Better Know The Opponent, Week eight: North Greenville
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the seventh in a 10-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football’s opponents for the 2014 season. This feature breaks down the Eagles’ week eight contest – Oct. 25 and the Eagles’ homecoming game against North Greenville.
2012 North Greenville Highlight Reel
2013 North Greenville Highlight Reel
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the seventh in a 10-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football's opponents for the 2014 season. This feature breaks down the Eagles' week eight contest – Oct. 25 and the Eagles' homecoming game against North Greenville.
After North Greenville triumphed over the Eagles in the teams' first meeting in 2011, C-N has managed to overpower the Crusader with offense.
The Eagles won in 2012 52-10 on their homecoming before taking a 47-26 decision last season in Tigerville, S.C. Carson-Newman has ripped off 1,083 yards of total offense between those last two games.
NGU will be looking to improve upon a 5-6 record from a year ago. The Crusaders raced out of the gate to a 4-0 start that included a a 37-24 win over FCS member VMI. However, after that start, NGU stubbed its toe the next four weeks before picking up its final win over the 2013 season 38-34 over Wingate.
The Crusaders return much of their offense and defense from a year ago. Seven starters return on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
The headline for NGU will be junior quarterback Nelson Hughes. Hughes is back after a sophomore season in which he set numerous school records including completion percentage (66.6 percent) and passing yards (3,202) while totaling 24 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. Hughes completed 31-of-40 passes for 285 yards against C-N last year. Backing him up will be sophomore transfer Mike Calabro, who brings a strong arm, depth and experience after spending a season at Florida Atlantic University.
Trey Walker will lead the Crusaders' tailbacks. He started all 11 games a season ago, leading the Crusaders' ground game attack with 170 carries for 877 rushing yards, including three games going over the century mark, and seven touchdowns. He also proved his versatility in the passing game with 30 receptions for 230 yards and three scores through the air. In last year's meeting with the Eagles, Walker gouged C-N for 131 yards on just 16 carries. He averaged 8.2 yards a touch and found the end zone once.
At receiver, you'll find the biggest hole on the Crusaders' roster. The graduation of Freddie Martino (146 receptions, 1,680 yards, 12 touchdowns in 2013) leaves an open spot at the #1 receiver position with a number of players looking to take his place. Sophomore Tyrecous Garrett caught 26 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games, while junior Tyrell Hillary also saw action in every game, totaling 15 receptions for 185 yards from the slot.
Up front, seniors Armani Delaney (17 career games, 11 starts) and junior Matthew Rochester (15 games, 14 starts) return to give the team significant experience up front. Senior transfer Charles Coleman comes to Tigerville after spending three seasons at The Citadel. The Crusaders only allowed 18 sacks last year.
On the defensive side of the football, the Crusaders were largely a team without a star. Braelen Meredith and Nick Rodgers were the two top tacklers at linebacker last year, but Meredith is gone because of graduation after making 89 stops last year.
In the secondary, the Crusaders started four freshman last fall. Sophomore safeties KJ McDonald (64 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception, six pass break ups) and Tony Godbolt (62 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, nine pass break ups) return as the last line of defense. Sophomore cornerbacks Nigel Gay (55 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions seven pass break ups) and Rochar Witherspoon (28 tackles, one tackle for loss, three pass break ups) also return to the field along with senior pre-season All-American Cejay Thomas (18 tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass break ups) and junior Zamardre Wingfield (28 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, five pass break ups)
Carson-Newman's Better Know The Opponent series returns Thursday with a preview of week nine opponent and defending national finalist Lenoir-Rhyne.
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