No. 21/22 Eagles circle wagons on Pioneers, claim Mountain Division crown 56-14
November 9, 2024

No. 21/22 Eagles circle wagons on Pioneers, claim Mountain Division crown 56-14

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Jayden Sullins rushed for 164 yards and two scores while the defense forced three turnovers and scored two touchdowns of their own as No. 21/22 Carson-Newman crushed Tusculum, 56-14, Saturday at Pioneer Field to secure a South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division Championship and the shot at a SAC title next week at Wingate.

VIDEO: Ashley Ingram Interview

VIDEO: Highlights

VIDEO: Jayden Sullins Interview

VIDEO: Keithan Washington Interview

VIDEO: Sherman Turner Interview

VIDEO: Jimi Olarinde Interview

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Jayden Sullins rushed for 164 yards and two scores while the defense forced three turnovers and scored two touchdowns of their own as No. 21/22 Carson-Newman crushed Tusculum, 56-14, Saturday at Pioneer Field to secure a South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division Championship and the shot at a SAC title next week at Wingate.

It was the first win for the Eagles (9-1, 7-1 SAC) at Pioneer Field since 2014.

For Coach Ashley Ingram, the defensive performance all started with the coaches on the sideline, led by defensive coordinator Larry Slade.

"It's the decision to keep Larry Slade around and to keep the majority of the defensive staff around and we brought in (co-defensive coordinator) Tyler Almond," Ingram said. "…Our defense has played great all year."

It was the defense that kept the game tight for Carson-Newman early. The Eagles ran a total of six offensive plays for minus-two yards in their first two possessions.

The Pioneers (1-8, 1-7) broke through first, putting together a 13-play, 58-yard scoring drive on their second possession. Quarterback Matthew Palazzo took the ball in himself from three yards out to put Tusculum up 7-0. They would not add anymore points until the fourth quarter.

Sullins did most of the work for C-N on its third chance with the ball. After a Jelan Pearson 31-yard kick return set Carson-Newman up at the 50, Sullins carried the ball five straight times to put the Eagles on the Pioneers' 11. Quarterback Justin Johnson found Jerimiah Carroll on a quick pass to set up a first-and-goal at the one, then tied the game as the second quarter opened, keeping the ball himself on a QB dive.

"Coach (Taylor) knows what he's doing and he's played against option football a long time," Ingram said. "We were going a little too lateral with stuff and we just decided we would run the ball at them. I think it was as simple as that, and our guys did a good job executing."

The Eagles' offense never got to leave the sideline on the next score as linebacker Jimi Olarinde stepped in front of a quick pass over the middle, hauled it in, turned on the jets and raced 29 yards into the end zone for the pick six to give C-N the lead for good.

"It was a great play calling by the coaches," Olarinde said. "They see it before we see it. They knew that tunnel (screen) was coming and all I got to do is drop to my hash and do what I got to do. I'm a playmaker and the coaches know that. They're going to put everyone in the situation to do that."

And do it again, C-N did as Kendall Williams picked off Palazzo on Tusculum's very next possession at the Pioneers 32 yard-line, returning the ball all the way down to the three. Sullins needed just one carry to punch the ball in. Carson-Newman took command 21-7.

"This team has worked tremendously hard throughout the year, through thick and then and record shows for itself," Olarinde said. "We just keep working every week. We want to prove to these fans and everyone in the conference that we're about that."

After watching the defense force a three-and-out on Tusculum's next possession, it was time for the offense to unleash some highlight plays of their own. Taking over on their own seven yard-line, C-N methodically worked the ball to midfield with Johnson, Sullins, Tyler Curtis and Cam Ferguson carrying the ball. On a first-and-10 call from their own 49, the dam finally burst, as Sullins punched through the line, wriggled free and left the defense in the dust for a 51-yard touchdown run. C-N led 28-7. The Eagles would take that lead into the half.

"We wanted to run the fullback today and after the first two drives, we kind of committed to it," Ingram said. "(Offensive coordinator) Chuck (Petersen) did a great job there. I can't say enough about these young men. We're 10 months into this. I'm just excited for them."

Another Tusculum three-and-out to open the second half would lead to another Carson-Newman scoring drive. Sullins opened the possession with a 42-yard run that put the Eagles in the red zone on their second play from scrimmage. Five plays later, wide receiver Cade Meeks would take a reverse pitch to the house for a 15-yard touchdown and a 35-7 lead.

