (Miami, Fla.) hauled in two for 63 yards. All four of those completions went for scores. Buck Wakefield (Drummonds, Tenn.) led the Carson-Newman ground game with 154 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries.
We did some good things on offense," said Sparks. "It was certainly an improvement over the Newberry game."Catawba was ranked 20th in the AFCA poll last week before suffering a 33-14 loss to conference-leading Newberry, who also owns a win over Carson-Newman. The Indians committed four turnovers and had three kicks blocked in their loss to Newberry.
Catawba (3-2, 1-1), which traditionally has one of the top offenses in the SAC year in and year out, enters Saturday's game ranked sixth in the league in both scoring offense (27.0 ppg) and total offense (367.0 ypg). Carson-Newman is first in both, averaging 46.2 points and 497.4 yards per game.
The Indians, meanwhile, have a statistical advantage over Carson-Newman on the defensive side of the ball. Catawba is giving up just 18 points and a league-best 259 yards per game, compared to 25.6 points and 379.0 yards by the Eagles.
Catawba has played a total of four quarterbacks this season, with Howard Williamson seeing the most action. He has completed 42-of-86 passes for 568 yards and five touchdowns, to just one interception. Jamelle Cuthbertson currently ranks second in the SAC in rushing yards per game with 91.8.
The defense is led by Lakeem Perry and Charles McAfee with 35 tackles apiece. McAfee also has a team-high 9.5 tackles for a loss.
Radio and TV
Carson-Newman's contest with Catawba can be heard live on WRJZ-AM 620. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. The Ken Sparks Show will be televised this Sunday night at midnight (following Sunday Night Football and the news) on WBIR-Channel 10 (Knoxville). The Ken Sparks Show is replayed each week at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night on 10News2.
NCAA DIVISION II POLLS
Carson-Newman moved up two spots to No. 21 in this week's AFCA NCAA Division II Poll after a 61-49 win over Mars Hill.
Grand Valley State is the new top-ranked team in the country. Former No. 1 Valdosta State fell to conference rival Delta State last Saturday, 27-24. North Alabama, Abilene Christian, West Texas A&M and Northwest Missouri St. round out the new top five.
Wingate is the highest ranked South Atlantic Conference team at No. 15. Newberry moved into the poll at No. 25 after its win over Catawba last week.
Carson-Newman is ranked No. 16 in the lastest D2football.com Poll.
