VIDEO: Ken Sparks Press Conference
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – No. 24 Carson-Newman's (6-2, 4-1 South Atlantic Confence) playoff hopes hinge on a win Saturday with a roadtrip to Setzler Field and Newberry (4-5, 2-4 SAC).
The Eagles need to win out to have a shot at making a third straight trip to postseason play. Losses by West Georgia and Valdosta State in the season's final two weeks would also aid the Eagles' cause.
However, Carson-Newman head football coach Ken Sparks said that the Eagles can't focus on either their loss last week to no. 3 Lenoir-Rhyne or what other teams are doing in Super Region II.
"We just need to talk about the next ballgame and make sure that we're not doing stinkin' thinkin'," Sparks said. "We can't not focus all our energy and efforts on Newberry. We know they're a very capable team. So we try to concentrate our efforts on today so we're not in trouble tomorrow."
Newberry is coming off a playoff appearance in 2013, a playoff appearance which the Eagles ended at Burke-Tarr Stadium with a 37-27 win. It marked the second time that the Eagles had defeated Newberry that year.
"The outcome of those ballgames doesn't have anything to do with the outcome of this ballgame," Sparks said. "Except that it might give them a bit of a mental edge to where they are more fired up to play us."
The Wolves have been up and down in 2014, winning big against Limestone 70-20, but also struggling through a 16-14 loss in the muck on a rainy day at Tusculum.
The one constant for the Wolves this year has been good defense. The Wolves lead the country in pass defense at 120 yards per game. Newberry became just the second program in the country in any division to keep a team from completing a pass when it accomplished that feat last week against Brevard.
The Wolves run defense is no slouch either, allowing 166 yards per game. At 285 yards of total offense, the Wolves rank seventh in the country in total offense allowed.
Newberry has also recovered a SAC-high 13 fumbles. The Eagles have lost five fumbles in the last two weeks.
"We've never been a fumbling football team to the extent that we are right now," Sparks said. "Some have been freakish, but some have been lack of concentration on our part."
Newberry is led offensively by its two-headed quarterback system. Preseason first team All-SAC selection WT Murden is the more accomplished passer with 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air, while Raleigh Yeldell has done more work on the ground with 217 yards on the season.
"One of them throws a little bit better and the other is as quick as a hiccup," Sparks said. "They don't make any bones about it. They'd empty the backfield and then start off by running the quarterback. That's something we'll have to match up with all game long."
Kickoff from Setzler Field is set for 2 p.m. Saturday. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 1 p.m. with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
