Carson-Newman hosts Lenoir-Rhyne for Homecoming Saturday
Oct. 16, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY - Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks knows just how important last week’s win over South Atlantic Conference rival Catawba was to his team’s playoff chances. He is also quick to point out that there are four more important games left.
The Eagles continue their conference schedule Saturday as Lenoir-Rhyne visits Jefferson City for homecoming on the Carson-Newman campus. Kick-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Burke-Tarr Stadium.
“We had a good win last week,” said Sparks. “We finally celebrated as a team and played as a team. That was the part that was really exciting. I hope that we can build on that and have something good happen this week.”
Carson-Newman (4-2, 2-1 SAC) is currently tied for second in the league standings with Newberry and Tusculum. Wingate has yet to lose a conference game. The Eagles still have road games left at Brevard and Tusculum, sandwiched around a home date with Wingate.
“We don’t have a game left that isn’t big,” Sparks said. “We can’t afford to have another loss. We have to go out and do our job one game and one play at a time.”
Lenoir-Rhyne enters the contest 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the SAC. The Bears have lost four of their last five contests. Last week, Lenoir-Rhyne traveled to Wingate and suffered a 35-27 defeat.
“They will be very, very fired up to come in here and play us,” Sparks said of the opponent. “Hopefully we will be fired up about playing them.”
The contest will feature two of the top rushing attacks in the country. Carson-Newman currently leads NCAA Division II in rushing offense with 311.3 yards per game, while Lenoir-Rhyne is fourth at 277.3.
“They’ve changed their whole offense,” Sparks noted. “They are an option football team. It almost looks like that old Air Force and Navy offenses.”
“We haven’t lined up against many option football teams since I’ve been here. It will be one of those games where the most disciplined football team will have success.”
Carson-Newman has had more success in the passing game this season, averaging 156.5 yards per game to Lenoir-Rhyne’s league-worst 89.6.
Seventeen different players have contributed to the ground game for the Bears this year, led by junior Anthony Silvers with 351 yards on 64 attempts. Quarterback Justin Sanders has the most rushing touchdowns with five. Sanrders has completed 30-of-53 passes for 458 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
Sophomore defensive back Marcus Shuford leads the defense with 43 tackles, while senior defensive back Scott Turbeville has a team-high 10 tackles for a loss, including six sacks.
Carson-Newman quarterback Alex Good currently ranks third in the SAC in rushing yards with 87.7 per game. He has 526 yards on 76 attempts, with five touchdowns. Teammate Buck Wakefield is right behind him with 83.8 yards per game.
Carson-Newman leads the all-time series between the two schools 39-9, including the last 29 meetings. Lenoir-Ryhne’s last win over the Eagles came in 1978. Carson-Newman captured a 56-13 victory in Hickory last year.
