SAC Football Notes, October 9, 2010
Game notes and recaps from around the SAC for games through Saturday, October 9:
BREVARD - Michael Crumbaker ran and threw for scores and Derek Church plowed in for a touchdown, but Catawba overcame a 21-16 deficit on their way to rallying to defeat the Tornados, 31-21, on Saturday afternoon ... Church led Brevard (3-3, 0-2 SAC) with 92 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries as the fullback got the Tornados offense going early in the ball game ... Crumbaker added 18 yards and a touchdown on the ground and was two of 10 through the air for 64 yards and a score ... Eric Watts was the recipient of the touchdown from Crumbaker, catching a 57 yard pass in stride for a touchdown with time winding down in the first half ... Defensively, Prince Simunyu led the Tornados with eight tackles and a sack, with two tackles coming behind the line of scrimmage ... Trey Jenkins added eight tackles and Ryan Wannamaker had two tackles for loss and a sack in the contest for Brevard ... Kelvin Jeter took the opening kickoff for the Tornados, returning it 47 yards to the Catawba 40 yard line to provide Brevard excellent field position for the opening drive ... Turning to Church, the Tornados rode the senior fullback as he carried the ball six times for 28 yards before Crumbaker found a gap, carrying it from one yard out to put the Tornados up 7-0 with 9:54 left on the clock in the first quarter ... Brevard scored again late in the second quarter as the Tornados faced third and 11 before Church broke through a hole, carrying the ball 19 yards to the BC 43 yard line ... Two plays later, Crumbaker found a streaking Watts as the junior tight end caught the ball on the left sideline and outraced the Indians to the pylon, covering 57 yards for the touchdown ... Chase Henry's extra point put the Tornados up 14-6 with 17 seconds remaining in the first half.,,Church carried the ball in from four yards out for the Tornados final score of the game ... The Tornados return home to host Lenoir-Rhyne this upcoming Saturday in Asheville, N.C. ... Last season, Brevard defeated the Bears in Hickory, 14-9, for the first SAC win in BC program history ... Kickoff for the game is set for 2 p.m.
CARSON-NEWMAN - The Carson-Newman football team dropped a 38-35 decision to Wingate in overtime on Saturday, giving the Bulldogs their first-ever victory in Burke-Tarr Stadium ... Wingate's Jared Seate forced a fumble on the Eagles' first possession of overtime to preserve the win ... Bulldog redshirt senior placekicker RP Lopez won the game for the visitors, nailing a 41-yard field goal during Wingate's overtime possession ... The Eagles are 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the SAC...Carson-Newman won the toss prior to the overtime frame and elected to play defense first, holding the Bulldogs to one yard on three plays to set the stage for Lopez's field goal ... Eagle senior quarterback Doug Belk gained 15 yards and a first down on Carson-Newman's initial overtime play, but Seate stripped the ball from the veteran signal-caller and Fletcher was in the right place at the right time as the Bulldogs defeated the Eagles for only the second time in 23 career attempts ... Carson-Newman had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but freshman placekicker Matthew Gossett had his 43-yard field goal blocked as time expired ... For Carson-Newman, junior running back Nate Inman carried the ball 24 times for 214 yards and three touchdowns ... Inman scored his touchdowns (22, 70 and 11 yards) in the first half ... Belk ran 16 times for 66 yards and one score and also completed three-of-seven passes for 93 yards ... Carson-Newman (504 yards) and Wingate (488 yards) combined for 992 yards total offense Saturday ... Anthony McAlister led the Eagle defenders with eight tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown ... Carson-Newman junior defensive end Zeke Andrews had six tackles, 1.5 quarterback sacks (negative nine yards) and two quarterback hurries ... Carson-Newman returns to action next Saturday at Catawba...Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. in Salisbury, N.C. ... The Eagles defeated Catawba, 41-31 in a shootout last season at Burke-Tarr Stadium ... C-N used a 14-point fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Indians ... Catawba enters the contest at 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play ... The Indians are coming off a 31-21 victory over Brevard.
