VIDEO: Ken Sparks Interview
VIDEO: Dan Gallman Interview

VIDEO: Sha'Heem Stupart Interview

VIDEO: Temoris Coats Interview

VIDEO: Damian Baker Interview

VIDEO: Carson-Newman – Shorter Highlights

JEFFERSON CITY - In last week's season-opening win over the University of the Cumberlands, Carson-Newman's (2-0) offense went toe-to-to toe with the Patriots in a game that produced 115 points. In Saturday's game against Shorter (0-1), the Eagles and Hawks tangled in a defensive battle.

The two teams' defensives mirrored each other as the Eagles finished with 296 yards of offense and the Hawks were limited to only 242. But Carson-Newman took advantage of a couple of Shorter turnovers and defeated the visitors from Georgia, 20-7.

Carson-Newman's 296 yards of total offense are its lowest output since losing to Lenoir-Rhyne during the 2013 regular season.  The Eagles hadn't won a game with less than 300 yards of total offense since defeating L-R 17-13 in October of 2009. 

The Eagles' offense was led by Montavious Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.) who rushed for 82 yards on 19 carries. Damian Baker (Columbus, Miss.) had 78 yards and two scores on 23 carries and 78 yards for C-N. Quarterback De'Andre Thomas (Milledgeville, Ga.) was 9-of-16 for 88 yards. The Hawks' B.J. McCoy rushed 18 times for 139 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Zach Butts had 15 tackles for Shorter while the Eagles were paced by Temoris Coats (Greenwood, S.C.) and Sha'heem Stupart (Taylors, S.C.), who each had seven tackles.

The Eagles wanted to improve the defense after last week's poor showing and C-N head coach Ken Sparks said he liked what he saw.

"We had a great week of practice and we didn't get down on ourselves and kept getting after it," Sparks said. "This was a reward for their faithfulness and hard work. When you hold a triple option team to 170 rushing and less than 250 yards of total offense, you have to feel pretty good about it."

Stupart's defensive prowess, which included a forced and recovered fumble on the same play, drew the attention and admiration of his head coach.

"He has been gaining a lot of confidence and he has the tools," Sparks said. "That's a good combination and means good things are going on. Sha'heem is a great kid and works very hard and I'm just glad he in on our side. He furnished some leadership for us today."

The Eagles struck first when they completed one of their trademark time-consuming drives for a score. Baker ran in from seven yards out and Carson Wise (Blacksburg, Va.) was true on the point after to cap a 14-play, 80-yard drive which took 5:29 off the clock.

The Hawks wasted little time in tying the score at 7-7. On the third play of the drive, McCoy took off and didn't stop until he raced 77 yards for the touchdown. Kenny Langford's point after was true to tie things up.

The defense took over for both teams for most of the second quarter. After both squads swapped possessions, the Eagles took advantage of a huge miscue by Shorter. McCoy fumbled at his own 37 yard line and Stupart picked up the ball and returned it to the Hawks' 19 yard line. Five plays later, the Eagles were in the end zone with a one yard run for the score. Wise's kick was successful as Carson-Newman reclaimed the lead at 14-7.

The Eagles out-gained Shorter 182-169 in total offense in the first half and recorded 14 first downs to the Hawks' seven. McCoy rushed for 111 yards in the first two quarters to lead the Shorter ground attack.

The start of the second half mirrored most of the first as the two teams battled defensively. The Eagles finally produced a scoring drive midway through the third quarter. Short passes and a power running game marched the Eagles down the field and set Wise up for a 26-yard field goal which he booted through to make it 17-7.

The next score for the home team was set up by the Eagles' defense, mainly the one-man wrecking crew which was Stupart. The sophomore linebacker intercepted James' pass and returned it seven yards to the Hawks' 21 yard line on the next to last play of the third quarter. The drive ended when Wise was good on a 36-yard field goal to put Carson-Newman up 20-7.

After forcing a three-and-out, Carson-Newman took over possession of the football and was content to try to eat up as much clock as possible. The Eagles were able to take over seven minutes off the clock but on a fourth and goal, the Shorter defense stiffened and stopped the Eagles short on the Hawks' five yard line.

Shorter was able to move the ball to the C-N 46 yard line, with the biggest play coming on a 31-yard strike from James to Trey Lawhorn that moved the ball to the 41. Facing a fourth-and-15, Carson-Newman was able to stuff the James rush and took over on downs. They were able to run out the clock from there for the 20-7 victory.

"I am so happy for the defensive coaches because they needed to have some results from all the hard work they have been putting in," Sparks said. "They motivated these kids and encouraged them. The kickoff team was much better as well as I don't think Shorter ever got the ball past the 25 yard line. We worked hard on that this week."

Aside from the 31-yard pass completion to Bryant and McCoy's 77-yard scamper for a touchdown, Carson-Newman's defense limited the Hawks to 134 yards and 2.68 yards per play.

Carson-Newman returns to action next Saturday when they host Catawba at 1 p.m. at Burke-Tarr Stadium. Sparks said his team will look to improve as they prepare for the Indians.

"I said in the locker room that last week we had the offense and the defense was very stingy this week so lets put it all together for game three," Sparks said. "I am really encouraged. We have to get more consistent but a lot of good things happened today."

Coverage for the Eagles' matchup with the Indians begins at noon on the Eagles Sports Network with the Appalachian Electric Cooperative Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.