Weekly SAC Football Notes, September 21, 2008

Game notes and recaps from around the SAC for games of Saturday, September 20:

BREVARD - Brevard had the week off. The Tornados open South Atlantic Conference play next week by hosting Lenoir-Rhyne.

CARSON-NEWMAN - The 8th-ranked Carson-Newman Eagles used their bye week as a mini-camp, practicing Tuesday-Thursday after a three-day break on the return trip from Waltham, Mass...C-N worked out after the break and a Friday night win (Sept. 12) at Bentley College, 59-18...The "mini-camp" was the three most physical days of practice C-N has endured since camp ended almost a month ago...The Eagles followed by taking Friday-Sunday off, and will return to the practice field on Monday afternoon...Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks will be named to the NAIA Hall of Fame it was announced late last week...Sparks won five national titles in the '80's, playing for six, as he surged Carson-Newman football onto the national map...He is currently the fourth winningest active coach in college football with 271 career wins...Carson-Newman heads out of non-conference play as the national leader in rushing yards (this weekend's action not included) at 372.2 yards per game...C-N is also second in scoring offense at 49.7 points per game...C-N is also second nationally in kickoff returns at 32.55 yards per return, as well as seventh nationally in net punting at 39.33 yards per kick...C-N is in the top 20 (18th) in rushing defense allowing 77 yards per game...The Eagles are 9th nationally in tackles for loss averaging 10 per game...The Eagles will travel to Newberry on Sept. 27 for their SAC opener ... Kickoff with Newberry is at 1:30 p.m ... C-N beat Newberry 49-19 at Burke-Tarr Stadium last season ...The Eagles have won 18-of-19 against Newberry... The game is the South Atlantic Conference opener for both teams....

CATAWBA - The Catawba Indians had the week off. Catawba opens conference play Saturday against Mars Hill on the road.

LENOIR-RHYNE - The Lenoir-Rhyne University football team (2-2) lost its second straight contest by four points when Benedict College (2-2) defeated the Bears by a 17-13 score Saturday evening at Charles W. Johnson Stadium in Columbia, S.C. … The Tigers converted three Bear fumbles into 14 points as Benedict defeated Lenoir-Rhyne for the first time in three tries … With the score tied at 10 early in the third quarter, Benedict's Anthony Porter returned a fumble 50 yards to the L-R 11-yard line that set up Max Martin's one-yard touchdown run that proved to be the game-winner … Lenoir-Rhyne freshman kicker Colin Corpe (Ocala, Fla.), who earlier hit a 44-yard field goal on the last play of the first half, connected on a 37-yarder to cut the margin to 17-13 with 4:36 remaining in the third stanza, but the Bears couldn't get any closer … L-R's last drive stalled at the Benedict 31-yard line with a little over two minutes left and the Tigers ran out the clock to take the win … Sophomore running back James Pone (Wilson, N.C.) scored the Bears lone touchdown, from three yards out, early in the second quarter … However, Benedict immediately responded with 10 points on back-to-back scoring drive culminated by Robert Reese's 63-yard touchdown pass to Corey Gardhigh (the Tigers only completion of the game) … Reese also led Benedict on the ground with 84 yards … Lenoir-Rhyne lost despite 250 yards rushing and holding a 311-272 advantage in total yards … Sophomore running back Andrew Courman (Beaufort, N.C.) finished with a team-high 70 yards rushing and sophomore quarterback Daniel Anderson (Douglas, Ga.) added 51 yards on the ground in his first start of the season … On defense, senior defensive back Scott Turbeville (Columbia, S.C.) had an outstanding game, finishing with 10 tackles (4.5 for a loss), two quarterback sacks and one forced fumble … After four games this season, the Bears have averaged 291.2 yards rushing and have only allowed 15 points per game … L-R looks to snap a two-game losing streak when it travels to Brevard, N.C., to face Brevard College (1-2) in the South Atlantic Conference opener beginning at 2 p.m. … In the first meeting between the two schools last season, L-R prevailed by a 23-12 score on September 29, 2007, in Hickory, N.C. … The Bears, trailing 12-9 in the fourth quarter, scored two touchdowns to take the win.

