JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman running back Randall Freeman traipsed his way to paydirt three times in Carson-Newman foootball's second preseason scrimmage.
With Andy Hibbett sidelined, Freeman, Damian Baker and Anthony Ball handled reps for the first team. While Baker and Ball both gashed the second team defense on several occasions with runs of 10-yards or more, it was Freeman who got into the end zone on a 31-yard jailbreak screen, a three-yard trap around left tackle and a 31-yard dive off right guard.
"When you have excellent senior lineman like Robby Ignagni and Tyler Scott leading the way for you things are a lot easier," Freeman said. "Our offense has really been clicking this camp. That's a testament to how well we played today."
All told, the first team offense scored on all four of its drives. De'Andre Thomas scored the other touchdown for the first team offense. In the Eagles' two scrimmages, Carson-Newman's first team offense has scored on 11 out of 11 drives.
The first team defense got a couple stops on the second team offense, including one three-and-out produced in part thanks to a Darryl Eubanks seven-yard sack. Eubanks slid into the back field around the left side of the line and pounced on Noah Suber, who was leading the second team offense.
"Joey Maxberry got pressure up the field," Eubanks said. "That allowed me to get a free release. I had a running back try to pick me up, but I was able to keep contain on him, then keep contain, flush the quarterback out and finish the play.
"I really feel like we've come a long ways as a defense this camp, but there's much further to go."
Carson-Newman's special teams also shined on the day. The Eagles' kickoff return teams brought three kickoffs back at least 30 yards. TraShaun Ward scampered for 73 yards on the scrimmage's opening kick. Jason Williams then returned the next two for 55 yards and 34 yards, respectively.
"My guys in front of me really got good blocks for me," Williams said. "I just followed them and things opened up. It was a base return. I hit the sideline and made a couple cuts, Dante (Thomas) told me if I had cut it back inside, I probably could have taken it back farther."
C-N head coach Ken Sparks told the team after the scrimmage that he considered Saturday to be the close of camp. However, the Eagles do have one final scrimmage scheduled for Wednesday at 4:40 p.m.
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