CATAWBA - Catawba scored the final 18 points, including a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns by Josh Wright, to rally for the 31-21 victory over Brevard … Wright eclipsed the 100-yard plateau for the first time in his career with 101 yards on 15 carries … Thomas Trexler converted three field goals, hitting from 40, 36 and 46 yards … Catawba took the lead for the first time with 4:27 remaining when Patrick Dennis tossed a four-yard pass to Wright … Wright iced the issue just over a minute later, scoring from 49 yards out after an interception by Jumal Rolle … The Catawba defense held Brevard to just 162 yards rushing and limited the league's leading rusher, Kelvin Jeter, to just a mere 17 yards … Lakeem Perry had 11 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception to lead the defense … Catawba hosts Carson-Newman this Saturday … Carson-Newman has rallied in the fourth quarter to win the last two meetings after Catawba had won two straight in the series for the first time. Carson-Newman leads the series 33-9-1.
LENOIR-RHYNE - The Lenoir-Rhyne University football team (3-3, 0-2) suffered its second straight league defeat as Mars Hill College (4-2, 2-0) rallied to upend the Bears, 24-20, Saturday afternoon on L-R's Homecoming in front of 7,247 fans at Moretz Stadium … Mars Hill's Jonas Randolph, last year's SAC Co-Offensive Player Of The Year, rushed for a game-high 156 yards and caught the game-winning 50-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Luis Cruz with 37 seconds left to lift the Lions to the win … Mars Hill also rallied from a 17-7 second-quarter deficit to defeat Lenoir-Rhyne for the fourth straight year … Lenoir-Rhyne, which hasn't won a conference home game since a 31-7 victory over Mars Hill on October 28, 2006, scored on its first three possessions highlighted by five and 11-yard touchdown runs, respectively, by junior fullback Byron Darby (Gastonia, N.C.) and junior tailback Jasper Thomas (High Point, N.C.) … The Bears were also hurt by two blocked punts including one which was returned for a touchdown (The Lions' Josh Baker from 12 yards out) … Mars Hill's Rudy Cabral led all tacklers with 19 to go along with 2.5 quarterback sacks while L-R senior defensive back Marcus Shuford (Newton, N.C.) finished with a team-high nine takedowns to go along with an interception … Lenoir-Rhyne also held a 351-263 advantage in total yards but its second-ranked rushing offense nationally (328.2 ypg) was limited to 228 yards … Junior fullback Le'Quan McCorkle (Sherrills Ford, N.C.) finished with a team-high 75 yards rushing while junior wide receiver Nick Stutts (Statesville, N.C.) caught five passes for 55 yards in the losing effort for the Bears … L-R had a chance to win on its final drive but Mars Hill intercepted a pass in the end zone to seal the victory … Junior placekicker Colin Corpe (Ocala, Fla.) is now sixth all-time in points scored by a kicker in L-R school history with 147 … Lenoir-Rhyne hopes to avoid a three-game losing streak when it travels to Asheville High School in Asheville, N.C., to face Brevard in a conference contest next Saturday at 2 p.m. … L-R leads the all-time series with Brevard, 2-1, but the Tornados prevailed last year by a 14-9 score on September 26, 2009, in Hickory, N.C.
