Weekly SAC Football Notes Nov. 5
Game notes and recaps from around the SAC for games of Saturday, November 4:
CARSON-NEWMAN - Carson-Newman defeated Wingate 52-14 ... C-N has now scored 40 or more points against Wingate in seven of the last 11 games ... Quarterback Alex Rouse completed 8-of-16 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns ... The Eagles took advantage of Wingate turnovers, garnering three TD scores on the ensuing play after a turnover. Rouse fired a 49-yard TD pass to Reggie Hubbard after Eric Rice recovered a fumble, Buck Wakefield scored his second touchdown after A.J. Brown intercepted a Anthony Metzelaars pass with a 33-yard TD run, and Jeremy Arrington scored on a 25-yard run after Brandon Walden intercepted another Metzelaars pass ... The Eagles have now scored points in 164 straight games ... The Eagles have not been shut out of a game since 1992 ... Wakefield carried the ball 10 times for 67 yards and three TDs. Hubbard had two catches for 60 yards and a touchdown while Otis Miller caught two Rouse passes for 56 yards, including a 40-yarder that set up Wakefield's third TD score ... Linebackers Eric Rice, Brian Brown, and Elliette Jackson had five tackles apiece for the Eagles. Rice forced two fumbles, had one sack, and recovered two fumbles on the afternoon. Denares Waites and Brandon Walden had one interception and Earnest Nance had two tackles for loss and a sack .... The Eagles will conclude the 2006 season against Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee next Saturday, November 11 at 1:30 p.m.
CATAWBA - The Catawba Indians snapped a two-game losing streak and won on Homecoming for the first time since 2003 with a 21-14 win over Presbyterian on Saturday ... The Catawba Indians defense accounted for two scores, while senior linebacker Lester Sconyers made a game-saving interception at the Catawba goalline in the closing minute … PC had driven from its own 32 to the Catawba three, but Sconyers picked off a third-down pass to preserve the win … The defense had scored both first-half touchdowns for Catawba … Jasmon Carpenter ran a fumble in from 40-yards out early in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7 … Ron Ellington then made one of the game's turning plays when he sacked PC quarterback Grayson Mullins at the Catawba 40 and Thomas Presley dashed 61 yards with the fumble to again tie the score with just 30 seconds left in the half … Catawba got the only score of the second half with 4:46 to go in the third quarter as Brad Roach tossed a six-yard pass to Brent Johnson … Sophomore Jamelle Cuthbertson helped set up the score with a 51-yard to open the drive then another 16-yard burst to put the ball on the PC five … Cuthbertson made his first career start for injured back Kory Fisher and ran for a career-best 161 yards on 24 carries … He is the first Catawba back to eclipse the 100-yard barrier this season and the first to go over the 150-yard plateau since Fisher ran for 192 last season at Virginia State … Catawba had run for only a total of 48 yards in its previous three game and just 168 over the last five … Charles McAfee, who caused the first PC fumble, and Marcus Huntley each had 10 tackles for the defense … Lineman James House had five stops with a sack, a hurry, an interception and a pass break-up … The win over PC helped Catawba avoid a potential losing season for the first time since 1994 and keeps alive the possibility of a 12th-straight winning campaign … Catawba will close the 2006 season with a trip to Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday night … The Bears snapped a 10-game losing streak to Catawba with a 17-13 win in Salisbury last season … Catawba leads the all-time series 43-38-4 … The Indians will open the 2007 season at Chowan on Aug. 25.
LENOIR-RHYNE - The Lenoir-Rhyne College football team (3-7, 1-5) fell to No. 11 Newberry College (10-0, 6-0), 45-21, in front of close to 4,000 fans at Setzler Field in Newberry, S.C., Saturday night … With the win, the Indians wrapped up their first South Atlantic Conference Championship in school history … Newberry also retained the Bishops' Trophy for first time since 2003 … The trophy was created in 1987 by the ELCA and given annually to the winner of the two Lutheran schools … L-R still leads the Bishops' Trophy series by a 12-8 advantage … Newberry, with 434 yards of total offense, jumped out to a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter and never look back … After seeing the Indians extend the margin to 31-7 in the third stanza, the Bears tried to rally and cut the margin to ten, at 31-21, but Newberry sealed the deal with two rushing touchdowns in the final quarter by Cory Smalls to remain unbeaten on the year … Newberry rushed for 265 yards, the most given up by Lenoir-Rhyne this year, with eight different players toting the ball … Indian quarterback Josh Stepp and L-R redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Sanders (Monroe, N.C.) each passed for two touchdowns and run for one … Sanders passed for 195 yards while sophomore wideout Pete Goodman (Charlotte, N.C.) was the Bears' top receiver with three catches for 62 yards and a touchdown catch … Sophomore running back Ronnie Edwards (Union Hall, Va.) added 77 combined yards rushing and receiving and one score for the Bears, who allowed their most points on the year as well … Three L-R players had nine takedowns each on defense while senior Ben McDowell (Forest City, N.C.) had three tackles for a loss and a sack … Lenoir-Rhyne hosts Catawba (5-4, 2-4), its arch-rival, in its annual regular season finale with the Indians on Saturday at 7 p.m. … Catawba leads the all-time series, 43-38-4, but the Bears prevailed last season by a score of 17-13 on November 5, 2005, in Salisbury, N.C. … The win was Lenoir-Rhyne's first over Catawba since the 1994 campaign … L-R has not beaten Catawba at home since 1993, a 35-29 win … The two teams have meet on the final game of the year every season since 1973.
