VIDEO: Mike Turner Press Conference
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – No. 24 Carson-Newman (8-2) opens up its 26th trip into postseason play with a foray up I-81 to play its first-ever game in the state of Maryland with a first-round matchup against 11th-ranked Bowie State (11-0). The Eagles and Bulldogs kickoff from Bulldogs Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Carson-Newman is making its first NCAA playoff appearance since 2015. Six players, all fifth-year seniors, remain on the roster from that wild 61-59 opening-round loss to Valdosta State. Running back Antonio Wimbush (Kingsland, Ga.) and defensive lineman Brian Bembry (Parrish, Fla.) are the only players left from that year who actually played in the game. Marcus Williams (Apopka, Fla.), Demitri Saulsberry (St. Mary's, Ga.) Trevor Makarov (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Antonio Henderson (Palmetto, Fla.) were all on the roster, but didn't make the trip to Georgia that year.
As such, the majority of the 2019-20 senior class and the vast majority of Carson-Newman's football team will be making its first playoff appearance.
"I think those kids know that they can depend on each other and that goes back to the word trust from the very get go of this season," Carson-Newman head football coach Mike Turner said. "Trust that each side is going to do (right) by the ball, trust that a guy with you on that side is going to make sure it gets done and you're going to play on the road, you're going to play the first NCAA playoff game anybody on this team has ever played in.
"You want to make sure that the game is not bigger…don't make the game bigger than what it is. It's a road trip, they're on a mission to go win a football game Saturday at 1 p.m. Yes, it can advance you or not, but the main thing is don't get caught up in all the things around you. Make sure that you're caught in your team, make sure that you're caught up and you're focused on getting the job done."
The playoff appearance continues an incredible streak for Carson-Newman football. Every senior class that has come through the program has made at least one NCAA playoff appearance since 1982.
While the Eagles have never faced unbeaten Bowie State, the CIAA champions, they do have several all-time meetings with the CIAA. Carson-Newman hasn't lost to a school from that league in the last 18 years. The Eagles have won 13 straight games against CIAA competition. The Eagles last lost in 2001 to Winston-Salem State 27-16. C-N is 14-1 all-time against the league.
Carson-Newman is 2-0 against the league all-time in the playoffs. The Eagles collected 40-27 and 35-14 wins over Fayetteville State in the first round in 2002 and 2004. Both those games were played in Jefferson City.
C-N will effort to buck a recent trend of road struggles in the playoffs. Trips outside Jeff City haven't been fun for Carson-Newman. The Eagles are 2-15 away from Burke-Tarr Stadium in the Division II playoffs. The Eagles two victories came in the quarterfinals of the 2009 playoffs against North Alabama and in the first round of the 2003 postseason with a win over Valdosta State.
The Bulldogs have put together a season for the ages, with the first unbeaten regular season in program history. Bowie State's 11-game winning streak is the second-longest active win streak in the country behind defending national champion Valdosta State's 25-game streak.
Bowie State is elite at defending its home turf. The Bulldogs have won nine straight home games, tied for the sixth-longest active streak in the nation. Bowie State hasn't lost at Bulldog Stadium since a 45-35 playoff loss to Delta State in 2017.
This is Bowie State's third consecutive season with a first-round home playoff game. The Bulldogs are making their fourth trip into postseason play under 11th-year head coach Damon Wilson. They are 1-3 under him in playoff play. The win came last year in a 41-35 shootout with West Alabama before the Bulldogs bowed out to eventual national champion Valdosta State the next round 66-16.
The Bulldogs have been electric at home this season, scoring no fewer than 42 at Bulldogs stadium. Bowie State's 42-14 win over Alderson Broaddus was an outlier for BSU. In the Bulldogs four other home games, Bowie State put up at least 52 in every one.
"Bowie State is 11-0 and they have a great football team," Turner said. "They've got players, both sides of the football, that dominate. That's proven by their stats. So, we expect the number one thing is we have to be Carson-Newman. We have to do what we do best and execute at a level that's offensively and defensively and in the kicking game and number one, be who you are, and be strong to that commitment."