As the fourth quarter began, the Eagles offense found the end zone once again, with Tyler Curtis splitting the Pioneers defense for a 29-yard TD run. With the commanding lead, Ingram would go to his reserves on offense and defense for the rest of the game.

Sullins finished with 17 carries for 164 yard and two touchdowns, putting him at 1,063 yards for the season. He's the first 1,000-yard rusher for Carson-Newman since Antonio Wimbush in 2019 and the 29th 1,000-yard rusher in school history. Saturday saw Sullins cross the 150-yard mark for the third time this year and cross the 100-yard mark for the fourth time.

"Winning the Mountain Division is bigger than myself and the stats included," Sullins said. "I'm happy for this team, for the offense this came from and for the defense performing how they can perform. … It's an incredible feeling. I'm very happy for my team and more importantly, the O-line did it. Where they've come from, it's insane. I'm happy that Coach Ingram believed in me."

Just because the starters were watching from the sideline didn't keep the C-N offense or defense from scoring again. After Tusculum had put in its second and final touchdown on the day, capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a Jalen Hunt four-yard rush, Carson-Newman unleashed the splash play again. Keithan Washington took an outside pitch on a second-and-seven 58 yards to the house midway through the fourth quarter.

On Tusculum's next chance with the ball and driving deep into Eagles territory, C-N's Jaylon Sanderfer knocked the ball loose from Pioneers' quarterback Richard Hunter,  defensive lineman Sherman Turner scooped it up at the Carson-Newman 13 and rumbled his way to the end zone surrounded by a full flock of Eagles. Turner's 82-yard fumble return for a score was the second longest in C-N history. Olarinde and Turner's defensive scores were the 103rd and 104th for the Eagles record books. 

"The big Sherm play might be one of the greatest plays I've seen in football," Ingram said. "He had a convoy in front of him and he needed every one of those guys. If we were down one (man), I don't think he would have got there. I'm excited for him."

The two defensive scores have become a habit for C-N. In their last three games where they score a defensive TD, they've added a second one each time. The most recent was two defensive scores against UVA-Wise last season. By Spoiling Tusculum's Homecoming celebration, Carson-Newman has won 10 of its last 12 contests on opponents' Homecoming Saturdays.

For Turner, playing on defense after being recruited as an offensive lineman, the play was one he knew he could make if given the opportunity.

"It was just a normal play, firing off the ball and knocking guys back," Turner said. "I saw one of my guys knock the ball out of the quarterback's hand and I knew it had to be mine. I told them last week, if I can get about to the 20-15 yard-line, I'll be out of gas. But I'm going to finish."

Mekhi Brown led the C-N defense with eight tackles and a tackle for a loss. Cruz Temple, Christian Hicks and Jackson Ward all had six tackles apiece with Hicks adding a tackle for a loss. Major Williams and Kendall Williams had five tackles each, with Major Wiliams notching a tackle for a loss and Kendall Williams picking off a pass and breaking up two more.

Sanderfer's sack fumble kept the Eagles 21-games with at least a single sack streak alive. Carson-Newman has recorded a sack in 29 of their last 30 contests. C-N piled up 340 yards of total offense in the game with all but 10 coming on the ground. Its 42 points were scored on just 44 offensive plays.

"This team is very hungry," Sullins said. "Guys that have been here know how long it's been since this has happened. We have to get back to work. We'll celebrate this and move on. There's more at stake."

What's at stake is a South Atlantic Conference Championship. Carson-Newman will face Piedmont Division Champion Wingate (8-1, 6-1) next Saturday for the crown. The Eagles defeated the Bulldogs back in Week 3, 31-28, in overtime. C-N has not won a SAC title since 2009, the longest active drought for an original SAC member.

"They (Wingate) are a really good football team," Ingram said. "Obviously, a lot of breaks had to go our way to have a chance to beat them at home. We go on the road and play a senior-laden team… we're going to have to prepare well, play well and probably need some breaks. We're going to go over there and go after it."

Carson-Newman's quest for a SAC Championship will take it to Irwin Belk Stadium in Wingate, N.C. next Saturday, Nov. 16, when they face off against the Wingate Bulldogs. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network will begin at 2 p.m. with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM Knoxville) and online at cneagles.com/live.

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