VIDEO: Ashley Ingram Presser
VIDEO: 2021 Barton Highlights
VIDEO: Catawba Highlight Reel
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Sporting an unbeaten record through the month of September for the first time in 17 years, No. 25/21 Carson-Newman (4-0, 2-0 SAC) will try to keep its unblemished record intact when it welcomes Barton's Bulldogs (2-2, 1-1 SAC) to the banks of Mossy Creek for a 1 p.m. kick Saturday.
Carson-Newman has an opportunity to go 5-0 to start the year. Carson-Newman's last 5-0 start was in 2007. The Eagles started 6-0 that season before losing a 55-49 thriller to Catawba en route to a 10-1 record. C-N has started 12 seasons 5-0. Ten of those years fall between 1989 and 2007.
"I mentioned this to the team yesterday," Carson-Newman head football coach Ashley Ingram said. "We're 4-0, we're getting some national recognition in polls. I'm happy for our guys. The guys in our program have had a tough three or four years here, so it's nice that they're getting this kind of recognition, and they deserve it.
"But at the same time, we've got to get better this week, and all that really matters is the game against Barton this week. Really, all that matters is practice today. So that's kind of the focus, if we're satisfied with where we are, it probably won't end well. If we can use this as motivation and kind of fuel us, then, then that obviously can be a positive. We're just focused on getting better today."
Ingram is the first Carson-Newman head football coach to win his first four games at the helm of the Eagle football program. Legendary C-N skipper Ken Sparks has the best five-game record of any coach to the start of a career, going 4-1 with a lone blemish in week three in 1980 to Wofford.
Carson-Newman is searching for its first five-game win streak overall since the program won five straight games en route to the second round of the NCAA playoffs in 2019.
C-N's offense leads the SAC in both scoring and rushing yardage. The Eagles are fifth nationally in points per game with 43.0. C-N has scored more than 30 points in four straight weeks. The Eagles haven't dropped 30 plus in five straight weeks since 2015. The Eagles are ninth nationally in rushing yardage with 245 yards per game.
"It's like everything. Offensively and defensively, we've got to control the line of scrimmage. If we can run the ball well, we control the tempo of the game, we'll have a shot. Defensively, we obviously need to stop the run and then it comes down to big plays then can we control the wide receivers? Can we make some plays in the pass game on our side? So it's kind of the same story each and every week."
A familiar face stands on Barton's sidelines. The rejuvenated fifth-year program's head coach is former Catawba head man Chip Hester. Hester guided the Indians for 11 years, taking Catawba to three SAC titles and four NCAA playoff appearances from 2001-12. He beat C-N in 2006 and 2007. Carson-Newman is 9-3 all-time against Chip Hester-coached teams.
"Coach (Chip) Hester and Barton are coming off a win," Ingram said. "Obviously, he's been in the league for a long time. Very good coach, very good program. I think last time we played them, they beat us pretty good, so we're just excited to get out and see if we've improved."
The Bulldogs handled Anderson last week, rolling to a 27-13 win over the Trojans that looks closer than the final score indicates thanks to an Anderson touchdown as time expired in the game.
Barton College's Jayden Flood-Brown and Dereck Barringer were named the South Atlantic Conference Football Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, following the win.
Flood-Brown, a senior wideout from Newport News, Va., caught touchdown passes of 69 and 65 yards, respectively, and totaled seven receptions for a game-high 162 yards against the Trojans.
Barringer, a senior defensive back from Rockingham, N.C., led all tacklers with 13 to along with a key quarterback sack in the fourth quarter to spearhead a Bulldogs' defense that limited Anderson to just 80 yards passing in the air in the triumph.
Barton has been sensational at protecting quarterback Trevor Nored. Nored has only been sacked twice in four games. Barton is third nationally in sacks allowed. Barton is the only school in the top five nationally not running a triple-option attack.
Presenting your players of the week!!
— Carson-Newman Football (@cnfootball) October 1, 2024
Offensive @CamFerguson2
Defensive @ChampBaker22
Special Teams @GraysonC_36
Keep up the good work ����#TalonsUp #brotherhood pic.twitter.com/DDmnKAus7V
Barton linebacker Matt Smith has been a tackling machine throughout his career. The All-SAC linebacker has 270 tackles in his career. He is seventh in the SAC this season in tackles. Smith is fifth among all active players in NCAA Division II in career tackles.
Flood-Brown has turned into one of the SAC's top pass catchers. He ranks second in the league in receiving yards with 326 and second in catches per game with 5.5.
Carson-Newman has kept the defensive pressure dialed up. With a sack in every week of the 2023 season, last year's team became the fourth this century to tally a sack in every week of the season. C-N has registered a sack in 15 straight weeks and 23 of the last 24. The Eagles' seven sacks against Wingate in week three are tied for the second most in a NCAA Division II game this season and are the sixth-most in school history. C-N is 26th nationally in sacks this season and second in the SAC.
With two punt return touchdowns, a scoop and score and a pick six to his name, Carson-Newman All-American safety Major Williams ranks third among active players in NCAA Division II in non-offensive touchdowns with four. Saginaw Valley State's Micah Cretsinger leads all players in all divisions with six non-offensive TD's, five of which have been pick sixes. Williams is the only player in the country with a pick six, a scoop and score and a punt return for a touchdown to his name in his collegiate career.
Kendall Williams ranks third among all active players in NCAA Division II in career passes defensed per game with 1.32. His 33 career pass break ups are 12th all-time in C-N history. He needs five more to break into the top 10 all-time at C-N.
Kickoff between the Eagles and Bulldogs is set for 1 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at noon with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloFB.