MARS HILL - The Mars Hill College football team (4-2, 2-0) scored the game-winning touchdown with 37 seconds left to rally and defeat Lenoir-Rhyne University (3-3, 0-2), 24-20, Saturday afternoon on the Bears' Homecoming at Moretz Stadium in a South Atlantic Conference affair … The Lions' Jonas Randolph (Daleville, Ala.), last year's league co-Offensive Player of the Year, scored the game-winner on a 50-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Luis Cruz (Anaheim, Calif.) … Randolph finished with a game-high 156 yards rushing to go along with 59 yards receiving and two scores to lead Mars Hill to victory … The Lions, who rallied from a 17-7 second-quarter deficit, also blocked two punts while returning one for a score in the win … Mars Hill scored on the game's opening drive as Randolph finished off a 10-play, 78-yard drive with a one-yard score … L-R responded with 17 straight points starting with junior fullback Byron Darby's five-yard touchdown run on the ensuing drive to tie the contest at 7-7. Junior placekicker Colin Corpe put the Bears ahead with a 21-yard field goal later in the quarter after an interception by senior defensive back Marcus Shuford … On Lenoir-Rhyne's third possession, junior running back Jasper Thomas capped off an 11-play, 79-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run early in the second stanza for a 10-point Bear advantage … Trailing 17-10, Mars Hill tied the game just before halftime on Josh Baker's (Skyland, N.C.) 12-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown. L-R forged ahead again in the third quarter on Corpe's second field goal (28 yards) on the afternoon to make it a 20-17 advantage … A missed field goal early in the final stanza didn't deter Mars Hill as the Lions held the Bears on downs at the Mars Hill 31 with 1:14 remaining which set up the game-winning drive … The Bears drove to the Lions' 21 as time was running out but Mars Hill ended the game with an interception in the end zone … Mars Hill's Rudy Cabral (Fairview, N.C.) was outstanding on defense for the Lions as he finished with a game-high 19 tackles and 2.5 quarterbacks … Mars Hill returns home to take on SAC-foe Newberry next Saturday at 2 p.m., as well. MHC leads the Series against the Wolves, 25-13. Last season the Lions won, 34-28.
NEWBERRY -The Newberry Wolves eked out a 63-56 victory over No. 23 Tusculum on Saturday behind record-breaking performances by wide receiver Brandon Bostick and quarterback Bryan Ehrlich ... The Wolves move to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in SAC play... Bostick established a record for the South Atlantic Conference, Newberry College and the state of South Carolina with 322 receiving yards on 11 receptions with three touchdowns of 37, 71 and 50 yards, with nine of his 11 catches resulting in Newberry first downs ... That performance ranks eighth in the history of Division II football ... Getting Bostick the ball was sophomore quarterback Bryan Ehrlich, who threw a school- and SAC-record seven touchdown passes, completing 23-of-40 passes for a school-record 515 yards ... Bostick eclipsed the 1,000-yard career mark during his spectacular game, now sitting on 1,198 receiving yards, which is 14th in school history ... David Pressley had his fourth "century" receiving game of the season, catching seven passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 11 seconds remaining ... Pressley now has 1,283 career yards, which is 11th in Newberry history ... The two teams set South Atlantic Conference records for combined points (119) and most combined first downs (61) ... There were 1,162 yards of combined offense and 946 combined passing yards ... Despite the gaudy offensive numbers, the Newberry defense provided the impetus for the win, forcing three early turnovers that were all converted into touchdowns ... Fumble recoveries by Arterio Arnold and Ron Parker and Parker's SAC-leading third interception of the season were all converted into early TDs ... Tusculum stormed back from a 22-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but two defensive stops by the Wolves and a 64-yard scoring drive that took only 34 seconds gave Newberry the spectacular win ... The 63 points is the most scored by a Newberry team in South Atlantic Conference play ... Apollo Stretch led Newberry with 12 tackles (10 solo) and Xavier Wallace made a career-high 11 tackles, with all of those going as solo stops ... Parker made five tackles to go with his interception and fumble recovery ... Newberry is now 9-19 all-time against teams in the AFCA Top 25, winning the last six of those games dating back to 2008 ... Tusculum now leads the all-time series between the two schools by a 9-5 margin, with Newberry breaking a two-game losing streak in the series ... Six of the last seven meetings between the two schools have been decided by one score ... Newberry moves on to take one of the other two teams with an undefeated SAC record in the Mars Hill Lions (4-2, 2-0 SAC) in Mars Hill at 1:30 p.m. ... Mars Hill leads the all-time series by a 25-15 margin and has won the last two games ... In the two teams' last meeting at Meares Stadium, the Lions won by a 27-6 count in 2008 in Newberry's last game as a nationally-ranked team ... The Lions won, 34-28, in Newberry last year ... Newberry's last win was a 48-24 win in 2007, and the scarlet and gray last won at Meares Stadium in the 2006 playoff season, a 37-0 shutout.