MARS HILL - Tyrea Allen (Murphy, N.C.) caught a 73-yard touchdown strike from Ricky Spradling (Roan Mountain, Tenn.) with 13:17 left in the fourth quarter to propel the Lions to a 38-35 road victory at West Liberty State College Saturday afternoon … MHC improved to 3-1 on the year while WLSC fell to an even 2-2 on the season … WLSC scored the only points in the first frame before the offensive onslaught began in the second quarter. The Lions won the second frame 21-14 to send the teams into the locker room at the intermission tied at 21-all. Jonas Randolph (Daleville, Ala.), Spradling and George Washington (Warner Robbins, Ga.) all had rushing touchdowns in the first half of play. Michael Pinkerton (Bogart, Ga.) connected on all three PAT kick attempts … The Hilltoppers took a 28-21 lead with 5:46 left in the third stanza before Allen caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from Spradling on the Lions' first play from scrimmage on the ensuing possession to tie the game again at 28-all. Pinkerton then nailed an important 37-yard field goal at the 1:08 mark in the third quarter. Those three points would later prove to be the difference in the game … Eddie Hills caught a four-yard pass from Zach Amedro with 14:14 left in regulation to give the Hilltoppers a 35-31 advantage but just over a minute later, Allen's game-winning reception led the Lions to victory. Allen finished the day with six catches for 195 yards and two scores. Spradling was 10-18 for 322 yards passing while Washington rushed for 84 yards on 25 carries. Zach Johnson (Newland, N.C.) led the Lions' defense with eight tackles (7 solo), four tackles-for-loss and a sack. Brandon Edmond (East Dublin, Ga.) followed with seven stops, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Pinkerton was a perfect 5-5 in PAT kicks plus the 37-yard field goal … Mars Hill will host SAC rival Catawba College in the Lions' conference opener next Saturday, September 27. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m..

NEWBERRY - The No. 21 Newberry College football team dropped a 24-10 decision to Midwestern State University at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night … Newberry (1-2) started off strong but faded down the stretch as MSU (3-0) capitalized on chances in the second half … The scarlet and gray scored on the opening drive as John Carnell (Charleston, S.C.) capped a 4-play, 62-yard drive with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Bostick (Florence, S.C.) … A 9-play, 50-yard drive that spanned into the second quarter was finished off with a 33-yard field goal by Britt Blackmon (Kershaw, S.C.) to give Newberry a 10-0 lead with 13:44 until the half. The field goal was the first of Blackmon's career … However, from there on out, the Mustangs controlled the scoreboard and it seemed Newberry couldn't get a break. Jose Martinez' 26-yard field goal narrowed the deficit to 10-3 at the half, but the kick was set up after an MSU punt went off the back of Andre Moyd (Andrews, S.C.) to put the Mustangs in excellent field position. Newberry did not allow a first down on the ensuing drive, but the field goal put the points on the board … Midwestern State tied the game at 10-all on the first drive of the second half, when a 6-play 53-yard drive ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Zack Eskridge to J.J. Ford … MSU intercepted a Carnell pass at the Newberry 27 with 2:31 to play in the third, and immediately capitalized, as Marcus Mathis ran 27 yards to paydirt to give the Mustangs a 17-10 lead … Newberry drove down to the MSU 9-yardline on its first possession of the fourth quarter. However, the snap on a Blackmon field goal attempt sailed over the holders' head, breaking any Newberry momentum after a solid 12-play drive. The inability to score was especially painful after an Antonio Patton (Woodruff, S.C.) punt return for a touchdown was called back for an illegal block at the beginning of the drive … MSU immediately answered as a pair of big runs put the Mustangs up by two scores. Marcus Mathis ran for 60 yards to get into Newberry territory and BeeJay Mathis went the final 30 yards for the score … Newberry never gave up, and drove back into the MSU red zone, but Carnell was forced from the game with a short term injury. Eric McCollom (Camden, S.C.) got Newberry inside the Mustang 10, but a pass against the grain after a long scramble on fourth down was dropped on the goal line … NC forced a late punt, but couldn't find the scoreboard again, and the game ended at 24-10 … Carnell was Newberry's offensive leader, completing 27-of-37 passes for 281 yards with a touchdown and an interception. McCollom was 2-of-5 for 22 yards … Bostick had eight receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Kelton Tindal (Sumter, S.C.) caught eight passes for 56 yards … Chris Reed (Rock Hill, S.C.) led Newberry with eight tackles, including one for a loss, while Moyd snagged his second interception of the season … Newberry gained 18 first downs to Midwestern State's 13, and the scarlet and gray had 33 yards of total offense to MSU's 306 … Newberry returns home to begin its South Atlantic Conference schedule against Carson-Newman (2-1) on Saturday, September 27. Kickoff for "Take A Kid to the Game Day" at Setzler Field is set for 1:30 p.m.

