Football Drops 42-7 Decision to Carson-Newman

Johnson recorded 19 tackles in the loss to Eagles

SALISBURY, NC – Carson-Newman scored on its first three drives en route to a 42-7 win over host Catawba in South Atlantic Conference football action on Saturday afternoon at Shuford Stadium.  The Eagles improve to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the SAC, while the Catawba Indians fall to 3-3 and 1-2.

Brandon Haywood (Rockmart, GA) threw a 20-yard pass to Jason Brown (Plant City, FL) to cap the opening drive then ran in from a yard out at the 2:44 mark of the first quarter to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead.  Andy Hibbert (Cape Coral, FL) upped the lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter with a six-yard run.

Catawba got its lone score with 6:58 to go before the half on a four-play, 55-yard drive.  BJ Sherrill (Cleveland, NC/W. Rowan HS) opened the drive with an 11-yard run then completed three straight passes, culminating in a 15-yard strike to Diante Hodges (Fayetteville, NC/Smith HS).  Carson-Newman would lead 21-7 at the break.

The Eagles snuffed out an opening drive by Catawba to start the second half on an interception by Sean Rawson (Cape Coral, FL).  Haywood added his second one-yard scoring run to make it 28-7 with 6:42 left in the third quarter.  Tyron Douglas (Clover, SC) had an eight-yard run and De’Andre Thomas (Milledgeville, GA) a 16-yard run to close out the scoring in the fourth quarter.

Brandon Baker (Miami, FL) led the Carson-Newman attack with 121 yards rushing.  Douglas added 63 yards and Haywood another 53.  The Eagles totaled 377 yards on the ground.  Haywood completed all four of his passes for 45 yards and the score.

Sherrill went 13-of-22 through the air for Catawba for 111 yards.  The Indians were held to 24 yards on the ground.  Nate Charest (Charlotte, NC/Butler HS) made five catches for 39 yards.

Cory Johnson (Fayetteville, NC/Britt HS) had a career-high 19 tackles in the loss for Catawba.  Jason Taylor (Bahama, NC/Northern HS) also had double-digits in tackles with 10.  The Eagle defense posted three sacks and was led by Jonathan Sites’ (Hendersonville, TN) six stops, including one for a loss.

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