TUSCULUM - The No. 23 Tusculum Pioneers (4-2, 0-2 SAC) suffered their second straight loss in a 63-56 shootout against Newberry… The two teams combined for 119 points and 1,162 yards… For the first time in school history, Tusculum lost a game they scored 50 or more points (TC is 19-1 all-time in those contests/TC is 0-16 in games surrendering 50 or points)… The Pioneers are averaging 38 points per game this season, including 47 ppg in their last four contests… Sophomore quarterback Bo Cordell passed for 431 yards and accounted for six touchdowns (2 rush, 4 pass)… Cordell established school record for completions (44) and pass attempts (70)... Tusculum scored 22 unanswered points in a six-minute span in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 56-56 with six minutes remaining in the game… Bo Cordell is the nation's leading passer (NCAA all divisions), averaging 419.3 yards per game… He has totaled 2,516 passing yards (5th in TC history) in six outings, where he has tossed 22 touchdowns (4th in TC history), while rushing for three scores… Cordell is also tops in NCAA II in total offense (418.3 ypg)… Senior Calvin Britt eclipsed the 2,000-yard plateau for his career with his 132-yard effort against Newberry… Britt's 2,074 receiving yards are fourth in school history, 303 yards shy of the school record held by former All-American Kevin Wolcott (2,377 - 2000-03)… Britt also tallied his 100th career reception on Saturday (101)... Junior Rashaad Carter also tallied his 100th reception on Saturday (103)… Junior Deonte' Gist joined the 1000 receiving yards club last weekend (1,057) to become the 13th member of this illustrious group… Five players on the Tusculum team have already recorded 25 receptions, including with 35 grabs or more through six games… Four Pioneers have also accounted for over 400 yards so far this season… Leading the charge are Britt and junior tight end Michael Rodriguez, who have each recorded seven TD receptions (Tied for 4th in TC history)… Senior kicker Gareth Rowlands matched a career-best with 12 points against Newberry (2-3 FG, 6-6 PAT)… Rowlands has made 11 of his 14 field goals this year… He had his string of seven consecutive made field goal end when he came up short with a go-ahead 53-yard field goal with 49 seconds remaining in the game… Rowlands, a Fred Mitchell Kicker of the Year nominee, holds numerous school kicking records, including a TC-best 215 kicking points (2nd overall)… Rowlands has made his last 40 straight extra point attempts… Tusculum will travel to Wingate this Saturday in the 15th recorded meeting between the Pioneers and Bulldogs… Wingate leads the all-time series 9-5 and have won the last two meetings… TC will be looking for its first win at Irwin Belk Stadium since 2002.
WINGATE - Wingate University redshirt sophomore linebacker Jared Seate forced a fumble on Carson-Newman College's first play in overtime, preserving a 38-35 South Atlantic Conference road victory for the Bulldogs at Burke-Tarr Stadium Saturday. Bulldog redshirt sophomore safety Robert Fletcher recovered the loose ball, giving Wingate its first-ever triumph over Carson-Newman in Jefferson City … Bulldog redshirt senior placekicker RP Lopez won the game for the visitors, nailing a 41-yard field goal on Wingate's overtime possession. The Bulldogs are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the SAC. The Carson-Newman Eagles are 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the SAC. Wingate hosts Tusculum College Saturday, Oct. 16 at 1:30 p.m. … Carson-Newman won the toss prior to the overtime frame; the Eagles elected to play defense first. The hosts held the visiting Bulldogs to one yard on three plays, setting the stage for Lopez and his huge field goal. The snap by redshirt senior center Andrew Garner was true and the hold by redshirt senior wide receiver Philip Thomas was firm as Lopez remains perfect on the season. Lopez is two-for-two on field goals and 16-for-16 on extra points through five games … Eagle senior quarterback Doug Belk gained 15 yards and a first down on Carson-Newman's initial overtime play. Seate stripped the ball from the veteran signal-caller and Fletcher was in the right place at the right time as the Bulldogs defeated the Eagles for only the second time in 23 career attempts … "Our