VIDEO: Mike Clowney Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Jalen Anderson Interview
VIDEO: Braxton Westfield Interview
WISE, Va. – UVA Wise (2-2, 1-1 South Atlantic Conference) forced four Carson-Newman (0-3, 0-2 SAC) turnovers and didn't let the Eagles into the end zone until the third quarter in a 33-7 triumph for the home team Saturday afternoon at Carl Smith Stadium.
Carson-Newman starts the year 0-3, its first 0-3 start since 1978. It also marks the first time the Eagles have lost three consecutive games since 2011.
"We keep talking process, but we have to move and get better at a faster pace than we are right now," Carson-Newman head football coach Mike Clowney said. "We knew coming in that we had a few things that we wanted to take a look at. We threw some deep balls and completed some passes. But we didn't capitalize on many situations we should have."
UVA Wise took advantage of a pick to score the first touchdown of the game on its third possession. Javeon Gillespie surged into the end zone on a one-yard rush to give the Cavs the lead 7-0 with 3:03 to play in the first quarter.
The teams traded three and outs the next two possessions. Wise got its offense back on track with a 33-yard pass to Devin Heckstall. That set up the Cavs inside the Eagle 20. Three plays later, Gillespie surged into the end zone untouched on a two-yard run. The Cavs held a 14-0 lead with 25 seconds left in the first quarter.
Carson-Newman moved into Wise territory on the next possession before a pick ended the Eagles' chances on that drive. Wise moved inside the red zone trying to take advantage of the turnover, but Kendall Williams (Winston-Salem, N.C.) snatched his first career pick on a reverse flea flicker.
However, C-N followed with a three-and-out. Wise took advantage of good field position and capped a seven-play, 53-yard drive with an eight-yard dump into the right flat to Darrien Newton to put Wise up 21-0 at the halftime break.
The first half saw Carson-Newman run three plays that featured receivers streaking down the middle of the field open who weren't thrown the ball.
"That's where video is so important," Clowney said. "We need to be better about meeting with our QBs to get them to see what we expect to happen on the field. They haven't done it in this offense over a long period of time. We'll need to be more intentional in our preparation."
Wise added to its lead in the third quarter with an 80-yard rush by Gillespie. The lengthy run came after the Eagles had the ball at the Cavs' 19 but tossed their third pick of the day.
Carson-Newman was at long last able to get into the end zone on its next possession. Two plays later Lamarcus Brown (Mobile, Ala.) hooked up with Braxton Westfield (Spartanburg, S.C.) for a 58-yard touchdown pass to get C-N back within 20.
Wise iced the game with Gillespie's fourth scoring play of the day, a 13-yard jaunt with 7:33 to play that set the final at 33-7 after C-N blocked the extra point.
Gillespie was a thorn in C-N's side all day. He rushed for 166 yards on 18 carries, averaging 9.2 a touch.
Lendon Redwine completed 25-of-34 for the Cavaliers. He found 10 different receivers for 237 yards and a score.
Darrrien Newton was his most frequent target, catching four passes for 43 yards. Utah State transfer Devin Heckstall snatched three passes for 88 yards.
Carson-Newman turned the keys of the offense over to freshman quarterback Lamarcus Brown in the middle of the second quarter.
Brown passed for 103 yards and a score in his debut day. He rushed the ball for 21 yards.
Westfield led C-N's receiving corps with three catches for 83 yards and the lone score.
Luke Simpson (Knoxville, Tenn.) snatched three passes for 25 yards.
Elijah Davis (Palmetto, Fla.) led the Eagles' backfield with 27 yards on six carries.
Alonzo Houston (Wimauma, Fla.) led C-N's defense with 15 tackles, Carson-Newman's first 15-tackle performance since Temoris Coats turned in a 15-tackle performance against Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 3, 2018.
Williams, Rondrow Peebles (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Caleb Goins (Bristol, Va.) all had nine stops. Jalen Anderson (Simpsonville, S.C.).
Michael Harrah (Elizabethton, Tenn.) punted the ball exceptionally well. He had an 81-yard boot that registered as the second-longest in school history. He pinned three of his eight punts inside the 20 and booted a 55-yarder as well.
UVA Wise outgained the Eagles 446-228.
Carson-Newman returns to the field Saturday at Barton. Kickoff with the Bulldogs is set for 2 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 1 p.m. with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Sports 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