TUSCULUM - The Tusculum Pioneers (3-1) posted its second shutout of the season as TC blanked visiting Urbana University (Ohio) 21-0… It was Tusculum's eighth consecutive victory at Pioneer Field, matching the longest home winning streak in school history… Offensively, the Pioneers racked up 440 yards, including 323 passing yards by senior QB Corey Russell… His favorite target on Saturday was junior Nate Binder, who posted seven receptions for 123 yards and a TD… Russell completed a pair of TD passes, but was also picked off three times, including two interceptions in the end zone, ending Tusculum drives… Russell attempted his 1,000th career pass on Saturday, becoming only the seventh player in South Atlantic Conference player to achieve that feat (1,037)… On defense, senior LB Jarvis Littlejohn led the way for Tusculum with eight tackles, including a sack… Senior DB Tagon Richard added six tackles and blocked a punt to set up Tusculum's first touchdown… Senior LB Justin Scott added six stops, including two tackles for loss, a sack and a team-high three QB hurries… Junior WR Ryan Tallent eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau for receiving, becoming only the eighth player in school history to achieve that mark (1,018)… Tallent also has 92 receptions to his credit, needing eight more catches to join the 100-receptions group… Justin Scott continues to move up the TC tackles for loss charter, posting his 36th and 37th of his career on Saturday, moving him into sole possession of fifth in school history… Russell has his eyes set on the SAC Record Book charts… His 7,722 total offensive yards are fifth all-time, while his 6,989 passing yards are seventh in league history… Tusculum head coach Frankie DeBusk recorded his 62nd career win, moving him into a tie for fifth all-time in SAC history with former Presbyterian and Lenoir-Rhyne skipper John Perry… He needs one more victory to tie former Catawba coach David Bennett for fifth place… The contest against Urbana was the first time Tusculum has faced an opponent from the State of Ohio… Tusculum will face Wingate this week in the SAC lid-lifter for both teams… Tusculum and Wingate has been the league opener for each team every year since 2000. Tusculum is 5-3 in those contests… It will be Tusculum's second road game of the season… All five of the Pioneers' road contests in 2008 are in the State of North Carolina… This week will be the 13th meeting between the two schools with Wingate leading 7-5… The two squads have met every year since 1996.

