Better Know The Opponent, Week nine: Lenoir-Rhyne
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the eighth 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 nine contest – Nov. 1 and a rematch against defending national finalist Lenoir-Rhyne.
2013 regular season highlight reel
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the eighth 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 nine contest – Nov. 1 and a rematch against defending national finalist Lenoir-Rhyne.
In 2013, Lenoir-Rhyne football had a run for the ages. The Bears rushed for the most yards ever in Division II history en route to an appearance in the national title game.
As L-R plowed through its 2013 schedule, the Bears took out Carson-Newman twice. Once, in utterly dominating fashion with a 37-3 dismantling of Carson-Newman in the regular season. And twice when the Bears came back from 14 points to defeat C-N 27-20 in the second round of the NCAA playoffs.
The Bears bring tons back from that team, but were surprisingly picked behind C-N in the preseason South Atlantic Conference coaches poll. That may be because Mike Houston – who guided L-R to three straight SAC crowns – has left to coach The Citadel.
L-R loses a grand total of three All-Americans and two more all-region performers, yet the Bears have still managed to land three men on preseason All-American squads.
Offensive linemen Joe Ray, linebacker Tanner Botts and defensive end Blake Baker all received the preseason laurels.
Ray, a junior offensive lineman from Atlanta, Ga., won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy last year, given annually to the top offensive lineman in the South Atlantic Conference.
Ray anchored a unit which helped the Bears lead Division II in rushing last year (370.9 ypg) while the team's total rushing yards (5,563) set an all-time NCAA single-season record.
Botts, a senior linebacker from Lawrenceville, Ga., led Lenoir-Rhyne in total tackles last year with 134 to go along with 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. Botts, a two-time First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honoree (2012-13), has 296 tackles so far in his career.
Baker, a senior defensive lineman from Bethlehem, N.C., set the school single-season record for sacks (14.5) last year in addition 56 tackles including 22 for a loss, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.
While those three are stout, the Bears must replace two of the best safeties in the SAC from a year ago. Michael Green – who led the league in picks last year – and Myer Nolan are both gone.
It was in large part to those two that the Bears were able to come back and pick up a win in the playoffs over C-N. Nolan was suspended for the first half of that game because of an illegal hit the week prior. In his absence, the Eagles rushed for 206 yards in the first half. Upon Nolan's return, the Bears were able to take away the pitch portion of the triple option that was so effective in the first half and limit C-N to just five yards rushing in the third quarter and 54 the rest of the game.
Lenoir-Rhyne's offense will be highly seasoned from last year. All the moving parts of the Bears' backfield are back, including quarterback Miles Freeman, fullback and All-American Isaiah Whitaker and wingback and All-American Jarrod Spears. L-R does have to replace three members of their offensive line.
In addition to losing two stalwarts at safety, the Bears must also replace an All-American on the defensive line in Jimmy Long. However, the entire linebacking corps is intact and the Bears have a couple all-conference candidates at corner in O'neil Blake and Joe Anderson.
Last year, that defense ranked 12th in the nation in rushing defense (101 ypg), ninth in sacks (3.47 per game), and 15th in scoring defense (17.9 points per game).
The Bears must also replace All-American kicker Zach Neumann.
Carson-Newman's Better Know The Opponent series returns Tuesday with a preview of week 10 opponent and Newberry.
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