MARS HILL - Tusculum College rallied with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers defeated host Mars Hill College 24-17 Saturday afternoon at Meares Stadium. The Lions fell to 4-6 overall and 1-5 in the SAC ... Mars Hill celebrated senior day before the contest. Eight players were recognized before stepping on the field a final time in a Lion uniform. Punter Chris Cromer, offensive lineman David Friedland, running back Kendrick Johnson, offensive lineman Zack Keister, wide receiver Ben Pierson, quarterback Brandon Sims, offensive lineman Matt Vogel and offensive lineman JaVarous Wilson made up the 2006 senior class ... Tusculum's Corey Russell (Speedwell, TN) passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. Jamichael Caldwell (Chattanooga, TN) scored the game-winning touchdown with 9:06 remaining as he hauled in a 64-yard strike from Russell. Caldwell finished with three catches for 81 yards ... Travis Oliver (Belton, SC) also tallied three receptions for 86 yards and a score ... Demario Zachery (Atlanta, GA) finished with eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown to lead the Lions ... Tyrea Allen (Murphy, NC) also posted four grabs for 66 yards and a score for MHC ... Brandon Sims (Spartanburg, SC) went 11-for-23 for 156 yards and one scoring strike ... Tusculum's Jeremy Thompson (Rome, GA) posted eight tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage and forced a fumble. Justin Scott (Jamestown, SC) followed with five tackles, two-for-loss, a forced fumble and a sack ... Chris Dowdell (Riverdale, GA) led the Lions' defense with 10 tackles (3 solo) and a tackle-for-loss. Stan Galbraith (Birmingham, AL) followed with nine stops, a tackle-for-loss and a sack ... MHC lost two fumbles in the contest. Tusculum converted one of those turnovers into points late in the first quarter. Tusculum recovered the MHC fumble at the Lions' 17, but the Pioneers drive stalled ... Glen Black (Bristol, TN) connected on a 37-yard field goal as TC took a 3-0 advantage. That lead lasted until Sims completed a 53-yard TD strike to Demario Zachery at the 12:35 mark of the second quarter ... TC regained the lead 10 minutes later when Russell completed a 74-yard pass to Oliver. Black's extra point moved Tusculum back in front 10-7 ... But on its next possession, MHC drove to the TC nine, but had to settle for a Chase Harris (Chiefland, FL) 29-yard field goal with 27 seconds left in the period as the score was tied 10-10 heading into the locker room at the intermission ... The score remained that way until the 4:22 mark of the third quarter when back-up signal caller Ricky Spradling (Roan Mountain, TN) relieved the injured Brandon Sims and found Allen in the end zone from 29 yards out. Harris was successful on his kick as MHC moved back in front 17-10 ... Tusculum took the opening drive of the fourth quarter and marched 75 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a one-yard run by Russell with 10:33 remaining. Black tied the game at 17-17 with his extra point ... Mars Hill went three and out on its next possession and were forced to punt. On TC's first play, Russell found Caldwell open on a 64-yard pass as Tusculum regained the advantage 24-17 with over nine minutes left ... The Tusculum defense held the Lions down the stretch to preserve the victory ... MHC will end the 2006 regular season at Wingate University next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
NEWBERRY - Newberry College wrapped up the South Atlantic Conference Championship with a convincing 45-21 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne on Senior Night at Setzler Field on Saturday. The SAC Championship is the first championship for the program ... Also, with the victory, the 11th-ranked Indians reclaimed the Bishop's Trophy from the Bears, who had held the trophy for the past two years ... Newberry honored 14 seniors before the game for their efforts during their stay in the program ... Tymere Zimmerman, playing in what could be his final game at Setzler Field, went out in grand fashion when he caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from senior Josh Stepp. The touchdown reception was the 35th for Zimmerman, making him the SAC career leader in that category. He was previously tied with former Lenoir-Rhyne player Terrance Steward with 34 ... Stepp had an efficient game as well, throwing for 169 yards and two touchdowns while running another one from one yard out. With his two touchdown passes, Stepp has now thrown two or more touchdowns against every SAC school in his career ... After the Bears closed to within 10 points at 31-21, the Indians got their ground game going, as Alex Haynes scored on a five-yard run in the third quarter while big fullback Cory Smalls had two scores in the fourth quarter, plowing over the Bears defense for touchdown runs of one and two yards ... Defensively, Will Newell led the way with 14 total tackles ... Mike Grase and Levi Bennett each had an interception apiece in the victory ... Ryan Lukshis booted a 22-yard field goal, moving him into sole possession of second place on the all-time field goals made list with 22. He trails former kicking great Eddie Taylor, who finished his career with 34. Ironically, Taylor is now coaching the kickers at Newberry ... The Indians have virtually owned the SAC Player of the Week awards this season. Newberry has had six different players earn either offensive or defensive Player of the Week honors this season. Stepp, by himself, has earned the offensive honor on three different occasions this season ... Newberry, who is the top-ranked team in the Southeast Region Poll, will look to finish up an undefeated regular season next Saturday as they play in one of the biggest rivalries in the state of South Carolina, the Bronze Derby, against Presbyterian. The Indians and the Blue Hose will tangle at 1:30 pm at Bailey Memorial Stadium.
