VIDEO: Ashley Ingram Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Tre Luttrell Interview
VIDEO: Christian Hicks Interview
VIDEO: Fortune Woods Interview
VIDEO: Don Bradley Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — It was an emphatic opening curtain for the Ashley Ingram era at Carson-Newman University as the Eagles crushed visiting NAIA power Reinhardt, 50-7, Thursday night inside Burke-Tarr Stadium.
While the offense rolled up the numbers and points, it was the defense that nearly blanked the No. 18 NAIA Eagles (0-1), holding Reinhardt to just 89 yards of total offense and just six first downs, with three coming from penalties. Carson-Newman (1-0) allowed Reinhardt just 1.5 yards per rush and 3.1 yards per pass attempt. Reinhardt's 89 yards were the fifth lowest total surrendered in C-N history.
"For all the work we've had to do putting in the offense, what peace of mind I have with (defensive coordinator) Larry Slade here," Ingram said. "Having Antonio (Goss) here and Johnson Jamison, Caleb Goins and Tony Ierulli, to be able to walk into a place and have that kind of experience. They're awesome and we have some talent on defense too."
✅ Most points scored by a C-N team in a head coaches debut for @CoachAIngram
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) August 30, 2024
✅ 13th blocked punt for a TD all-time thanks to @WoodsFortune
✅ fifth-fewest yards allowed in school history. @cnfootball was on one to open the season hanging half a hundred on Reinhardt pic.twitter.com/fQgo9w5WX8
Ingram joins Mike Clowney, Mike Turner, Ken Sparks, John Wike and Bobby Davis as winners in their first time in command on the Eagles' sideline in the last half century. C-N's 43-point margin of victory was the second-most ever in a head coach's debut, while the 50 points C-N put are the top mark for a head coach in his coaching debut. Furthermore, Ingram was just the third Carson-Newman head coach to win his first game by more than 10 points.
"The guys, since I've been here, have bought into what we're doing so I'm super excited for our players," Ingram said. "There were a lot of cool stats. I would have taken a one-point win. I'm just proud of the effort. It's not easy when there's a staff change. It's not easy when you change what you're doing offensively. We tried to bring a Naval Academy approach to football and discipline here and the guys have been awesome. I couldn't be happier in this one."
While the offense piled up the yardage all game, it was the C-N special teams that put the first points on the board. Storm Livesay shot through the Reinhardt punt protection to block a punt. The ball careened back into the paint as Eagles linebacker Fortune Woods pounced on it for the score. It was the 13th blocked punt for a score in C-N history, with the last coming from E.J. Davis against Catawba in 2021.
"That moment was surreal," Woods said. "We'd been scheming that their PPs (punt protectors) wouldn't be ready for us to rush, so we attacked them. It was a great feeling."
The Eagles defense forced a three-and-out, one of eight on the day, on the ensuing possession and the Carson-Newman offense went to work. Quarterback Tre Luttrell, making his first start for the Orange and Blue, had no trouble working the team down the field with his arm and legs. He dished the ball to Cam Ferguson for the final seven yards to put C-N up 14-0 to start the second quarter.
After an opening drive punt, @cnfootball's offense scored on seven of its next eight possessions. Food City Player of the Game @tre_luttrell tells us what clicked for C-N's offense in the season opener⤵️
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) August 30, 2024
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For Luttrell, who has been with the Eagle program for three seasons, it was the culmination of a summer of hard work.
"Coach Ingram came in in January and the team decided to buy in." Luttrell said. "No one hit the (transfer) portal. I think we're one of the closest teams in the nation. It's a brotherhood and we knew we'd hit some adversity. We kept trusting in (offensive coordinator) Coach (Chuck) Peterson and what he was calling and the O-Line did a great job tonight."
That offensive line saw four freshman take the field for the first time in Ingram's career at any level. With that group in the trenches, Carson-Newman piled up 497 total offensive yards and 388 yards on the ground. The Eagles had managed just four 300-yard plus rushing performances over the last four seasons before Thursday night. C-N scored on eight of its 11 offensive possessions in the game.
