VIDEO: Ken Sparks Press Conference
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the first time in 2015, Carson-Newman (2-1, 0-1 South Atlantic Conference) must leave the friendly confines of Burke-Tarr Stadium and square off with an opponent in its own stadium.
The Eagles will make the 1:45 trek up the mountain to square off with Mars Hill (1-2, 0-0 SAC) at 1 p.m. Saturday from Meares Stadium.
Carson-Newman is trying to solve its recent offensive struggles. After gaining 646 yards and scoring 56 points in week one against the University of the Cumberlands, the Eagles have failed to match their yardage of scoring outputs in the last two weeks combined. The Eagles scored 20 points in a win over Shorter before the Catawba Indians held the Eagles to seven last week in a 14-7 Catawba win. The Eagles combined to gain 610 yards of offense between those two contests.
"It was one of those deals where we had nine people doing a capable job and two not. And usually the two that weren't doing the job right was at a time where we couldn't afford not to get the job done," The Eagles' 36th-year head coach Ken Sparks said. "Great thing about football is that even though we have more people on the field than any other sport, with 11 at a time, those 11 have all got to do their job or you're in trouble. It only takes one to tear the other ten up."
The offensive frustrations the last two weeks have been amplified for Sparks because of the performance of the Eagles' defense. Carson-Newman hasn't held two consecutive opponents to under 21 points since 2012, when the Eagles limited Catawba, North Greenville and UNC Pembroke to seven, 10 and 10 in three consecutive weeks.
At the same time, Carson-Newman hasn't been limited to under 27 combined points in consecutive weeks since 2011 when Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry held the Eagles to a combined 10 points in weeks three and four of that season.
"I've been dreaming for years now that we would hold a team to two touchdowns and one touchdown in consecutive weeks, and now we can't score," Sparks said. "I don't know what the answer to that is—I really don't. We got some guys who need to start execute. It's the quarterback, it's the running back, it's the offensive line, and it's the wide receivers. We just have some people not getting the job done. I don't know. It's a question mark. Same coaching staff. A lot of the same people—at least six of them that started every game last year. What's the deal? I don't know."
Carson-Newman has been held to single digits eight times in the last 10 years. With the exception of the aforementioned games in 2011, C-N's offense has almost always bounced back. The Eagles have scored at least 35 points in six of those eight games following a contest where they were held inside 10. Included in that is a 52-point outburst in 2013 against Newberry, and a 52-14 throttling of Wingate in 2006.
"I know what the coaches are seeing and I know what our hearts about the situation," Sparks said. "I think we have kids with character and I think we have guys that are going to respond. Pictures don't lie when you are watching video, it's very obvious what we didn't do on offense and in the kicking game in places. The great thing about football is it's a team sport and if you don't have this (Joins hands together for famous togetherness gesture) then you are probably in trouble. It's more than any other sport; its 11 guys pulling for 11 guys. It's probably the best sport there is where it's not the sum of the individuals, it's the sum of the team, and it's a big difference in that."
Standing in the Eagles way is Mars Hill. The Lions never trailed in the first half to FCS top 10 Chattanooga before ultimately succumbing to the Mocs 44-34 two weeks ago. Last week, the Lions won their home opener against Limestone 36-26.
The Lions have been effective offensively. With quarterback Matt Layman ranking in the top 25 nationally with his 160.17 pass efficiency rating, the Lions have scored 86 percent of the time they've entered the red zone, the second best figure in the South Atlantic Conference.
"Probably as far as the overall team will be the best team we played as far as all of the things they do really well," Sparks said. "They give you a lot of things offensively every year. We have to practice against double passes and reverse passes and triple reverses and all kinds of stuff. When you are trying to block and tackle and play technique and then all of a sudden have to use some of your practice time for that, it really takes a lot away from it."
Mars Hill wide receiver Keshaun Taylor is first in the SAC and second in the nation in receiving touchdowns. The wideout, who earned SAC player of the week honors two weeks ago, snagged four TDs against UT-Chattanooga in a near upset for the Lions.
"He's a guy that expects to make plays and he can run like crazy," Sparks said. "He's everything you are looking for in a receiver. He has size, speed, jumping ability, and he has hands. He's just a good football player."
The Lions also boast a pair of first team preseason All-SAC selections at tailback with Shaikel Davis and Jamel Harbison. Harbison rushed for 168 yards on 33 carries last year against C-N while Davis recovered from a leg injury. Davis has 15 career 100-yard rushing performances, including one against UTC.
Ever since the Mars Hill Lions deprived Ken Sparks of his 300th victory on his first try in 2011, the Eagles haven't lost to Tim Clifton's club. The Eagles have won three straight in the series thanks to a marvelous run game that hasn't rushed for less than 420 yards over that span. The Eagles rushed for 488 in 2012, 433 in 2013 and 428 in 2014
After three weeks of playing inside Burke-Tarr Stadium, the Eagles must finally hit the road/ Carson-Newman is 7-8 in its last 15 conference road openers.
Last year, the Eagles limited the SAC's all-time leading receiver Dimitri Holmes to 55 all-purpose yards, it was Holmes' second lowest total of his illustrious Mars Hill career. Also a year ago, The Eagles rolled up 635 yards of total offense on just 62 plays. The Eagles 10.2 yards a touch is the most since 2008 when C-N gained 10.8 a play against MHU.
The Eagles and Lions kickoff Saturday at 1 p.m. from Meares Stadium. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at noon with the Appalachian Electric Cooperative Countdown to Kickoff on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
_story_story.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
_story.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