PRESBYTERIAN - No. 25 Presbyterian gave up 14 unanswered points and the Catawba Indians defeated the Blue Hose 21-14 before 3,812 at Shuford Stadium on Saturday afternoon ... The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Blue Hose and leaves them at 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the South Atlantic Conference. Catawba improves to 5-4 and 2-4 in SAC play with the victory ... Presbyterian looked as if they might tie the game in the final minute of the contest, driving down the field to the Indians' three-yard line, but Catawba's Lester Sconyers intercepted PC quarterback Grayson Mullins to preserve the victory for the Indians ... Presbyterian finished the game against Catawba with more yards of total offense than the Indians (213) with 239 ... In the end though Jamelle Cuthbertson, who finished the contest with a game-best 161 yards on the ground, and the Indians proved to be too much for the Blue Hose ... S.J. Worrell led the way for PC offensively, finishing with 67 yards and a touchdown. Terrance Butler had the best receiving day for PC, concluding the game with 62 yards on five catches ... Defensively, Kevin Molony had his best all-around day of the season for PC. Molony had 10 total takedowns in the contest and also had two tackles-for-loss and one interception ... The defensive back acquired a half a sack as well in the game ... Catawba took its first lead of the game in the third quarter when quarterback Brad Roach threw a six-yard touchdown to Brent Johnson to give the Indians a 21-14 advantage and its first offensive touchdown of the day ... The touchdown would prove to be the game-winner ... The five-play, 79-yard touchdown drive was made plausible by a 51-yard run by Cuthbertson. It was the longest running play of the year from scrimmage for the Indians ... The score 7-7, Presbyterian put together a long drive in the second quarter to go on top 14-7 ... The 15-play, 61-yard drive took 6:08 and was punctuated by a one-yard touchdown by redshirt freshman S.J. Worrell ... The lead would not last long though as Catawba obtained its second defensive touchdown of the afternoon in the final minute of the first half to tie the game at 14-14 ... Prior to the touchdown by the Indians, Presbyterian had acquired great field position when Kevin Molony intercepted a Brad Roach pass and then lateraled the football to Justin Jones who ran the ball to the Catawba 35-yard line ... Looking to further their lead, the Blue Hose had those thoughts dashed when Catawba defensive lineman Ron Ellington forced PC quarterback Grayson Mullins into a fumble. Defensive back Thomas Presley then picked up the football at the Catawba 39-yard line and returned it 61 yards to even the game at 14-14 with 30 seconds left in the first half ... Presbyterian blocked a punt by Catawba's Cory Darnell at the 3:52 mark of the first quarter to place themselves in great position for the inaugural points of the contest ... Derrell Doe blocked the punt and Terrance Butler corralled the ball out of the air, returning the ball to the Indians' 18-yard line ... Chetyuane Reeder wasted no time in taking advantage on the very next play from scrimmage, running up the middle for a couple yards and then busting loose to the right side to score a 18-yard touchdown and give the Blue Hose a 7-0 lead after Carl Stevenson's successful extra point ... The touchdown was the fifth of the season for the Clinton High product ... Catawba evened the game at 7-7 at the 12:08 mark of the second quarter when they forced Reeder into a fumble at the 40-yard line. Indians' defensive back Jasmon Carpenter opportunistically picked the football up off the gridiron and returned it 40 yards for the touchdown ... Catawba had two players finish the contest with 10 tackles in Charles McAfee and Marcus Huntley. McAfee tallied a game-high five solo stops ... Presbyterian welcomes rival Newberry to Bailey Memorial Stadium for its final league game of the 2006 season next Saturday. The game will be televised by SCETV and will kickoff at 1:35 p.m. ... Emerson Phillips will handle the play-by-play, while former South Carolina State head coach Willie Jeffries will provide analysis.
