VIDEO: Ken Sparks Interview
VIDEO: Jamal Jones Interview
VIDEO: Phalen Booker Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – By virtue of a goal-line stand on the final series of the scrimmage, Carson-Newman head football coach Ken Sparks declared the defense the winners of C-N's second scrimmage of fall camp.
"There were somethings that were much better today," Sparks said. "I thought we looked more like a football team today. I was encouraged with the defense forcing some turnovers, and then we had sharp blocking and tackling on both sides of the ball."
The scrimmage featured offensive and defensive starters and second stringers interspersed among two separate units. The "second" of those defensive units did not allow a drive to advance past the 50-yardline in four attempts.
"If we we're putting numbers on them, two would have been one today defensively. But, we're not putting numbers on them yet," Sparks said. "Then offensively, Jamal Jones (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is as tough as a pine knot. Noah Suber (Asheville, N.C.), save for one or two mistakes, had a good scrimmage. We grew up a whole lot today on defense, and that was the most encouraging thing to me."
Jones was a definitive spark for the offense. The senior tailback ripped off a 31-yard touchdown on a screen pass from Suber. He also had a 24-yard run that would set up a score from six yards away by Antonio Wimbush (Kingsland, Ga.).
Montavious Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.) also saw success through the air, grabbing a 54-yard screen pass to set up a 20-yard field goal.
The other offensive score came from Dorren Miller (Roswell, Ga.). Miller got under a 55-yard bomb from Tyler Thackerson (Clinton, Tenn.) to score easily over the top.
Defensive highlights were bountiful as well. Freshman defensive back Desmond Fairell (Miami, Fla.) went up for a pick in one-on-one coverage. Freshman defensive tackle Montel Presley (Bushnell, Fla.) surged through the line to block a field goal. On top of that, Jason Williams (Fayetteville, Ga.) forced and recovered a fumble.
Carson-Newman closes out its fall camp with a final scrimmage Wednesday at 4 p.m.
