VIDEO: Ken Sparks press conference
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (2-1, 1-0 South Atlantic Conference) has allowed more than 400 yards in back-to-back games. When the 19th-ranked Eagles travel to Salisbury, N.C. to take on Catawba (2-1, 1-0 SAC), they'll be striving to slow down a club that's achieved great balance through three weeks.
The Indians have the number two passing offense in the league at 228 yards per game and the best tally in the league among the conference's non-option teams on the ground with 212 yards per game rushing.
"They are a good football team off to a great start," Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks said. "They're doing a lot of things well as Coach Walker builds his program. They play sound fundamental football and make plays when they need to make plays. It looks like they're right on cue to be a great challenge for us."
The Indians upset the Eagles last year 25-22 in Burke-Tarr Stadium, just their third win in the venue since 1980. Now Catawba will try to do something it's only done once in the series' 82-year history – beat C-N two years in a row.
The last time it happened was 2006-2007 when the Indians picked up a 24-22 win in Salisbury in '06 off a failed two-point conversion for C-N. Catawba scored the go ahead touchdown with 26 seconds left in 2007 to knock C-N out of the playoff picture 55-49.
Sparks indicated the Eagles could wind up in another shootout like 2007 if defensively they aren't more sound. .
"We're still in a preseason mode defensively because we're still making a lot of mistakes alignment wise," Sparks said. "If you're not aligned right, you're probably going to give up a big play and that's exactly what we've been doing."
Brevard rolled up 419 yards on the ground against the Eagles last week and 480 yards of total offense. The Indians offense clicked in their conference opener to the tune of a 37-34 double overtime victory at Newberry. Catawba put up 471 yards on the Wolves.
"For them to open conference play with a win at Newberry has to be encouraging and motivational for them," Sparks said. "They went over there and refused to get beat."
The Indians are led by quarterback Patrick Sheehan. The sophomore signal caller is completing 64 percent of his passes, tops in the SAC. His 217 yards per game are second in the league.
"It seems like when they need a big play, he's got it for them" Sparks said. "He's been a money player for them when it's a big down and distance. Against Newberry, he threw a touchdown pass that was called back by a penalty, then he went and did it again. A guy like that believes he can do it."
The Eagles offense has been geared toward running back Andy Hibbett (Corryton, Tenn.). The senior from Gibbs is both the Eagles leading rusher (382 yards) and leading receiver (120 yards). Hibbett needs two touchdowns on the ground to match Vernon Turner's 28 career rushing scores and to break into the top 10 on Carson-Newman's career list for the category.
De'Andre Thomas (Milledgeville, Ga.) needs seven more pass completions to move into seventh place on Carson-Newman's career completions top 10 leader board with Richard Genoble.
The Eagles and Indians kickoff at 1:30 p.m. from Shuford Memorial Stadium. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 12:30 p.m. with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), ESPN Radio 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
