JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — The Carson-Newman football team has been through some ups and downs during its first four games of 2010.
The Eagles went 2-2, including a 30-7 loss at UNC Pembroke last week, with their youth and inexperience showing up at times.
But now C-N must forget about what happened in non-conference play and turn its focus to greater things as it opens South Atlantic Conference play this week at Brevard. The Eagles will begin defense of their SAC title on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Ahseville, N.C.
"It's a new season," said C-N head coach Ken Sparks, who has guided the program to 21 SAC titles. "These are teams that are familiar with us, and we are familiar with them. We know what is at stake. Hopefully we can get off the rollercoaster and start making some real progress."
The Eagles struggled last week against UNC Pembroke, turning the ball over four times and compiling a season-low 168 yards of offense.
Sparks said Saturday's struggles had a lot to do with a lack of playing fast, blocking and executing.
"The biggest thing is it is an urgency issue, a regardless issue, meaning get it done regardless," Sparks said. "We are not at the regardless stage yet. The thing that we've always had is that the speed of the game has always been on our side, and the speed of the game right now is not on our side. We've got to change that."
C-N will have another tough test on Saturday to open its SAC slate, as Brevard enters the contest with a 3-1 record. The Tornados racked up 519 yards on the ground in an impressive 69-7 win over Southern Virginia last week.
The Eagles defeated Brevard 77-7 last season and recovered six Tornado fumbles, including four for touchdowns.
"They are a good football team and are well-coached," said Sparks, whose team is 3-0 all-time against the Tornados. "You don't have to worry about them playing hard. They will play us tough. They always do, even though they turned the ball over like crazy against us last year. The last time we went over there it wasn't easy. It will be a battle."
The Tornados have had plenty of success running their triple option offense this season and currently lead the nation in rushing offense, averaging 357.8 yards per game. Freshman Kelvin Jeter, the SAC's leading rusher, has been a big reason why, rushing for 500 yards with an average of 10.9 yards per carry and four touchdowns.
"They have a lot of weapons in the backfield," Sparks said. "And then they will sneak a pass in there, and it'll cost you six points. (Our defense) has to get used to getting cut and linebackers getting cut. If we give them slow moving targets, then they will have us on the ground. We've got to play fast."
Defensively, the Eagles will be facing a Brevard unit that surrenders just 256 yards per game with reigning SAC Defensive Player of the Week Trey Jenkins and Salonik Amos leading the way with 24 tackles apiece.
Sparks is anxious to see how the Eagle offense responds against a solid Brevard defense after last week's struggles.
"I'm going to quote (C-N senior quarterback) Doug Belk," Sparks offered. "He said 'we've got to quit barking and we've got to start biting.' I think that we've had a lot of barking, but it's about time to start biting and be the team that we are supposed to be. We are not there yet."
