Carson-Newman Rallies to Beat Catawba 21-14

On a night where everything went right for the stout Catawba defense, the #21 ranked Carson-Newman Eagles found a way to come out on top in a physical 21-14 contest.

Jamelle Cuthbertson led the Indians on the ground with 125 rushing yards on 17 carries, but he, unfortunately, coughed up the football with a little under 4:30 left in the fourth quarter.

The score was tied at 14-14, when Cuthbertson was hit forcefully from behind by All-SAC cornerback Otis Ballard, causing the ball to fumble forward upfield and into the awaiting hands of Carson-Newman's Corey Parks.

In the ensuing drive by the Eagles, quarterback Alex Good melted nearly four minutes off the clock with quarterback keepers until he hooked up with a streaking Otis Miller in the back of the endzone for a 29-yard touchdown strike.

"I feel bad that fumble happened there at the end," said an optimistic Chip Hester. "We played well enough to win tonight and the majority of these players will be playing against Carson-Newman for years to come."

No one puts blame on Cuthbertson for the turnover, because Catawba would not have been in a position to win the game without the aggressive rushing style by the senior running back.

Coach Hester said in staff meetings all week they felt that if the Indian defense held Carson-Newman to under 200 rushing yards, Catawba had a great chance to send the Eagles leaving Salisbury, NC, with a loss.

Eagle coach Ken Sparks saw his veer-option offense grind out 219 ground yards, a great number by all means, but nowhere near the 300 yards they rushed for a year prior against Catawba.

Carson-Newman's Good led all rushers with 129 rushing yards and a touchdown, while also tossing for 106 passing yards and the all-important fourth quarter touchdown to Miller.

For more than three and a half quarters, the Catawba front four on the defensive line whipped the Eagles offensive line by splitting inbetween their gaps and harrassing Good.

Sophomore defensive tackle Brandon Sutton was like a rock in the middle for the Indians, playing beside fellow interior lineman Melquan Fair, recording a career-high ten tackles.

Sophomore safety Aaron Cauble sprinted off the edge as a gunner in a punt block formation against the Eagles on a fourth down punt, blocking Chris Jones' attempt at the fifteen yard-line.

True freshman Tyon Bennett, who earned the start at free safety on Saturday night, picked up the rejected punt and raced in for the game's first score at the 2:34 mark of the opening quarter.

Nearly a quarter later, Carson-Newman answered with a Good five-yard touchdown run on a five play, 80-yard drive. That particular scoring drive was stimulated by a 42-yard scamper by Good before he was corralled by true freshman outside linebacker Kewone Harris.

One of the most exciting pass plays of the season by the Tribe took place in Saturday's contest when quarterback Pat Dennis threw a perfect fade pass to sophomore wide out Gerron Bryant for a 34-yard touchdown with 9:20 left in the third quarter.

Dennis came in to relieve starting quarterback Howard Williamson who appeared to have injured one of the fingers on his throwing hand at the end of the first half.

Outside linebacker Charles McAfee made a name for himself against Carson-Newman two years ago when he stepped in for the injured Darryl Locklear, and was named SAC Defensive Player of the Week in the 24-22 win.

McAfee led the team in tackles in that 2006 win over the Eagles with 14 stops, and again last season with seven hits.

It was the same story on Saturday night as McAfee led the Catawba defense with a dozen tackles against rival Carson-Newman, but he was more focused on energizing the crowd for a big home victory instead.

The senior linebacker would much rather have finished out his Indian career with three wins against the team from Jefferson City, TN, rather than lead the team in tackles and other statistics.

Everyone needs the heart of a champion. Everyone needs the heart of a Charles McAfee.