Passing game shines in Eagles’ opening scrimmage
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Three different Carson-Newman quarterbacks completed touchdown passes to three different wide receivers in the Eagles’ first intra-squad, situational scrimmage of fall camp.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Three different Carson-Newman quarterbacks completed touchdown passes to three different wide receivers in the Eagles' first intra-squad, situational scrimmage of fall camp.
Freshman quarterback Darvia Dubose (Darlington, S.C.) hit junior wideout Jarett Blihovde (Nashville, Tenn.) on a 45-yard post pattern over the middle of the field, while De'Andre Thomas (Milledgeville, Ga.) and Ross Hudson (Heath, Texas) touted five-yard touchdown passes to tight end Ryland Herbert (Kissimmee, Fla.) and Luther Walker (Pasadena, Calif.), respectively.
"We had an exceptional day today passing the football," Carson-Newman All-American offensive tackle Alex Taylor (Bristol, Tenn.) said. "For the outsiders, this'll be surprising. But for us, we've worked on it all spring and all offseason, so now it's just another part of the offense."
That's not to say the ground game was nonexistent. Hudson found the end zone on a seven-yard option keeper by racing around the right side of the line.
Thomas capped off a 50-yard drive with a quarterback sneak after Anthony Eubanks (Pendleton, S.C.) snatched a 28-yard pass down to the one.
In the waning moments of the scrimmage, freshman QB Lonnie Williams (Philadelphia, Pa.) reeled off a 48-yard sprint down the left sideline to make it six scores for the day.
"We want to do the things that we need to do to be a complete team," Sparks said. "We've got some guys that can catch it and some guys that can throw it, plus some guys that can run it. Hopefully we'll be able to keep teams from using nine guys to play the run against us."
The defense was not without its moments. The South Atlantic Conference's co-defensive freshman of the year Javaris Neal (Columbia, Tenn.) intercepted a screen pass and Jarrett East-Brown (Burlington, N.J.) redirected an 18-yard field goal.
"I was playing on the guard and he was blocking me heavy." Neal said. "I was able to find the quarterback's eyes, lock in and pick off the ball."
The Eagles were by no means full strength for the scrimmage. Running backs Brandon Baker (Miami, Fla.), Andy Hibbett (Corryton, Tenn.), Tyron Douglas (Clover, S.C.) and TraShaun Ward (Miami, Fla.) all sat out the scrimmage with a variety of maladies. All are expected to recover before the opener with Wayne State.
Carson-Newman's next scrimmage is set for Saturday at 2 p.m.
CNFB: Preseason Scrimmage #1 8-20-13
Carson-Newman Media Day 2013
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