Defense dominates in Media Day scrimmage
August 15, 2018

Defense dominates in Media Day scrimmage

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s defense headlined the Eagles’ annual media day scrimmage Wednesday morning at Burke-Tarr Stadium. 

VIDEO: Scrimmage Highlights

VIDEO: Mike Turner Media Press Conference

VIDEO: Larry Slade Media Day Press Conference  

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's defense headlined the Eagles' annual media day scrimmage Wednesday morning at Burke-Tarr Stadium. 

The scrimmage was situational in nature with the first team offense facing off against the first team defense, so on and so forth. 

The first team defense forced the first team offense off the field on its first three possessions with interceptions. 

Ja'Quan Smith (Greenville, Ala.) nabbed the first pick off a ball that was batted in the air.  Desmond Fairell (Miami, Fla.) jumped a curl route for the second interception.  Then, Darius Williams (St. Petersburg, Fla.) wrenched a tipped pass away from a wide receiver for the third.

The defense kept up the pressure for the first 10 possessions of the scrimmage, which all started on the minus side of the 50.  None of those drives ended in scores and only three made it past midfield, one of which ended on Williams' interception. 

The offense did have its moments, running backs Antonio Wimbush (Kingsland, Ga.) and Toot Johnson (Rincon, Ga.) both ripped off multiple 20-yard runs, and both found the end zone once the situations were more favorable to the offense on drives that started inside the 40. 

Wimbush scored the first touchdown of the day on a 12-yard trap play over the left side of the line.  Johnson followed suit by taking a dive 15 yards for a score. 

Tyson Herron (Bogart, Ga.) and Dalton Mullins (Wise, Va.) also both found the end zone. 

Drew Eudy (Hendersonville, N.C.) finished off the scrimmage by drilling a 52-yard field goal.  

The Eagles will hit the Burke-Tarr Stadium turf for their second preseason scrimmage Saturday at 9:05 a.m.

2019 Carson-Newman Football Championship Coaching Clinic 3-1-19