"From my vantage point, there were a lot of good things that happened, but there's a lot we can improve," Ingram said. "I mentioned to the guys that most teams improve from the first game to the second game more than they do all season. Now we have the luxury to have two full weeks to prepare for our second game."
It's confirmed. We are the better Eagles
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) August 30, 2024
Left no doubt in the season opener��
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��Reinhardt 7
FINAL pic.twitter.com/qFlVICkZBX
Reinhardt would get its only big play on the next kickoff, with Tyrese McKey returning the ball 90 yards for a score. It would be the only dent the NAIA squad would put in the scoreboard Thursday night.
It took just five plays for Carson-Newman to get back into the endzone on their next possession, with Luttrell hitting Zach Williams in stride for a 52-yard touchdown strike.
C-N stalled out on their next two possessions, but with their defense smothering Reinhardt, it was only a matter of time before the brand new scoreboard lit up again. This time it was C-N QB Gavin Gosnell, spelling Lutrell, who would punch the ball in from two yards out. The Eagles took a 26-7 lead into the half.
It was no easier on offense for Reinhardt coming out of the break. They went three-and-out four straight times in the third and fourth quarter before finally putting together a fruitless 10-play drive late in the game as Carson-Newman emptied its bench.
It's confirmed. We are the better Eagles
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) August 30, 2024
Left no doubt in the season opener��
�� @cnfootball 50
��Reinhardt 7
FINAL pic.twitter.com/qFlVICkZBX
Meanwhile, Carson-Newman scored three of the first four times it touched the football after halftime, and the one time it didn't in that mix, it bled 6:51 from the clock in a 11-play, 47-yard drive that ended in a punt.
Christian Hicks led the Eagles with five tackles and half a tackle for a loss. Jeterryous Jones and Jackson Ward recorded four tackles apiece. Fortune Woods had two tackles, one tackle for a loss and the blocked punt touchdown. Bradley and Tyler Curtis scored touchdowns from 32 and five yards, respectively to sandwich around a 19-yard Bennett Smith field goal before CJ Puckett capped the scoring with a brusing 17-yard rush with 4:55 to go in the fourth.
"The playcalling from our coaches and the relentless effort from or defense as a whole, the D-line stunted their gaps and played their gaps how they're supposed to play them," Woods said. "The linebackers fit in how they're supposed to fit. That's the way Carson-Newman football is."
On offense, 14 different players carried the ball for C-N, with Luttrell leading the way with 14 carries for 88 yards. He added 3-of-4 passing for 64 yards and a touchdown. Running back Don Bradley, making his first start for the Eagles, had seven carries for 76 yards. According to the redshirt freshman, it was the special teams score that sparked the offensive explosion.
CAUGHT EM SLEEPIN @treluttrell ➡️ @zach_williams16 for 6⃣
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) August 29, 2024
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��Reinhardt 7
2nd | 11:51
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��https://t.co/QlhB0s2eJH @FloFootball
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"The blocked punt got everybody's motivation up," Bradley said. "It got us rolling and we came in as offensive unit and did what we were supposed to do. …We need to keep growing as a family and a brotherhood. We want to show everybody how we can play this year."
Gosnell finished 2-for-2 passing for 45 yards. Cade Meeks caught two passes for 45 yards.
As impressive as the season-opening victory was, Ingram knows there's a long 2024 campaign ahead.
"I don't think there's an area where we can't improve in," Ingram said. "I know we can play faster. We can be more physical up front. We can be more efficient. We're excited about this win, we're going to get it in tomorrow morning, we're going to watch it, we're going to grade it and we're going to find areas where we can improve. We have to keep getting better."
The Eagles get an early bye before traveling to Dickerson Stadium in Institute, W.Va. on Thursday, Sep. 12 to take on West Virginia State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network will begin at 5 p.m. with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM Knoxville), MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
