Plenty On The Line When C-N Visits Tusculum Saturday
Nov. 6, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY - Whether it's football, academics or even the annual blood drive collection, Carson-Newman doesn't like to be outdone by Tusculum, and vice versa.
When the two schools meet up on the football gridiron Saturday afternoon, the rivalry will reach a boiling point. With a victory, one of the teams will more than likely secure a birth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Also, a Tusculum win will give the Pioneers a share of the South Atlantic Conference title with C-N.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Field in Greeneville.
"It's a big game, there is no question," said Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks. "We've been fortunate to play well against Tusculum the past few years. They'll be ready for this one."
For a Carson-Newman team that just wrapped up its 20th SAC title in school history with a 35-33 victory over Wingate last week, this game is big step toward getting the storied program back on its typical postseason track.
During Sparks' 29-year run as head coach at his alma mater, the Eagles have won five national championships and made the national playoffs 20 times. Despite that, no player on the current roster has experienced postseason football.
Carson-Newman's last playoff appearance came in 2004. Needless to say, the players are ready to end that drought.
"We were close last year, but it just wasn't meant to be," said junior quarterback Alex Good, referring to Carson-Newman being left out of the playoffs last year despite their 10-1 record.
"We know that we have to go out and take care of business against Tusculum or we are going to be left out again this year."
Sophomore defensive back Mario Russell admitted that there has been an added since of urgency amongst the team since early season losses to North Alabama and Newberry.
"I've seen people work hard before, but I have not seen my fellow players work this hard in a long time," he said. "I think the turning point was the loss to Newberry. We realized that we were better than that. We just had to come together and start playing as a team."
Carson-Newman is ranked fourth in the regional rankings this week, while Tusculum is sixth. The top six teams advance to the playoffs.
"A win against Tusculum would be very big," said Russell. "This game is of high importance, and we have to come out focused and have a great week of practice."
Carson-Newman enters the game 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the SAC. Tusculum is 7-3 and 4-2, respectively. The Pioneers have won four of their last five contests - the latest being a 33-28 road victory over Mars Hill last Saturday.
The game features the top two scoring offenses in the SAC, with Carson-Newman averaging 42.6 points per game and Tusculum at 35.4 ppg. The way each team has totaled those points has been drastically different, though.
Carson-Newman currently has the top rushing offense in the nation, racking up 320 ground yards per game. The Eagles' ground game led by junior Buck Wakefield with 90.56 per game. Wakefield piled up 223 yards and four touchdowns last week against Wingate, and was named the SAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Meanwhile, the Pioneers have the sixth-best passing attack in the country with 325.0 ypg.
Tusculum is led by record-setting quarterback Corey Russell, who holds the school marks for passing yards (3,168) and touchdowns (29) in a season, and career records in passing yards (8,958), completions (700), pass attempts (1,246), total offensive yards and total offensive attempts (1,670). Russell is a finalist for this year's Harlon Hill Trophy - the top award in NCAA Division II football.
"Russell is a good player," Sparks said. "He can beat you both running and throwing the football. We will have to contain him and keep him from getting hot."
The Eagles are marginally better on defense, allowing 347.7 ypg, to Tusculum's 368.5 ypg.
Carson-Newman leads the all-time series between the two schools 27-9-2, and has won the past four meetings with the Pioneers by a combined score of 166-30. The Eagles thumped Tusculum 63-24 last year in Jefferson City.
Despite his squad's domination of its in-state rival in recent years, Sparks knows Saturday's contest will be a battle till the end.
"This game is the only thing we're focused on," he said. "We've missed the playoffs the last three seasons, and can get back with a win."
"But as for right now, this game Saturday is the only one left on our schedule right now."
