Better Know the Opponent, Week 9: Limestone
August 15, 2015

Better Know the Opponent, Week 9: Limestone

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the ninth part in an 11-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football's opponents for the 2015 season. This feature breaks down a matchup with a football program which is two years old – the Limestone Saints.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the ninth part in an 11-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football's opponents for the 2015 season.  This feature breaks down a matchup with a football program which is two years old – the Limestone Saints.

In its inaugural season of football, Limestone managed a 2-9 record with a roster primarily comprised of freshmen.  The Saints won their first ever game in week three last year against the College of Faith 45-0 before picking up win number two on Oct. 11 against Paine 47-30. 

If you have to ask if a player returns for head coach Bobby James for year two of the program, the answer is probably yes. 

Of the 22 players who started on offense and defense last year for the Saints, 20 are back. Limestone only lost its starting center and its second leading tackler in linebacker Jason Free.

Defense was the first-year program's primary issue in 2014.  Limestone conceded 40.1 points per game, including 70 in a lightning-delayed game against Newberry.  Titus Williams returns as the defense's leading tackler. He made 69 stops a year ago and picked off four passes.

The safety is joined by middle linebacker Evan Patrick, who made 53 tackles last year.  Rodrea Brown is the Saints' leading pass rusher. He sacked opposing quarterbacks five times and had 10 tackles for loss.

Offensively, the Saints averaged 21.4 points per game and gained a hair more than 330 yards per game in year one.  The pro-style offense averaged 193 yards through the air and 143 on the ground.

All skill position players return for the Saints, including both quarterbacks the Saints used.  Jonathan Clark got the nod for the start in seven games while Matthew Harkness started two.  Both completed 58 percent of their passes.  Clark was the more efficient of the two with a 117.1 rating to Harkness' 96.5.  While both completed a reasonable percentage of their passes, Limetone was frequently picked off.  The Saints gave up 20 interceptions last year.

The Saints used a bit of a running-back-by-committee system last year.  DeAnthony Neal was the leading rusher with 66.9 yards gained per game with six touchdowns.  Bernard Merriweather and Daitwain Commodore (a former Eagle) gained 285 and 202 yards last year, respectively.

D'Anta Fleming was Limestone's leading pass catcher.  He snagged 32 balls for 514 yards and eight touchdowns last year.  He also had a 98-yard reception.    

Carson-Newman's Better Know The Opponent series returns Tuesday with a preview of week 10 opponent North Greenville.