September 3, 2025

C-N preps for Thursday affair with South Carolina Central Christian

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (1-0) will tie a bow on its non-conference slate when it tangles with South Carolina Central Christian College (0-1) Thursday from Burke-Tarr Stadium at 6 p.m.

SC Central Christian College

0-2

RV Carson-Newman

2-0

Final	1	2	3	4	T
SC Central Christian College (0-2)	0	0	0	0	0
RV Carson-Newman (2-0)	28	7	17	7	59

C-N Game Notes

VIDEO: Ashley Ingram Press Conference

VIDEO: C-N v. WVSU Cinematic Recap

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (1-0) will tie a bow on its non-conference slate when it tangles with South Carolina Central Christian College (0-1) Thursday from Burke-Tarr Stadium at 6 p.m.

This is the first time Carson-Newman has played a non-conference game against a school from South Carolina since 2017 when it dropped a 31-21 Homecoming decision to North Greenville.

Carson-Newman also plays on a rare Thursday outside of week one with a short week to prepare. The last time C-N played a midseason Thursday game with a short week to prepare was 2012 when the Eagles had five days to get ready for Wingate on Sept. 27 before a national television audience for the NCAA Division II Game of the Week on CBS College Sports. C-N fell that day 33-24.

This marks a third consecutive season Carson-Newman has faced a non-Division II foe. Carson-Newman has allowed a combined 10 points in its past two meetings with lower, non-Division II opposition.

"I'm just grateful that we've got a game this week," Ingram said. "We lost our game versus Limestone, pretty late in the spring. I think that they made their final decision almost around May 1. So just to be able to find a football game. We've got a second-year program in South Carolina Central Christian coming to town. Got some athletic guys on the team, but obviously very young, very inexperienced. But our concern is playing well, playing clean and playing Carson-Newman football. And I think our guys will be eager to play again."

This is South Carolina Central Christian College's second year with a football program. SCCCC competes in the New South Atlantic Conference. Current members with football programs include The Apprentice School, Atlantis, John Melvin University (Louisiana), Lighthouse Christian College, South Carolina Central Christian College, and Westgate Christian University. John Melvin Christian College (Florida) is adding football next year.

Kentucky Christian dominated SCCCC in its opener Saturday 58-0. KCU quarterback Jackson Wasik carved up the Gladiators defense. He completed 15 of 18 passes for 216 yards and five touchdowns, with no interceptions.

The Gladiators have 46 players on their roster. The vast majority (35 players to be exact) are home grown products from the Palmetto State. The remaining 11 players hail from North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania and California. The Tar Heel State is represented by five players, while the Peach State accounts for three. The Yellowhammer State, Golden State and the Keystone State all each account for one player apiece.

Carson-Newman has kept the defensive pressure dialed up. With a sack in every week of the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the last two years's teams are the fourth and fifth this century to tally a sack in every week of the season. C-N has registered a sack in 24 straight weeks and 32 of the last 33. Carson-Newman is

C-N has won six consecutive home games. The Eagles look for their first six-game home win streak since going 6-0 at home during the 2019 season. Carson-Newman is unbeaten at home under second-year head coach Ashley Ingram.

Since 2009, Carson-Newman's offense topped 350 yards rushing on 59 occasions, or 5.09 times per season. The Eagles were fourth nationally in rushing yardage last year. C-N topped 350 yards rushing last year against Reinhardt, Barton and UVA Wise. C-N's 345 yards rushing in week zero were the second-most in NCAA Division II.

Carson-Newman quarterback Mario Sanchez found the end zone twice on the ground in the opener against WV State. Those scores bring him to 20 career rushing touchdowns, eighth-most among active player in NCAA Division II and third-most among quarterbacks.

Kickoff between the Eagles and Gladiators is set for 6 p.m. Thursday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 5 p.m. with the AEC Countdown to Kickoff on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloCollege at cneagles.com/FloFB.