VIDEO: Ken Sparks Interview

VIDEO: Jerry Miclisse Interview

VIDEO: Antonio Wimbush Interview

VIDEO: Highlights

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's defense turned out an impressive performance in the second of three preseason scrimmages for Carson-Newman football Saturday afternoon at Burke-Tarr Stadium. 

The Eagles' defense allowed just two offensive touchdowns in 36 minutes of game action. 

"The defense is gaining some confidence and getting an identity in places," head coach Ken Sparks said. "It's a time to look good and get some reps because you're going against some young people. People are getting reps they wouldn't normally get because of injuries on both sides of the ball."

Those numbers should come with some caveats.  Many members of the first team offense were held out due to injury concerns.  Only the wide receivers were at full strength in terms of numbers on the depth chart. 

Carson-Newman's defense capitalized, only allowing two drives, the two touchdown drives, to go longer than five plays and 30 yards.  The defense only got stronger as the afternoon wore on.  Two of the offenses last three drives were three-and-outs that covered negative 14 yards.

"It was the penetration by our defensive line," Preseason first team All-SAC safety Jerry Miclisse (Homestead, Fla.) said. "Then our linebackers opened up some alleyways and we were able to run downhill to the ball."

Goose Manning (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Leonard Dixon (Lake City, Fla.) scored the only two touchdowns of the day.  Manning took an option keeper around the right side of the line to strike paydirt from 23 yards away.  Dixon hit a trap around the right tackle for a 22-yard score. 

However, those two scores weren't the most exciting of the day.  Antonio Wimbush (Kingland, Ga.) brought a kickoff back nearly  100 yards for a touchdown, weaving his way through traffic to get into the end zone. 

"All week we've been going over our gameplan for kickoff returns," Wimbush said. "I saw the Screaming Eagles (Carson-Newman's kickoff return unit) make a hole for me, and I ran through it."

Carson-Newman wraps up its preseason camp with one final scrimmage Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.  The Eagles then take the field for real for the first time under the lights Thursday Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. against the University of the Cumberlands. Coverage will be available on the Eagle Sports Network on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online with a free high definition video stream at cneagles.com/live.