JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — For the sixth time in school
history, the Caron-Newman football team is set to meet North
Alabama in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
The 10th-ranked Eagles (10-2) and fifth-ranked Lions (11-1) will
square off in the quarterfinals on Saturday with the winner
advancing to the semifinals on Dec. 5. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at
Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala.
C-N has struggled to come away from Florence with wins, as it is
0-8 all-time at Braly Stadium. The Eagles are 0-5 in the venue
against North Alabama and they also lost three Division II national
championship games in Florence. C-N is 1-4 all-time in the playoffs
against the Lions, with their lone win coming in the first round of
the 1997 playoffs (21-7).
C-N and North Alabama met during the regular season, with the
Lions claiming a 31-14 victory.
How they made it to the quarterfinals:
C-N opened postseason play last week with a 59-41 victory over
West Alabama in the second round of the playoffs. The win was
C-N’s 10th-straight after losing the first two contests of
the season
The Eagles stormed out to a 49-14 lead in the contest, but the
Tigers battled back to score the next 27 points to pull to within
49-41.
However, the Eagles answered with two lengthy scoring drives that
chewed up more than 10 minutes of clock to seal the win and advance
to the Division II quarterfinals for the eighth time in the Ken
Sparks era.
The Eagles piled up 591 yards of total offense in the win,
including 383 yards on the ground. Senior quarterback Alex Good
(Greensboro, N.C.) led the way with 118 yards rushing and two
touchdowns and 208 yards passing and three scores.
North Alabama hosted Arkansas Tech last Saturday in the second
round. The Lions built a 27-point lead heading into the fourth
quarter and held off a late Wonder Boys rally to claim a 41-28
lead.
The win moved North Alabama into the quarterfinals for a fifth
straight season.
The Lions amassed 480 yards of offense, including 341 yards
passing and three touchdowns from quarterback Harrison Beck, who is
a Harlon Hill Trophy candidate.
Offense
The Eagles have been one of the most productive teams in the
nation on offense in their last four games, gaining 2,649 yards for
an average of 662.25 yards per game.
For the season, C-N ranks first nationally in rushing offense
(356.42 yards per game), fourth in total offense (498) and eighth
in scoring offense (40.5).
The Eagles have gained more than 500 yards of offense six times
this season, including a school-record 803 yards against Tusculum
in their season finale on Nov. 7.
Leading the way for C-N this season has been a pair of All-Region
Super 2 performers. Senior running back Buck Wakefield (Drummonds,
Tenn.), a first team selection, has rushed for 1,236 yards and 16
touchdowns in just nine games this season.
Good, a second team All-Region Super 2 selection, has thrown for
1,660 yards and 19 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He has
also rushed for 1,138 yards and 13 touchdowns.
North Alabama ranks right at the top with C-N in terms of offense.
The Lions are 18th nationally in total offense, averaging 432.92
yards per game.
North Alabama has done most of its damage this season through the
air, as it is seventh in the nation in passing offense with an
average of 318.75 yards per game.
The Lions are also fourth in the nation in scoring offense,
averaging 41 points per game.
Beck has done a stellar job under center for North Alabama this
season. The senior signal caller has completed 59 percent of his
passes for 3,542 yards, 30 touchdowns and just nine
interceptions.
Beck has a trio of dangerous wide receivers to throw to in juniors
T.J. Porter and Mico McSwain and senior Preston Parker. Porter
leads the team in receptions with 64 for 732 yards and seven
touchdowns, while McSwain has 890 receiving yards and eight
touchdowns. Parker has piled up 746 yards receiving and six
touchdowns.
Defense
Despite giving up a season-high 41 points last week to West
Alabama, the Eagles continue to make plays when it counts on
defense.
C-N has forced 34 turnovers this season, including five last week
against the Tigers that led to 24 points. The Eagles are in a tie
for eighth in the nation in turnover margin (1.08) with North
Alabama and Grand Valley State.
The Eagles also shut out West Alabama in the first quarter,
allowing C-N’s offense to build a 21-0 lead.
Senior linebacker Brian Brown (Hartwell, Ga.) and sophomore
defensive end Zeke Andrews (Eastman, Ga.), both second team
All-Region Super 2 selections, have both had solid seasons for
C-N.
Brown has recorded 72 tackles and two sacks this season. He had an
interception and a fumble recovery last week against West
Alabama.
Andrews leads the team in tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (6.5).
He has recorded 35 tackles and three forced fumbles in 12 games
this season.
North Alabama is giving up 306 yards per game and 16.58 points per
game, which ranks ninth nationally.
The Lions have given up 14 points or less six times this season,
including one shutout.
North Alabama placed five players on the All-Region Super 2
squads, including first team selections Montrell Craft, Michael
Johnson and Jason Tate.
Craft, a senior defensive lineman, has tallied 59 tackles,
including 14.5 for a loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Johnson, a senior linebacker, leads the team in tackles (102),
tackles for loss (14.5) and forced fumbles (four).
