JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman football running back Andy Hibbett (Corryton, Tenn.) has garnered national praise following his 221-yard, three-touchdown performance in the Eagles' 55-35 Saturday win over Tusculum.
Hibbett has been named one of three Division II Running Backs of the Week by the Beyond Sports Network.
Hibbett shares the distinction with Azusa Pacific's Terrell Watson, who had 192 yards on the ground and five touchdowns, and Central Missouri's Lavance Taylor who had 228 yards and two scores.
Hibbett toted the rock 30 times and scored three touchdowns. The trio of scores all came in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Hibbett slogged his way through the mud for the 14th-best single-game rushing tally in Carson-Newman football history. His 221 yards narrowly edged out the last 200-yard game for the Eagles, a 219-yard day for Brandon Baker in C-N's season opening win over Glenville State in 2012.
The senior from Gibbs 30 carries were also the most by an Eagle ballcarrier since quarterback Brandon Haywood ran 34 times in a second round playoff win over Lenoir-Rhyne on November 23, 2012.
With his 200-yard performance, Hibbett tied Buck Wakefield's school record of consecutive 100-yard rushing performances at five. Unlike Wakefield (or Brandon Baker and Tyrone
Westmoreland, who each had four straight 100-yard games), Hibbett's streak is in the middle of the season as opposed to its end.
Hibbett and the rest of the Eagles are back at Burke-Tarr Stadium Saturday for homecoming. Festivities kickoff at 3 p.m. with pregame on the Eagle Sports Network starting at 2 p.m. with the Appalachian Electric Cooperative Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
