VIDEO: Andy Hibbett Interview
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman running back Andy Hibbett (Corryton, Tenn.) has been named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Eagles' 48-20 victory over the Mars Hill Lions, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.
Hibbett scampered for 191 yards rushing and three touchdowns on only seven carries. Do the math and that comes out to an average of 27.3 yards per rush, the second highest tally in Carson-Newman football history for a single game among players with at least five rushes.
"It takes me back to thank the offensive line, the entire offense and our coaching staff," Hibbett said. "I especially have to give credit to the offensive line, because on each of my long touchdown runs, I didn't get touched. This is truly an honor."
The senior from Gibbs High School raced for scores from 58, 65 and 55 yards away. His trio of touchdowns moves him into a tie for 10th on Carson-Newman's all-time rushing touchdown list with Nate Inman.
"In the first half, Dre (quarterback De'Andre Thomas) was reading the option well," Hibbett said. "I didn't have the chances to rush the ball because of the way Mars Hill's defense was playing. But the second half, they changed some things that opened stuff up for me. And like I said, the offensive line blocks great, (fellow running back Damian) Baker's throwing me blocks 25 yards down field, it was really nice."
Hibbett joins Kenneth Tyson as the only Carson-Newman running back with three rushing touchdowns longer, each longer than 50 yards. Tyson accomplished that against Fairmont State during the 1987 season in a 42-21 Eagle win over the Falcons.
Hibbett's 191 yards on the ground were five away from his career high that he set earlier this season against Wayne State. He has gone over the century mark in four consecutive games, joining Brandon Baker (2012), Buck Wakefield (2009) and Tyrone Westmoreland (1997) as the only Carson-Newman tailbacks to rush for 100 yards or more in four consecutive weeks.
Wakefield holds the school record for consecutive 100-yard rushing performances with five straight to close out the 2009 season – among those were a school record 332 yards against Tusculum and 303 yards against Wingate.
The Eagles are off this week before returning to action Oct. 18 at Tusculum. Kickoff for the contest is set for 2:30 p.m. from Pioneer Field with pregame coverage beginning on the Eagle Sports Network at 1: 30 p.m. on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