WINGATE - Wingate University redshirt sophomore tailback Nelson Woods rushed for 199 yards on 34 carries and the Wingate defense held the Elizabeth City State University offense scoreless for three quarters as the Bulldogs defeated the visiting Vikings 15-7 in NCAA Division II football action Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field on the Wingate campus … Wingate improves to 4-0 overall with the victory. The South Atlantic Conference members have won five games in a row, dating to last season. Elizabeth City State falls to 1-3 overall with its third straight non-conference loss to a SAC opponent. Wingate opens league play Saturday, hosting Tusculum College at 1:30 p.m … The 199 yards is a career-high for the 2007 SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year and Lawndale Burns High School graduate. Woods had 144 yards after intermission as the Bulldogs extended a 6-0 halftime edge to 15-0 with nine third-quarter points … "Nelson Woods is a work horse," Wingate head coach Joe Reich says. "He keeps getting better and better and better…he wears people down (as the game progresses). Nelson did a great job for us today…accumulating positive yards on almost every play." … The Bulldog defense held the high-scoring Viking offense to one fourth-quarter touchdown. Elizabeth City State entered the contest averaging 38 points per game, including 29.5 points per game against SAC opponents Catawba and Tusculum … "Our defense did a nice job of bending, but not breaking," Reich notes. "When our backs were against the wall, we made some tough stops. I thought (defensive coordinator) Bobby James had a great game plan." … "I give Elizabeth City State much credit," Reich adds. "They did a good job using their size to their advantage." … Speaking of size, Wingate's 6-4, 220-pound junior safety Tylan Merkerson had a huge day. The Asheville School product had two pass interceptions for the host Bulldogs. Both picks occurred in Wingate territory as the ECSU Vikings were driving for scores in the first quarter and the fourth quarter, respectively … "Tylan Merkerson's interceptions were very big plays for us," Reich asserts. "For us to end our turnover drought…this is huge as we enter conference play." The two Merkerson picks are the first two take-aways Wingate has recorded during the 2008 campaign … Wingate took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter following a 10-play, 80-yard drive. The Bulldogs took the ball on their 20-yard line after Elizabeth City State had a 29-yard field goal blocked by Wingate redshirt junior cornerback Brandon Lawson … Redshirt senior quarterback JD Moore ended the first Bulldog drive of the contest with a 12-yard touchdown pass to redshirt senior wide receiver Shawn Barrett. The extra point try failed, giving Wingate a 6-0 edge with 4:43 remaining in the opening frame … Wingate's six-point lead held firm until the third quarter, as the hosts posted a nine-spot to take a 15-0 lead. Moore concluded a six-play, 58-yard drive with a one-yard QB sneak for a 12-0 advantage. The two-point conversion try failed … Bulldog junior place kicker RP Lopez concluded the scoring for Wingate with a 21-yard field goal at the 2:34 mark of the third quarter. The field goal capped a 12-play, 76-yard drive for the Bulldogs … Elizabeth City State scored its lone touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Vikings ended the third quarter with outstanding field position following a Wingate special teams fumble. The Bulldog miscue gave the Vikings the ball on the Wingate 26-yard line with four seconds remaining in the third frame … Two plays later, ECSU senior quarterback Curtis Rich, Jr. found junior wide receiver Reggie Smith with a 20-yard touchdown pass. The extra point by Viking junior punter/place kicker Daniel Mendez concluded the scoring for the afternoon … After Wingate missed a field goal on its next possession, the Vikings started a march down the field. Merkerson picked off a Rich pass at the Bulldog 45 with 6:46 to play, returning the errant throw to midfield … Thanks to seven ball-control carries by Woods, Wingate ran out the clock by driving to the Viking four-yard line. Moore took a knee on the final two plays to end the game … An East Gaston High School product, Moore completed 14-of-20 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown. Moore had one interception. Barrett caught four passes for 43 yards and one TD to top the Wingate receiving charts. Bulldog sophomore running back Patrick Pinchinat added eight carries for 55 yards … Merkerson added three solo tackles and five assists to his two interceptions. Bulldog sophomore linebacker Ben Hinson had two solo tackles and nine assisted tackles for the hosts … With Saturday's victory over Elizabeth City State, Wingate improves to 9-0 lifetime against members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Bulldogs have three wins over Fayetteville State University and two victories each against Saint Paul's College and Johnson C. Smith University. Wingate possesses one triumph each over Elizabeth City State University and Virginia Union University … Wingate's 4-0 start is one win shy of the best start in the school's senior college football history. The 2004 team and the 2005 team both started the season 5-0 overall. The 2004 Bulldogs are one of three Wingate senior college football teams to win eight games. The 1997 team and the 2006 team also accomplished the feat … During the Joe Reich era, Wingate is 26-12 overall at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. The Bulldogs open SAC play Saturday (Sept. 27), hosting Tusculum College. Wingate leads the series between the two schools 7-5 … The Bulldogs won the first four meetings and the three meetings from 2004-06 between the two schools. The Pioneers won four WU-TC series games in a row from 2000-03. In 2007, Tusculum edged Wingate 31-28 in Greeneville, Tenn. Pioneer quarterback Corey Russell passed for 438 yards as the Pioneers gained the hard-fought home victory.