JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Homecoming week has its share of distractions, but when the Carson-Newman football team takes the field on Saturday against Wingate, Eagles head coach Ken Sparks wants his squad to be focused on one thing — moving to 2-0 in the South Atlantic Conference.
The Eagles and Bulldogs are set to square off at 3 p.m. on homecoming at Burke-Tarr Stadium.
"I hope we are focused on the task at hand," Sparks said. "It's going to be a good challenge for us because Wingate is a good football team. I hope that we are moving in the right direction and we will be consistent with it and continue to improve and get better. I think we've got some guys that are starting to see the picture. It's a challenge, but we will keep working at it."
Protecting its home turf on Saturday has never been more important, as C-N enters the contest at 3-2 overall. Another loss could put the Eagles in danger of missing the NCAA playoffs.
C-N kept its playoff hopes alive last week with a 35-17 victory at Brevard in its SAC opener. Sparks said he saw signs of his team heading in the right direction against the Tornados.
"I was certainly encouraged," Sparks offered. "We gave up an awful lot of rushing yards but we did force two turnovers. We gave up some big plays but we also made some big plays. We are still very inexperienced, but I think we have made some progress. Hopefully, we can build on that and continue to raise our level of play."
One player the Eagles will be counting on to continue his solid play is senior quarterback Doug Belk (Valdosta, Ga.). Belk rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns against Brevard. He also had one of his best efforts of the season through the air, completing 5-of-9 passes for 76 yards.
"He did some things very well and improved in some areas," Sparks said of Belk. "He's still got some improving to do. I hope that he takes it up another notch. We expect a lot out of Doug, and of course at that position you better expect a lot out of him."
Belk and the Eagles will be facing a Wingate team with plenty of experience across the board. The Bulldogs return 20 starters (nine offense, nine defense, two special teams) from last season's squad that went 7-3 overall and 5-2 in SAC play.
The Bulldogs enter the contest at 2-2 on the season and 0-1 in the SAC after last week's 35-28 loss to Catawba, but Sparks said their schedule to date has been one of the toughest in the conference. Wingate also defeated UNC Pembroke, a team that knocked off the Eagles 30-7 two weeks ago.
"They are very experienced and have a lot of games under their belt," said Sparks, whose team defeated Wingate 45-7 last season. "There have been times that they've been a dominant football team against the people they've played. They've had the toughest schedule in the conference. Historically, they've played us better in Jefferson City. We know that they will be pumped and have that underdog mentality when they come in here. There's no question they will be a handful."
C-N's defense will have its hands full on Saturday, as Wingate is second in the conference in passing offense with an average of 285.5 yards per game.
Junior signal caller Cody Haffly is leading the way for the Bulldogs this season. Haffly has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,142 yards and seven touchdowns. His 285.5 yards per game ranks second in the SAC behind Tusculum's Bo Cordell. Haffly also returns his top four targets from a year ago in All-SAC performer Delric Ellington, Chris Bowden, Perry Floyd and Philip Thomas.
With the success Wingate has had through the air, Sparks said getting pressure up front will be key on Saturday. The Eagles have struggled to get to the quarterback so far this season and have compiled just 10 sacks in five games, with seven of those coming against Concordia.
"I don't think there has ever been a time when it has been more important to get a pass rush," Sparks said. "If a team is going to throw it three out of four plays, then you better get some pass rush. If we don't and (Haffly) stands back there all day and throws it, we are in trouble. That's the thing that we really want to concentrate on this week. It's key for us to get pressure this week."
The Bulldogs also have a talented option at running back in senior Nelson Woods, who has rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Woods, a two-time All-SAC performer, led the conference in rushing in 2007 and 2008.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are currently second in the conference in rushing defense, allowing just 81.8 yards per game. Wingate has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in four games this season. The Eagles had plenty of success on the ground in last season's matchup, amassing 496 yards with 303 yards coming from former Eagle Buck Wakefield.
"They are very multiple," Sparks said of Wingate's defense. "Last year, we saw about every defense that we've ever heard of at some point during the game. They will adjust from one series to the next. If you hurt them with something, they will adjust."
Winning the special teams battle will also be important for the Eagles on Saturday. Floyd, a preseason first team All-American return man for the Bulldogs, led the conference and was top 10 nationally last season in punt return and kickoff return yards.
"They have the best kickoff return team around that I've seen," Sparks said. "They do a really good job with it. They get great field position with their returns. It's going to be critical this week to have good kickoff coverage and for (C-N punter) Chris (Jones) to get his best punts off."
Saturday's meeting will be the 23rd in the series between C-N and Wingate. The Eagles lead the series 21-1. Wingate's lone win was a 25-24 victory in 1995.
