JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. – After being limited to just three points and less than 100 yards of total offense over the first 30 minutes, the Limestone College football team played a much better second half but it was not quite enough as Carson-Newman University ran away with a 52-24 decision on Saturday.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Carson-Newman 52, Limestone 24
Records: Carson-Newman (4-2, 3-1), Limestone (0-6, 0-3)
Location: Burke-Tarr Stadium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Sophomore QB DJ Phillips (Fayetteville, N.C.) went 15-of-26 for 156 yards and two TDs
• Freshman RB Malik Brooks (Saluda, S.C.) added 77 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries
• Senior WR Cody Rau (Litchfield, Minn.) hauled in three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown
• Senior TE Andrew Hutto (Charleston, S.C.) recorded his first career TD catch
• Graduate DB Joshua Simmons (Moncks Corner, S.C.) finished with a game-high nine tackles
• Simmons tallied two tackles for loss and a forced fumble
• Junior DB DJ Witherspoon (Moncks Corner, S.C.) chipped in three tackles and a fumble recovery
• For a second straight week, Limestone gave up over 500 yards of offense
• The Blue and Gold surrendered a program-worst 468 yards against the split-back veer option
• Offensively, the Saints were limited to just 260 total yards

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
The Saints went backwards over their first four offensive plays of the day, racking up -15 yards during that span, and then turned the ball over on their fifth play as Phillips was picked off at midfield. Carson-Newman took advantage with an 8-play, 50-yard drive to move ahead 7-0 with 6:07 left in the first.
 
Limestone would get its initial first down of the game on the ensuing possession on a 16-yard tote by Brooks, but it would have to punt following a penalty. A special teams mistake by the Eagles almost resulted in a safety for the Saints, but Desmond Fairell was able to get the ball out to the one-yard line.
 
Second Quarter
 
The long field did not appear daunting for C-N as they calmly marched the ball 99 yards on 14 plays, aided by a Limestone 15-yard personal foul and then a 14-yard gain on 4^th-and-8, as the home team moved ahead 14-0 early in the quarter. The Eagles outgained the Saints 142-9 in total yards at that point.
 
The Blue and Gold picked up two more first downs on its next drive as Brooks rushed the ball four straight times for 21 yards, but again the drive would stall around midfield.  Carson-Newman continued to roll as it extended the margin to 21-0 after a 26-yard TD pass capped a 9-play, 88-yard drive just before the half.
 
Limestone put together its most productive drive of the first half, but would have to settle for three points after a 13-yard TD pass to sophomore Jerko'ya Patton (Charlotte, N.C.) was called back on a penalty. Phillips hit Patton for 13 yards on 4^th-and-13 earlier in the drive before Martin connected from 37 yards.
 
Third Quarter
 
The Eagles pushed the lead to 28-3 on the first play of the second half when Marcus Williams returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. On its next possession, Carson-Newman put the game well out of reach, 35-3, behind a 64-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 52-yard run by Antonio Wimbush.
 
Limestone finally found the endzone midway through the third quarter when Phillips hit Rau in stride behind the defense for a 54-yard TD strike to cap a 7-play, 79-yard drive. However, the Eagles responded with a 10-play, 81-yard scoring drive to move on top 38-10 behind a 25-yard field goal by Drew Eudy.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Brooks found pay dirt from 12 yards out on the first play of the fourth, cutting the margin to 38-17 as the Saints countered with a 7-play, 65-yard drive. Brooks added a 16-yard run earlier on the scoring drive while Phillips hit sophomore WR JoJo Watson (Camden, S.C.) and Rau on 18 and 13 yards, respectively.
 
Following a long kickoff return, the Limestone defense recorded a takeaway for a sixth straight game as Simmons made a hit on the pitch man before Witherspoon scooped up the loose ball and returned it 26 yards. After picking up a crucial 4^th-and-3, Phillips found Hutto wide open in the end zone from a yard out.
 
That momentum would be short-lived, however, as Carson-Newman needed just one play to reestablish its three touchdown lead as Wimbush sprinted 72 yards for the score. The Eagles then added insult to injury with a 17-yard touchdown run by the backup QB with 17 seconds left, icing the 52-24 decision.
 
TURNING POINT
 
After three-and-outs by both teams to start the day, Carson-Newman took firm control of the game on both sides of the ball as it sprinted out to a 21-3 halftime lead. The Eagles eventually made it a 35-3 contest early in the second half, giving it more than enough in reserve to withstand Limestone's 21-3 run.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Limestone has surrendered 50 or more points in three of its six games this season
• The last time the Blue and Gold gave up more than 50 points three times in a season was in 2014
• The Saints allowed a program-worst 468 rushing yards on Saturday
• Tusculum had previously held that record with its 390 rushing yards earlier this year
• Limestone gave up a kick return for a touchdown for the first time since 2014
• Rau has touchdown receptions of 49, 77, and 54 yards over the last two games
• Sophomore DT DeAnthony Cowan (Goodman, Miss.) registered seven tackles
• Sophomore DL DeShawn Thompson (Jonesville, S.C.) tallied seven tackles and a sack

 
UP NEXT
 
Limestone will have another tough test next weekend when it travels to take on South Atlantic Conference frontrunner Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday, October 13 at 2 p.m.