TUSCULUM - The Tusculum Pioneers scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns in rallying to defeat host Mars Hill 24-17. Tusculum (6-4, 3-3 in South Atlantic Conference) clinches its sixth winning season in seven years and defeats the Lions for a fourth straight year ... Sophomore quarterback Corey Russell passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. Russell passed for 184 yards and was also TC's top rusher with 28 yards on 13 carries, including a one-yard TD ... Junior receiver Jamichael Caldwell scored the game-winning touchdown with 9:06 remaining as he hauled in a 64-yard strike from Russell. It was Caldwell's 13th career touchdown catch, matching the all-time TC record by former All-SAC honoree Matt Riggs. Caldwell has made seven touchdown catches this season, the second most in school history, one shy of the eight TD's made by Riggs in 2002 ... Senior Travis Oliver also tallied three receptions for 86 yards, including a 74-yard TD pass by Russell, the seventh longest pass play in school history ... The Tusculum defense was ruthless as it established a new school record limiting Mars Hill to minus 50 rushing yards and forced a pair of turnovers ... Jeremy Thompson was brilliant in his return to the Tusculum line-up as he posted eight tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage and forced a fumble. The Pioneers lead the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 37.6 rushing yards per contest. TC has allowed just three rushing touchdowns this season (2 by Presbyterian, 1 by Newberry) ... The Tusculum defense was tough down the stretch as it limited the Lions' offense to minus 18 yards on its final three possessions to preserve the victory. Caldwell's 112 career receptions are tied for the third most in TC history with former All-SAC running back Aaron Claridy (1999-02) ... Russell also continues to climb the TC charts. Russell is fourth all-time in career passing yards (2,906) and his 21 career touchdown tosses are also fourth in the TC record books ... Tusculum will close out the regular season when it hosts arch-rival Carson-Newman. It will be the 37th meeting between the two schools on gridiron. The rivalry is the second oldest in the State of Tennessee. The two teams first met in 1904. Only Tennessee and Vanderbilt (1892) have an older series than the Pioneers and Eagles. Tusculum is 18-29-6 all-time in its season finales. During the Coach Frankie DeBusk Era, TC has won seven of its last eight season finales, including the last three (all against Mars Hill). This year's season-finale with Carson-Newman will mark the first time since 1939 that the two East Tennessee foes have met in the final game of the year.
WINGATE - Wingate University senior wide receiver Dan Brooks caught two touchdown passes Saturday afternoon, but the Carson-Newman College Eagles compiled 448 yards of total offense en route to a 52-14 South Atlantic Conference football win over the Bulldogs at Burke-Tarr Stadium ... Wingate is 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the SAC. The Bulldogs will host Mars Hill College Saturday (Nov. 11) at 1:30 p.m. Wingate will celebrate Senior Day Saturday when the Lions come to town. Eighteen seniors will be honored in pre-game festivities ... The Bulldogs struck first when senior quarterback Anthony Metzelaars found Brooks wide open down the middle of the field for a 59-yard TD strike to give Wingate an early 7-0 lead. Metzelaars completed 19-of-30 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Brooks caught a team-best nine balls for 111 yards and two scores ... Brooks tallied his 100th career catch against Catawba on Oct. 28, 2006. A transfer from Elon University, Brooks has 109 catches for his Bulldog career. He has 109 career catches for 1721 yards and 22 touchdowns in his three seasons in the Bulldog blue-and-gold ... A graduate of nearby Piedmont High School, Brooks was a second team All-SAC selection at wide receiver in 2005. He was also a member of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III first team and the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2005 ... The Wingate University football team re-entered the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' top 25 poll last week in the number 24 position. In addition, Wingate moved up two spots to number 21 in this week's D2Football.com poll ... The Bulldogs were number 27 in the Hansen Football Gazette top 40 listing. Wingate was ranked number four in last week's NCAA Division II Southeast regional poll ... In last week's NCAA Division II statistics, Wingate was ranked in the top 25 in five separate categories. The Bulldog passing offense was fifth with 267.2 yards per game through the air. The Wingate defense was 15th in total defense (247.1), 17th in pass efficiency defense (95.6) and 19th in scoring defense (14.0) ... Individually for the Bulldogs, Metzelaars was 20th in total offense. Wingate junior defensive end Kenwin Cummings was listed in the top 25 nationally in two categories. Cummings ranked 18th in tackles for loss (1.7 per game) and 21st in pass sacks (0.9 per game).