JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. – Limestone University overcame an early 13-point deficit to grab its second consecutive halftime lead, but the Saints were held scoreless in the second half as Carson-Newman University survived to claim its first win of the year while denying Limestone its first with a 27-21 decision.    
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Carson-Newman 27, Limestone 21
Records: Carson-Newman (1-8, 1-6), Limestone (0-8, 0-6)
Location: Burke-Tarr Stadium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Freshman QB Ethan Beamish (Simpsonville, S.C.) went 20-of-35 for 256 yards and a pair of TDs
• Beamish connected with nine different receivers in his best game of his young career
• Senior RB Jerko'ya Patton (Charlotte, N.C.) rushed for 59 yards on 19 carries
• Senior WR Demond Ellison (Canton, Ga.) had just one catch, a 48-yard touchdown reception
• Junior WR Caden Peeler (Boiling Spring, S.C.) added four catches for 24 yards and a touchdown
• Freshman WR Mikey Jones (Lexington, S.C.) hauled in five receptions for 49 yards
• Freshman WR Kodi Jones (Greenville, S.C.) tallied four catches also for 49 yards
• Sophomore TE Terrence Walker (Commerce, Ga.) finished with two catches for 48 yards
• Junior LB Chandler Corley (Columbia, S.C.) logged a game-high 11 tackles and a forced fumble
• Junior DL Dylan Reeves (Raleigh, N.C.) added seven assisted tackles
• Junior DB Kris Williams (Clinton, S.C.) posted six tackles and an interception for a second straight game – he also scored the first defensive touchdown of the year on a 58-yard pick six
• Sophomore LB Chandler Matthews (Dillion, S.C.), graduate LB Tim Faison (Miami, Fla.), and junior DL Zane Boozer (Liberty, S.C.) all recorded six tackles for the Blue and Gold
• The Eagles and Saints combined for 34 points in the first quarter, but just 14 the rest of the game
• Limestone won the turnover battle for a second week in a row and scored 14 points off turnovers
• However, the Saints allowed a season-worse 472 rushing yards and 556 total yards
• The Blue and Gold put up over 350 yards of offense for a second consecutive game

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
The Eagles, who entered the game as the worse statistical offensive team in the SAC, scored on the very first play of the game, jumping ahead 7-0 less than 20 seconds in on a 69-yard touchdown run. Following a three-and-out by the Saints, Carson-Newman extended its lead to 13-0 on a 30-yard touchdown carry.
 
Limestone answered on its next drive, however, as a nine-yard burst by Patton and a seven-yard catch by Mikey Jones put the visitors on the plus side of the 50. Beamish would then find Ellison behind the Eagles defense for a 48-yard scoring strike, cutting the margin to 13-7, before the defense forced a turnover.
 
On Carson-Newman's first play on the ensuing drive, Corley rattled the ball loose before freshman LB Jabez Taylor (Gaston, S.C.) recovered at the Carson-Newman 41. Beamish then hit Walker for 27 yards and Kodi Jones for 10 before Peeler scored to give the Saints a 14-13 edge on a jet sweep with 4:09 left.
 
The offensive onslaught continued late in the first as the Eagles rattled off a 30-yard run to get into Limestone territory before a rare pass completion netted a 38-yard touchdown to make it a 20-14 game.
 
Second Quarter
 
The Saints answered with a 47-yard drive as Kodi Jones hauled in an 18-yard pass to end the first quarter before Patton ripped off a 24-yard run to the C-N 32 to start the second. The possession would stall, resulting in a missed 49-yard field goal, but the Eagles would also miss a field goal on the other end.
 
Limestone would get a 14-yard carry by freshman Tre Stewart (Winston-Salem, N.C.) on its first play from scrimmage, but the drive again stalled. Junior punter Austin Kemp (Liberty, S.C.) put a solid boot on the resulting punt, sailing in 53 yards before it was downed inside the five-yard line, but it appeared that Carson-Newman would flip the field following a 47-yard run on 3^rd-and-5 that move the ball across the 50.
 
However, two plays later, Williams collected a gift as a pass was thrown right to him in the middle of the field before he returned the pick 58 yards for Limestone's first defensive score of the year. The Eagles would then miss a late field goal before the half as the Blue and Gold went into the locker room up, 21-20.  
 
Third Quarter
 
The Saints picked up a first down on the opening possession of the second half, getting an 11-yard reception from Mikey Jones, but would be forced to punt a few plays later. Special teams made a big play as sophomore LB Charlie Blazi (Harrisburg, N.C.) jumped on a muffed punt from Kemp at the Eagles 14.
 
Starting inside the redzone, Limestone was primed to extend its lead, but an offensive pass interference call put the visitors behind the chains before the Saints missed their second field goal, this one from 38 yards. Carson-Newman capitalized on the momentum, moving back in front, 27-21, on a 46-yard TD run.
 
Limestone answered by working its way down inside the Carson-Newman five on its next drive, going 76 yards on 11 plays. Kodi Jones grabbed a 19-yard catch and Taylor rushed for 37 yards on a fake punt before Beamish hit Walker for 21 yards down to the 1. However, the Eagles would hold up at the goal line as the Saints, after missing two field goals, elected to go on 4^th-and-goal at the 4 and came away empty.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Though the defense did not give up any points, Carson-Newman was able to keep drives alive long enough to bleed the clock in the final period by holding onto the ball for almost 10 minutes. The Saints had a promising drive early in the fourth as Beamish found senior WR Quay Brown (Rock Hill, S.C.) for a 14-yard gain before a 13-yard connection with Stewart put the Blue and Gold at the Eagles 43-yard line.
 
However, an untimely sack ultimately ended the drive before the Saints went three-and-out midway through the frame. Carson-Newman then ran out a big chunk of time, holding the ball for five minutes before Limestone got it back with 18 ticks left. A fumble on the final play would seal the 27-21 decision.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Leading 21-20 at the half, Limestone caught a huge break when the special teams unit recovered a fumble inside the redzone early in the third. However, the Saints would come away without any points on two third-quarter trips inside the redzone while the Eagles pushed across the game-winner in the quarter.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Limestone limited the Eagles to 84 passing yards, but was gashed for 472 yards on the ground
• Carson-Newman registered six chuck plays of 30 yards or more
• The Saints scored its first defensive touchdown since September 29, 2018, against Mars Hill
• The Blue and Gold recorded a pick-six and a fumble return for a TD in that game
• The defense has forced six turnovers over the last two games
• In his third started of the year, Beamish posted a 137.4 QB rating by going 20-of-35 for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns – all of those are season highs for the true freshman

 
UP NEXT
 
The Saints will close out the regular season when they host Newberry College, who is currently tied for first place it the SAC standings, on Saturday, November 13, at 4 p.m.
 
Prior to the game, Limestone will honor 17 seniors: Jeremiah Bogan (Duncan, S.C.), Kris Williams (Clinton, N.C.), Kendrick Knight (Marietta, Ga.), Chandler Corley (Columbia, S.C.), Joseph Gregory (Inman, S.C.), Cedric Smith (Columbia, S.C.), Tim Faison (Miami, Fla.), Quay Brown (Rock Hill, S.C.), Richard Jenkins (Bluffton, S.C.), Jerko'ya Patton (Charlotte, N.C.), Kobe Marfo (Alexander, Va.), Dedric Lewis (Evans, Ga.), Kyleik Middleton (Beaufort, Ga.), Michael Watkins (Indian Land, S.C.), Marleek Reid (Rock Hill, S.C.), Kamden Young (Gainesville, Ga.), and Jurelle Watson (Tabernacle, N.J.).