Tate, a senior cornerback, has been a force in North
Alabama’s secondary as he has recorded 37 tackles, two
interceptions and seven pass breakups.
April 20, 2010
Sparks receives prestigious Neyland Award
March 3, 2010
Eagles to Hold Orange and Blue Game on Saturday
March 2, 2010
Carson-Newman Adds Seven to 2010 Football Signing Class
February 8, 2010
Eagles Add Two to 2010 Signing Class
December 14, 2009
Eagles Ranked Fourth in Final AFCA Poll
December 4, 2009
Carson-Newman Game Notes vs. Grand Valley State
November 30, 2009
Scouting Report: No. 10 Carson-Newman vs. No. 3 Grand Valley State
November 28, 2009
Semifinal Bound: Eagles Drop UNA in Florence, 24-21
November 27, 2009
Gameday Central: Carson-Newman/Grand Valley State
November 25, 2009
Back to Florence: Eagles Face North Alabama on Saturday
November 24, 2009
Scouting Report: Carson-Newman vs. North Alabama
November 23, 2009
Kickoff Time Set for Eagles' Quarterfinal at UNA
November 20, 2009
Gameday Central: Carson-Newman vs. West Alabama
November 19, 2009
Carson-Newman Game Notes vs. West Alabama
November 18, 2009
Eagles Postseason Begins with West Alabama on Saturday
November 18, 2009
C-Ns Needs Named D-II Assistant Coach of the Year
November 17, 2009
Scouting Report: Carson-Newman vs. West Alabama
November 9, 2009
Carson-Newman Climbs to 10th in AFCA Poll
November 9, 2009
Carson-Newman Leads Way On SAC 2009 All-Conference Football Team
November 8, 2009
No. 14 Carson-Newman Receives First-Round Bye in NCAA Playoffs
November 7, 2009
No. 14 Carson-Newman Defeats Tusculum, 70-35, on Record-Setting Day
November 6, 2009
Eagles Good Named Candidate for Harlon Hill Trophy
November 6, 2009
Gameday Central for Carson-Newman/Tusculum on Saturday
November 5, 2009
Eagles Host Tusculum in Regular-Season Finale Saturday
November 2, 2009
Eagles Jump to 14th in AFCA Poll, Remain No. 2 in Regional Rankings
November 2, 2009
Eagles' Wakefield Named SAC Offensive Player of the Week
October 31, 2009
No. 18 Carson-Newman Runs by Wingate, 45-7, to Win 21st SAC Title
October 28, 2009
Eagles Travel to Wingate on Saturday with SAC Title on the Line
October 26, 2009
Eagles Move to 18th in AFCA Poll, Second in Regional Rankings
October 24, 2009
No. 20 Carson-Newman Cruises Past Brevard, 77-7
October 19, 2009
Eagles Jump to 20th in AFCA Poll
October 15, 2009
Eagles Travel to Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday
October 10, 2009
Carson-Newman Battles Back to Down Catawba, 41-31, on Homecoming
October 8, 2009
Carson-Newman Hosts Catawba for Homecoming on Saturday
October 5, 2009
Eagles Third in First Regional Rankings
October 3, 2009
Carson-Newman Storms Past Mars Hill, 55-28
October 2, 2009
Carson-Newman Visits Mars Hill on Saturday Afternoon
September 28, 2009
Eagles' Good, Lopez Named SAC Players of the Week
September 26, 2009
Carson-Newman Takes Down Newberry in SAC Opener, 23-20
September 24, 2009
Eagles Welcome Newberry in SAC Opener Saturday
September 21, 2009
C-N's Jones Named SAC Special Teams Player of the Week
September 19, 2009
Carson-Newman Upends UNC Pembroke, 35-22
September 16, 2009
Eagles Set to Host Unbeaten UNC Pembroke Saturday
September 10, 2009
Eagles Roll Past Campbellsville, 38-10, in Home Opener
September 8, 2009
Eagles Set For Thursday's Home Opener Against Campbellsville
September 5, 2009
No. 22 Carson-Newman Falls at No. 4 North Alabama, 31-14
September 4, 2009
Eagles Set for Top 25 Showdown at No. 4 North Alabama
August 27, 2009
Carson-Newman Drops 2009 Season Opener, 17-12, At Winona State
August 25, 2009
Sparks Begins 30th Season at Mossy Creek on Thursday Night
August 21, 2009
Eagles Begin Game Week Preparations for Season Opener
August 19, 2009
Eagles Hold Final Scrimmage of Fall Camp
August 17, 2009
Eagles Ranked Ninth in AFCA Preseason Poll
August 15, 2009
Good, Hubbard On Same Page During Saturday's Scrimmage
August 14, 2009
Eagles Hold Media Day, First Full Scrimmage
August 8, 2009
Eagles Continue to Grind Through Camp
July 30, 2009
Eagles Picked to Win South Atlantic Conference
July 13, 2009
Eagles Ranked Ninth in Lindy's Sports Preseason Poll
March 23, 2009
Carson-Newman Releases 2009 Football Schedule