VIDEO: Mike Clowney Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Mekhi Brown Interview
VIDEO: Cade Meeks Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — With a chance to steal a victory inside Burke-Tarr Stadium with a final offensive possession, Carson-Newman fell just short.
Sophomore wide receiver Cade Meeks recorded his second consecutive 100-yard game, but it wasn't enough as the final seconds ticked off the clock. The Eagles fell 27-21 to Tusculum University in a South Atlantic Conference match up Saturday.
Carson-Newman (2-4, 1-3 SAC) trailed 13-0 at halftime, but battled back in the second half to grab a third-quarter lead and give themselves a chance in the final minutes against the Pioneers (3-3, 3-1).
"It's about two things we talk about all the time," C-N head coach Mike Clowney said. "It's about believing in one another. Telling these guys I love them. I love the effort. I thought at the beginning of the game, we did a good job working and doing that. We had this lull in there and gave them 13 points and putting ourselves behind. They showed that energy coming back out and put to get back into the game. Then we still have to make sure we put an exclamation point on things and finish. That adversity is going to be there and we're going to have to work through it."
The adversity showed up early for both teams as Tusculum and the Eagles traded punts and turnovers in the first quarter. Neither team's offense could get on track and the defenses made the most of every loose ball and ill-timed pass. Late in the first quarter, there were more combined turnovers (five) than first downs (four) until two minutes of the frame.
"Both of us laid the ball on the ground," Clowney said. "I thought the defense did a great job making sure we kept our chins up and went out and made plays. They continued to keep us in the game after the turnovers that we committed."
However, shockingly, given a combined eight turnovers (four both ways between the Eagles and Pioneers), neither team scored a solitary point off those eight turnovers.
Eagles starting quarterback Jaylen Myers didn't enter the game 100 percent and was replaced by Zane Whitson in the second half, who spurred the comeback attempt with an 8-of-19 passing day for 171 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Until Whitson entered the game to open the third quarter, C-N had recorded a total of 61 yards on offense.
"We felt like Jaylen struggled a little this week with an injury he had." Clowney said. "We felt like he could go, but probably couldn't do everything we needed him to do today. So we brought Zane in and he performed well at times and gave us an opportunity to run the entire offense and be able to move the ball."
The Pioneers got on the scoreboard first to open the second quarter. After forcing a C-N three-and-out, Tusculum took over at their own 42-yard line. With the shorter field, they were able to work the ball into the red zone with Jalen Hunt doing most of the work on the ground. Quarterback Matthew Palazzo capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Joe Robunstelli. The Pioneers missed the extra point, but led 6-0.
After another three-and-out for the Eagles, Tusculum built a 13-0 lead after 14-play, 54 yard drive. Palazzo again found a receiver open in the paint, this time with a six-yard pass to Hunt to push the score to 13-0. It would remain there heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Eagles offense came to life. Whitson began the opening possession hitting Bryce Bevins for a 32-yard completion. Tyler Curtis pounded the ball down to the Pioneers 20 on three consecutive runs. Whitson called his own number on a 20-yard touchdown run to pull within a score.
Two drives later, Whitson and the offense would deliver again, this time reeling off a quick, six-play, 61-yard scoring drive that barely took two minutes off the clock to give the Eagles the lead. Curtis punched the ball in from the three to put C-N up 14-13.
The lead didn't last long, as Tusculum responded with a quick strike drive of their own. Palazzo found Robustelli open deep for a 39-yard touchdown strike to retake the advantage.
Tusculum would move two scores ahead once more midway through the fourth quarter with Palazzo tossing his fourth touchdown pass of the day, a four-yarder to Hunt. Palazzo finished 26-of-41 for 372 yards with the four TDs and two picks.
With their backs against the wall and the clock working against them, Carson-Newman needed to score and found a way to make it happen. Facing a fourth and 20 at Pioneers' 43, Whitson lofted a rainbow down the seam to Cade Meeks, who hauled the ball in over two defenders and powered his way into the endzone for the score.
Meeks finished the game with five catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. He joins Braxton Westfield as the only players in program history with consecutive 100-yard receiving performances.
"He (Meeks) is a real gritty kid," Clowney said. "He kind of understands situations. He's got a ton of fight in him and that red hair just kind of stands up at point, sometimes. He's someone who continues to work and to be super dependable for us."
With life, the defense got C-N the ball back with 2:21 left to play. An intentional grounding penalty put the Eagles far behind the sticks on first down and they never could recover. Tusculum wrapped the game in victory formation.
Mekhi Brown led C-N with nine tackles, one sack, one tackle for a loss, a fumble recovery and an interception. Major Williams, Kendall Williams and Jomier Augustine all wrapped with seven tackles apiece. Williams added a tackle for a loss and Augustine half a sack. Jacorey Long had six tackles, one for a loss and a sack.
"We've got to make sure we continue taking those next steps to improve our offense, defense and kicking," Clowney said. "It's fall break and our guys don't have class, so they can take this week to rest a little bit and take the things we learn each week into the football game next Saturday."
The win for Tusculum is its first in the series in Jefferson City since 1934, snapping a string of 16 straight losses to C-N on the banks of Mossy Creek.
The Eagles will return to the field next Saturday, Oct. 14, when they travel to Greenwood, S.C. to face off against the Erskine Flying Fleet inside J.W. Babb Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 3 p.m. with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
