GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Limestone College football team rallied from an early 24-point deficit to take a lead midway through the fourth quarter, but a costly turnover following a recovery of an onside kick would allowed Carson-Newman University to escape with a 42-35 SAC win on Senior Day at The Reservation.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Carson-Newman 42, Limestone 35
Records: Carson-Newman (7-2, 5-2), Limestone (3-7, 2-5)
Location: The Reservation
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Junior QB DJ Phillips (Fayetteville, N.C.) went 15-of-33 for 254 yards and two touchdowns
- Junior WR Quay Brown (Rock Hill, S.C.) hauled in three catches for 113 yards and a TD
- Junior RB Jerko'ya Patton (Charlotte, N.C.) rushed 16 times for 94 yards
- Patton added 24 receiving yards out of the backfield with a touchdown
- Sophomore RB Malik Brooks (Saluda, S.C.) scored twice to go with 48 rushing yards
- Sophomore WR Juwan Scott (North Charleston, S.C.) tallied four catches for 72 yards
- Junior K Thomas Cook (Moore, S.C.) nailed a pair of field goals for 22 and 47 yards
- Sophomore LB Tallon Campbell (Cheraw, S.C.) led the defense with nine tackles
- Senior DB DJ Witherspoon (Moncks Corner, S.C.) added eight tackles and a forced fumble
- Senior DB Mannie Ogletree (North Augusta, S.C.) collected his fourth interception of the year
- The Saints finished with 388 yards against the league's second-ranked defense
- Limestone won the turnover battle, 3-2, but Carson-Newman finished with an 11-10 margin in points off turnovers
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Known for its prolific rushing offense, it was the passing attack that staked the visiting Eagles to a quick 7-0 lead as Braxton Westfield scored on a 53-yard catch and run. Limestone would go three-and-out on its first possession, and the Eagles would make it 14-0 two plays later with a 62-yard run right up the middle.
The Saints again went three-and-out on offense and the Eagles appeared to put the game out of reach less than 10 minutes in as an 8-play, 76-yard drive made it 21-0 with 6:06 left in the first. Limestone had just 34 yards in the first quarter while Carson-Newman put up 235 yards over the first 15 minutes of play.
Second Quarter
The Eagles extended the margin to 24-0 behind a 42-yard field goal early in the third, but the Limestone offense would get something working on its next possession. Patton started the drive with a 16-yard run before Phillips found Brown on a deep slant for a nifty 59-yard catch-and-score, cutting the lead to 24-7.
The Saints then came up with a big defensive stop as Ogletree registered his second interception in as many weeks. Limestone capitalized with a 10-play, 55-yard drive, highlighted by 42 yards on the ground by Patton, but the drive would stall inside the 10 before Cook connected on a 22-yard field goal.
On Carson-Newman's ensuring possession, the Blue and Gold forced another turnover as freshman DB
Kris Williams (Clinton, S.C.) jumped on fumble at the C-N 31. Phillips hit Patton for a 10-yard gain on third down before the duo hooked up again for a four-yard TD as the Saints close the gap to 24-17 at the half.
Third Quarter
Limestone opened the second half with a 53-yard drive, getting a huge play on 3
rd-and-13 with a 44-yard reception by Scott, before Cook nailed a 47-yarder to pull the Saints to within 24-20 with 12:04 remaining. The Eagles threatened on their first possession of the second half, but would miss a 48-yard field goal try.
However, the Saints quickly went three-and-out before a short punt set Carson-Newman up deep inside Limestone territory late in the third. The visitors took full advantage of the short field, moving the ball 39 yards on just four plays to take a 31-20 lead while snapping the Blue and Gold's 20-point run.
The Saints responded immediately following a 38-yard kickoff return by senior
Shanard Bain (Spartanburg, S.C.) to around midfield. Phillips then found senior TE
Chase Truesdale (Camden, S.C.) for 24 yards plus 15 more for a targeting call before Brooks scored from seven yards out to make it 31-27.
Fourth Quarter
Carson-Newman started the fourth on the Limestone side of the field but the defense held strong to force a fourth-and-long before a 50-yard field goal attempt was blocked by freshman
Devonte Allen (Cincinnati, Ohio). The Saints could not take advantage though as the Eagles recorded their 18
th pick of the year.
Following a field goal by C-N, Limestone overcame the early 24-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter as a 7-play, 75-yard drive put the home team on top for the first time on the day, 35-34. Phillips found Brown for 41 yards on a free play before Brooks busted loose on a 22-yard TD on 4
th-and-1.
Sophomore QB
Alec Morton (Simpsonville, S.C.) ran in a two-point conversion that put the Saints in front, 35-34, before the special teams unit came up with a fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff. Limestone moved into the redzone but a fumble on a QB keeper would give the Eagles the ball back with 3:14 left.
The Eagles promptly moved down the field, highlighted by a 50-yard completion to Romain Kelly down to the 13-yard line. Carson-Newman would steal the win with a three-yard touchdown run by Antonio Wimbush four plays later and then punched in the two-point conversion to seal the 42-35 final decision.
TURNING POINT
Limestone completed its largest comeback in program history, overcoming a 24-0 deficit early in the second, but the Saints responded with a 35-10 run to take its only lead of the day late in the fourth. However, a Limestone turnover with an opportunity to bleed the clock and possibly extend the lead would allow Carson-Newman to score the game-winner with 19 seconds left in regulation.
NOTABLES
- The 24-point deficit was the largest comeback in team history, besting the previous mark of 17 points in a win over Newberry at the end of the 2017 season
- Carson-Newman finished with 509 yards of offense, including 364 yards on the ground
- Senior LB Wesley Robinson (Sparanburg, S.C.) added seven tackles
- Freshman Dylan Reeves (Raleigh, N.C.) recorded a sack for the Saints
- The Saints fall to 0-5 all-time against the Eagles
UP NEXT
Limestone will close out the 2019 season next weekend when it travels to take on rival Newberry College on Saturday, November 16 at 1 p.m.