VIDEO: Mike Clowney Interview
VIDEO: Frank Lee Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The benefactors of a scoring system that heavily penalized ball insecurity, the Blue Waves capitalized on four interceptions and romped 39-13 over the Orange Crush in Carson-Newman football's annual spring game Friday night at Burke-Tarr Stadium.
The Waves won 21-7 on pure football score, but the margin swelled to 39-13 when factoring the bonus points for turnovers and fumbles. Teams were rewarded four points for picks or fumble recoveries and two points for forcing a fumble. The Waves pilfered four passes and forced a pair of fumbles. The Orange team added to the seven points its offense scored with a fumble recovery and a Blue snap that hit the turf.
The game was comprised of two, 15-minute quarters and feature two teams, including their respective coaching staffs, that were fully drafted by Carson-Newman's players.
"The big thing is we realize how important the spring is," Carson-Newman head football coach Mike Clowney said. "We've watched a ton of video and I really feel like we're starting to look like a football team. I was encouraged by the effort and enthusiasm from both sides. I made up some rules with the scoring to really emphasize how much it affects you when the ball goes on the ground or gets turned over. The whole point of everything we did today is to get things coached so we can get them fixed, and we wanted to make that a big area of emphasis."
The Waves marched down the field on their opening possession of the game on a 10-play, 67-yard drive that carved 4:09 off the clock. Middle Tennessee State transfer Zane Whitson called his own number on a 28-yard quarterback keeper to set the Waves up inside the five. A play later, TJ King burst in over left guard from three yards out to give the Blue team their initial lead.
That lead would be short-lived. Three plays later, Lenor-Rhyne transfer Tre Luttrell found a wide open Devante Sanchez streaking down the middle of the field for a 52-catch and run that leveled things up with 8:08 to play in the first quarter.
The Blue team was able to take a 13-9 lead into the second quarter by virtue of the modified scoring system.
Cameron Hinson snatched what would be the first of his two interceptions on Orange's first drive of the second quarter. He snatched it at the 32 and brought it back 48 yards down to the Orange 20. Six plays later, Whitson called is own number on an option keeper from four yards out.
A Christian Hicks pick set up the final offensive touchdown of the game. He brought back a desperation heave 55 yards to the Orange five-yard line. Two plays later, Evan Murvin burst in on a six-yard carry.
Whitson led all ball carriers with 51 yards on five totes and a touchdown.
Lutrell was the top passer, completing 3-of-5 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Galen Washington caught three balls for 31 yards for the Orange team.
Frank Lee helped the Blue defense to the tune of six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries.
"Zane and Tre both did a nice job commanding their offensive series for their teams," Clowney said. "Frank Lee is a talented kid who didn't get to play last year. To watch his mentality and watch him grow and develop is excited."
Aside from Hinson and Hicks, Tae Kiner had the other interception for the Blue team.
JoJo Madeano and David Alexander led the Orange defense with five tackles. Jordun Wilson had four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
"The big thing is watching the video from this," Clowney said. "We're two-thirds of the way through spring ball and we've got a third left. I think this will be a nice springboard into some more detailed things offensively and defensively."
Carson-Newman still has a week left of spring practice. The Eagles will wrap up April 2 at 10 a.m. The final spring session will be followed by a free youth football clinic at 1 p.m.
