HICKORY, N.C. – No. 25 Carson-Newman College (6-2, 4-0
SAC) trailed for over 54 minutes but was able to score 14
unanswered points to defeat Lenoir-Rhyne University (4-4, 1-3 SAC)
by a 17-13 score Saturday night at Moretz Stadium. The Eagles are
now the only undefeated team in South Atlantic Conference play as
Wingate University fell to Newberry College, 35-27, Saturday
afternoon at home.
“Lenoir-Rhyne just physically whipped us for the first thee
quarters of the game,” said C-N head coach Ken Sparks.
“They did several things better than we did and it
showed.”
Lenoir-Rhyne struck first on the opening drive of the game after a
65-yard kickoff return by Jamont Jones (Washington, N.C.). The
Bears capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run by Andrew
Courman (Beaufort, N.C.).
Carlos Lopez (Seymour, Tenn.) gave the Eagles their first points
of the game as the sophomore converted a 36-yard field goal with
8:17 remaining in the first quarter to make the score 7-3.
Colin Corpe (Ocala, Fla.) gave the Bears a 10-3 lead in with a
21-yard field goal late in the first quarter.
With Lenoir-Rhyne driving, Justin Sanders’ (Monroe, N.C.)
pass was intercepted on the Eagles’ one yard line by P.J.
Woods (Fort Myers, Fla.) and returned the ball out to the 24. The
game would carry the 10-3 score into the half as neither team was
able to score in the second quarter.
L-R stretched its lead to 13-3 with 1:29 remaining in the third
quarter when Corpe line-drove a 27-yard field goal just over the
crossbar.
Carson-Newman scored its first touchdown of the game with 13:09
remaining in the fourth quarter on a seven-yard reception from
senior Alex Good (Greensboro, N.C.) to senior Buck Wakefield
(Drummonds, Tenn.) to close the gap to 13-10.
The Eagles took their first lead of the contest at the 5:09 mark
after marching 41 yards in five plays as Good found senior Reggie
Hubbard (Chattanooga, Tenn.) with a 2-yard pass to go up 17-13.
“When Reggie made that catch, I thought it was intercepted
but he just wanted the ball more and wrestled it out of the
defense’s hands,” continued Sparks.
Lenoir-Rhyne drove to the Carson-Newman 22 with one minute
remaining but was unable to gain the first down and the Eagles took
over on downs to run the clock out.
Good moved into second place all-time in total offense with 177
yards (153 passing, 24 rushing) on the night and is now 25 yards
away from reaching the top spot in school history.
Hubbard led all receivers with 89 yards on seven catches and one
touchdown including the 22-yard catch that proved to be the
game-winner.
Sanders led the Bears with 153 total yards including a 56-yard
rush in the first quarter.
“There are some lessons to be learned from this game,”
concluded Sparks. “We are going to have to continue to get
better if we want to continue to have good results.”
Carson-Newman will have its opportunity to get better next
Saturday when Brevard College visits Mossy Creek. Kickoff is set
for 1:00 p.m.
Photo credit goes to SportsFotos.
