FLORENCE, Ala. – Carson-Newman senior running back Buck Wakefield (Drummonds, Tenn.) rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns, and the Eagle defense intercepted Harlon Hill trophy candidate Harrison Beck three times, as the Eagles beat top-seeded North Alabama, 24-21, on Saturday afternoon at Braly Municipal Stadium.

With the win, the Eagles (11-2) advance to the semifinals, where they will face Grand Valley State (12-1) next Saturday. Time and location for the semifinal game will be announced on Sunday. North Alabama's season comes to an end at 11-2.

The win was the first for the Eagles in Braly Municipal Stadium in nine tries.

The Eagle defense and Wakefield set the tone early as Carson-Newman jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter.

Senior linebacker D.J. Taylor (Homewood, Ala.) intercepted a tipped Beck pass after the Lions had forced a three-and-out by C-N to open the game.

Wakefield capped the ensuing drive with a 25-yard touchdown run on a dive over the left side. The senior kept his feet the final 10 yards, despite being spun around by Lion defenders, to give the Eagles the lead.

With the touchdown, Wakefield became Carson-Newman’s all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns with 47. He passed All-American Tyrone Westmoreland, who spurred the Eagles to four-straight NCAA playoff appearances in the mid-90’s.

North Alabama would answer with its defense. After C-N’s Brian Brown (Hartwell, Ga.) picked off Beck at the goal line, Beck’s second interception of the game, UNA turned the momentum with their own interception.

UNA’s Svante Davenport stepped in from of an Alex Good (Greensboro, N.C.) pass and returned it 41 yards to the C-N 2-yard line. Fullback Marcus Sims scored on the next snap to cut the Eagle lead to 10-7.

C-N would come up just short of answering just before the half.

Wakefield took a screen pass on third-and-11 from the North Alabama 30-yard line down the sideline for what appeared to be an apparent C-N touchdown, but UNA’s Kerry Orr punched the ball free at the two and J.J. Johnson jumped on it in the end zone for the touchback.

UNA ripped out of the locker room in the second half as Beck hooked up with senior Tim Hicks on a 48-yard middle screen on the first snap of the third quarter. Hicks would score on an 8-yard run on the next play to give UNA its first lead, 14-10.

The Lion defense would control the quarter, limiting the Eagles to just one first down on their first two drives of the period.

A poor punt by C-N’s Chris Jones (Rome, Ga.) gave UNA a new set of downs at the C-N 35, but junior safety Mario Russell (Columbus, Ohio) stepped in front of a Beck third down pass for C-N’s third interception of the game and turned the field.

The Eagles would answer with an 11-play, 66-yard drive to take the lead for good.

Good connected with a diving Reggie Hubbard (Chattanooga, Tenn.) for a 15-yard gain to set up first-and-goal at the UNA 7. Sophomore Nate Inman (Fitzgerald, Ga.) would punch it in on third down from a yard out for the score.

Eagle linebacker Ryan Helton (Tazwell, Tenn.) delivered maybe the key play of the day for the Eagle defense on the next Lion drive. The sophomore buried Beck on a sack on third-and-four at the C-N 44 to the end the threat.

After the UNA punt, Wakefield took the next snap and dashed 80 yards for the deciding score, his second touchdown of the day.

North Alabama would score late on a 36-yard pass from Beck to Charles McClain, but the ensuing onside kick hit a UNA player after five yards, as the Eagles knelt the final minutes off the clock.

Wakefield led the Eagles with 160 yards on 20 carries. Good finished the day 7-of-15 through the air with an interception.

Brown led the Eagles defense with nine tackles and an interception. Freshman Tyler Blackwell (Cartersville, Ga.) added eight stops and a pass break-up.

In all, the Eagles broke up 11 passes and intercepted three. They also stuffed the UNA run game, holding the Lions to minus-four yards rushing.

Beck completed just 24-of-50 passes for 281 yards a touchdown.

Linebacker Michael Johnson had two sacks and 11 tackles to lead the Lions’ defense.