Bowie State's high-octane, but balanced offense is led by transfer quarterback Ja'Rome Johnson. The UVa-Wise transfer has accounted for 33 touchdowns this year. He has thrown for 21 against just seven picks and run for another 12.
Johnson is Bowie State's leading rusher with 81.6 yards per game and 8.1 yards per carry. The yards per tote ranks fifth in the country and tops among quarterbacks.
"He's off and running with it and that's your greatest fear on defense is being able to contain him," Turner said. "When the quarterback is the leading rusher, you know that's not by accident, that's by plan. A lot of it you have to make sure that he's contained, you have to make sure somebody is accountable for him in the middle and, gosh, what he's got on the outside to throw the football to. Very, very talented receivers that can run and go make plays."
Johnson's top target has been tight end DuShon David. He has 35 catches for 573 yards and a team-best nine touchdowns. However, the Bulldogs pass catchers are far from just David. Eight different players have at least 13 catches and 150 yards receiving. David, Geordan Clark, Victor Olayinka and Montez Clay all have at least four receiving touchdowns.
When you include rushing scores, a whopping 16 different Bulldogs have found the end zone this year.
As impressive as the offense has been, the defense has been equally strong, holding opponents to just 15.5 points and 284 yards a game. No one has forced more turnovers than the Bulldogs this season. Bowie State has 35 takeaways, including 25 picks. The 35 turnovers forced are not only the most in Division II, but also the most among all teams in FBS, FCS and Division III. Bowie State is tied with Division III Redlands of the SCIAC for the most takeaways in the country.
"They've got great players on defense, their front box right there is solid as we've played against talent wise," Turner said. "They're like our kids, we're trying to get them to expect to get turnovers, well, that's part of their game plan, and they're a very talented group and they've earned where they are statistically."
Demetri Morsell has been the top ball hawk for BSU with nine picks. He has a trio of pick sixes. Tevin Singleton has an addition five picks.
They've been aided by a defense that gets unrelenting pressure on opposing backfields. The Bulldogs lead the country with 11.0 tackles for loss per game.
Defensive tackle Joshua Pryor has put together and All-America caliber campaign with 25 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Pryor leads the country in tackles for loss, and is fifth in sacks.
"He's got great movement, he really does," Turner said. "Great movement, ability to shed a block, get off of that block and make a play. None of those guys up front or linebacker wise you see get stuck on blocks, and that's going to be a key for us. We've got to go make a block, we've got to go make it stick until we get somebody to run by them."
Antonio Wimbush became the fourth member of Carson-Newman's 3,500-yard rushing club against Mars Hill. He is third all-time in rushing yards with 3,769. Wimbush is 273 yards away from second and Kennth Tyson, and 387 yards away from first and Robert Thomas. Wimbush's next 100-yard performance would give him 17 for his career, tying him with Brandon Baker and Kenneth Tyson for the second most all-time.
Additionally, Wimbush needs 111 yards rushing for back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He can join Robert Thomas, Kenneth Tyson, Tyrone Westmoreland, Nate Inman and Brandon Baker as the only running backs in C-N history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons in their careers.
Wimbush is the sixth player in program history with 40 career rushing touchdowns. He needs three more rushing TDs to catch De'Andre Thomas for fourth on the all-time list.
Desmond Fairell's next interception will be his 20th in his career. He needs five more picks to catch Mike Schlecter and Chuck Proffitt for the all-time record. The seven interceptions Fairell has this year are tied for the third most for a single-season in school history. His next pick will move him into a seven-way tie for the third-most in school history for one year. Al Canty holds the single season record with 11 set in 1972.
Carson-Newman has picked off 19 passes this year. One more picks and this versio of the Eagles will become the 11th team in school history with 20 picks in a single year. The 1991 team holds the school record with 31 interceptions. Carson-Newman is fifth nationally this year with its 19 picks. C-N has picked off multiple passes five times this year
Kickoff between the Eagles and Bulldogs is set for 1:00 p.m. Saturday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins one hour prior to gametime with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
