August 6, 2015

Better Know the Opponent, Week 5: Lenoir-Rhyne

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the fifth in an 11-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football's opponents for the 2015 season. This feature breaks down the Eagles' meeting with the four-time defending SAC champs – the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears - on Oct. 3.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the fifth in an 11-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football's opponents for the 2015 season. This feature breaks down the Eagles' meeting with the four-time defending SAC champs – the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears - on Oct. 3.

In a bizarre bit of happenstance, Carson-Newman will be the first team to christen Moretz Stadium's new field turf when the Eagles venture to Hickory, N.C. to face the four-time defending SAC champs.

Lenoir-Rhyne spends the entire month of September on the road, with matchups at West Chester, North Greenville, Tusculum and Limestone before the Eagles come to town.

The Bears have been nigh unstoppable in conference play at home. L-R has won 17 consecutive home conference games in Hickory dating back to a 24-21 loss to end the 2009 season to Newberry. That's the same year that Carson-Newman last beat L-R in Hickory, a 17-13 squeaker of a win over the Bears.

Lenoir-Rhyne also hasn't lost a conference game since the Eagles' capitalized on a quintet of Bear fumbles to beat L-R 47-23 back on Sept. 23, 2012. That was 20 SAC games ago for the Bears.

To continue the Bears string of three straight playoff appearances, the Bears need to replace five All-Americans.

Offensively, L-R loses offensive lineman Jim Bayer and fullback Chris Robinson. Defensively, gone are defensive end Blake Baker, linebacker Tanner Botts and defensive back O'Neil Blake. The Bears also must replace all-region slot back Jarrod Spears, quarterback Miles Freeman and Tanner's equally effective twin brother Tyler.

And yet, the Bears still return plenty of firepower from the nation's top rushing attack from a year ago at more than 410 yards per game.

Two-time All-American and two-time Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner Joe Ray will again anchor the Bears' offensive line. He's joined by Jacob Slagle and Dale Howard among returners up front.

Michael Patrick can shine as a feature back in the Bears' backfield. The preseason first team All-SAC honoree rushed for 788 yards last year and nine touchdowns. In the Bears' 35-32 win over C-N last season, he had 69 yards on eight carries.

Joining him in the slot will be Calvin Edwards, who coach Ian Shields touted in the SAC's annual digital media day.

"Calvin Edwards was the one true freshman that earned playing time last season as he backed up Jarod Spears," Shields said. "I would expect Calvin to be very tired by the end of most Saturday's this fall."

Quarterback may not be an issue for the Bears in spite of the loss of Freeman. Evan Sims was Freeman's backup last year and received some starting duties, including against C-N, when Freeman went down with injuries.

Sims rushed for 35 yards and two TDs against the Eagles last year, and completed two of his four passes for 38 yards.

Defensively, in spite of the loss of three All-Americans, the Bears are still stacked. The league's number one scoring defense last year features six preseason all-conference defenders. In fact, every returning starter, with the exception of Placid Ajoku, has been presented preseason all-conference honors.

"I really think we have the chance to be special on defense this year," Shields said. "We have three of our four starters returning up front and a good group of returners across the board that have 'been around the block' and have some experience. Our talent level is exceptional on that side of the ball and we will need to lean on our defense early in the season (and throughout the season)."

Carson-Newman was the only team last season to top 350 yards of total offense on the Bears' vaunted defense and the only team to score more than 30 points. It was four turnovers that undid the Eagles that day.

Carson-Newman's Better Know The Opponent series returns Saturday with a preview of week six opponent Brevard.