Carson-Newman Defeats North Alabama To Advance To Division II Semifinals, 24-21

FLORENCE, Ala. - The 10th-ranked Carson-Newman football team defeated fifth-ranked North Alabama, 24-21, on Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs at Braly Municipal Stadium.

With the win, the Eagles (11-2) advance to the semifinals, where they will face Grand Valley State (12-1) next Saturday. Time and location for the semifinal game will be announced on Sunday.

C-N senior running back Buck Wakefield (Drummonds, Tenn.) rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns in the win, while the Eagles' defense recorded three interceptions.

The win was the first-ever for the Eagles in Braly Municipal Stadium.

North Alabama's season comes to an end at 11-2.

UNA had defeated Carson-Newman in Florence, 31-14, back on Sept. 5.

The win by Carson-Newman ended a string of seven straight regional titles by Gulf South Conference schools, and was the first for the Eagles since 1999.

Carson-Newman was stopped on the game's initial possession but UNA's Harrison Beck threw an interception on the Lions' second play at his own 44. The Eagles scored four plays later as Buck Wakefield broke off left tackle and went 25 yards to the end zone. Carlos Lopez booted the PAT to make it 7-0 with 11:35 left in the opening quarter.

UNA again failed to get a first down on its next possession and Carson-Newman went on a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard Lopez field goal. The Eagles led 10-0 with 3:51 left in the first period.

North Alabama's defense set up the Lions' first score as Svante Davenport picked off an Alex Good pass and returned it 41 yards to the Carson-Newman two. Marcus Sims bulled into the end zone on the next play and Kenny Spencer's PAT made it 10-7 with 9:21 left in the second quarter.

UNA received the opening kick of the second half and scored just two plays later. A screen from Beck to Tim Hicks covered 48 yards and then Hicks scored on an eight-yard run on the following play to put UNA on top. Spencer's kick made it 14-10 with 14:26 left in the third quarter.

The Lions maintained the lead until late in the third quarter when Beck was intercepted again, this time by Mario Russell. Carson-Newman marched 66 yards in 11 plays for the go-ahead score as Nate Inman got the touchdown on a one-yard run. Lopez added the PAT and the Eagles were up 17-14 with 42 seconds left in the third.

Wakefield then appeared to have put the game away with an 80-yard TD run with 9:58 left in the game to push the Eagles' lead to 24-14. UNA failed to produce any points on two possessions before Beck connected with Charles McClain on a 37-yard touchdown pass with 1:31 left in the game to make it 24-21.

The Lions attempted an on-side kick but were offsides on the play and the ball hit a UNA player before it travelled 10 yards, giving the ball to Carson-Newman.

UNA finished with a season-low 277 total yards, including a minus four yards rushing. It was the fewest yards rushing by the Lions since 1987, or 262 games.

Beck was 24-of-50 passing for 281 yards. He was intercepted three times. Carson-Newman's Buck Wakefield rushed for 160 yards on 20 carries and scored twice. Carson-Newman quarterback Alex Good rushed for 73 yards and passed for 98.

Carson-Newman had 353 total yards, rushing for 260.