players deserve this victory," Wingate head coach Joe Reich says. "They keep fighting no matter the score. There is no panic in their demeanor. They have the mentality...'let's score some points' and they make it happen." … Carson-Newman had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but freshman place kicker Matthew Gossett had his 43-yard field goal blocked as time expired. Gossett also missed a 34-yarder in the third quarter … Wingate trailed 28-14 at halftime, but the Bulldog defense did not allow the Eagles to score an offensive touchdown in the second half. Haffly connected with pre-season All-American Perry Floyd on back-to-back scoring plays to tie the contest at 28-28 early in the fourth quarter … Floyd's first TD was a 39-yarder, concluding a quick five-play, 84-yard drive with 18 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The PAT by Lopez made the score 28-21. Carson-Newman was forced to punt on its next possession and Haffly and Floyd converted an 80-yard scoring strike on the next play from scrimmage. The Lopez extra point knotted the game at 28 with 12:30 to play in regulation … The Bulldogs recovered an Eagles fumble on the next possession, but Wingate could not convert. Following another Carson-Newman punt, Haffly was intercepted by Eagle senior linebacker Anthony McAlister at midfield. McAlister returned the errant pass 55 yards for a touchdown. Gossett's PAT put the hosts up 35-28 with 3:18 to go … Wingate responded three plays later. After a sack and an incompletion, Haffly and Thomas hooked up for a 66-yard touchdown pass play with 2:30 remaining in the contest. Lopez made the fifth of his extra points to send the contest to overtime … Haffly completed 20-of-32 passes for 412 yards and five touchdowns. In addition to his three second-half TD strikes to Floyd (twice) and Thomas, Haffly threw two first half TD passes to redshirt senior wide receiver Delric Ellington. Floyd led the receiving corps with six catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Ellington matched Floyd with six grabs for 96 yards and two visits to pay dirt. Thomas caught two passes for 78 yards and one score … An All-American return specialist in 2009, Floyd had a school-record setting day with 301 all-purpose yards. In addition to his 182 receiving yards, the Forestview High School product returned four kick-offs for 101 yards and one punt for 18 yards. Bulldog redshirt senior running back Nelson Woods rushed 18 times for 87 yards. He also caught two passes Saturday. Carson-Newman (504 yards) and Wingate (488 yards) combined for 992 yards total offense Saturday … Seate topped Wingate's defensive charts with 10 tackles (four solo, six assists). He had the crucial forced fumble and a shared tackle for loss. Fletcher, redshirt senior linebacker Greg Harmon and senior linebacker Ben Hinson had nine tackles each for the victors. Bulldog redshirt junior defensive lineman Josh Yon joined Fletcher with a forced fumble Saturday. The Eagles won the time of possession battle by almost 13 minutes (36:29 to 23:31) … The Bulldogs presented Reich with his first victory over Carson-Newman in 10 career tries. Wingate's other triumph was Saturday, Oct. 7, 1995, when quarterback Brandon Gandy led his troops to a 25-24 home conquest over the C-N Eagles at Walter Bickett Stadium in Monroe … The overtime victory was Wingate's first SAC overtime triumph in five tries. The Bulldogs have won two overtime games in a row, as Wingate needed extra time to secure a 22-16 road decision over Davidson College on Sept. 9, 2006 … Wingate returns home Saturday, hosting Tusculum College at 1:30 p.m. Last year, Woods rushed 17 times for 133 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs defeated Tusculum College 42-31 in SAC action at Pioneer Field. The contest was broadcast nationally by CBS College Sports. Wingate never trailed in the wild-and-woolly contest. The Bulldogs posted 450 yards total offense, while the Pioneers blazed a trail for 352 yards total offense … Wingate leads the series between the two schools 9-5. The Bulldogs won the first four meetings and the last two meetings between the two schools, while the Pioneers won four WU-TC series games in a row from 2000-03. Four of the last six games in the series have been decided by five points or less.