Scouting Report: Carson-Newman at Grand Valley State

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - For the first time in a decade, the Carson-Newman football team is back in the NCAA Division II semifinals.

The 10th-ranked Eagles (11-2) are set to square off with No. 3 Grand Valley State (12-1) on Saturday in Allendale, Mich., in a nationally televised game on ESPN. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Lubbers Stadium.

The winner of Saturday's contest will face the winner of California (Pa.) and Northwest Missouri State in the national championship on Dec. 12 in Florence, Ala.

C-N is making its fifth appearance in the semifinals and first since 1999. The Eagles hold a 3-1 record in the round of four, with their last win coming in 1999 over Northeastern State (42-7). C-N went on to lose to Northwest Missouri State in the national title game that season, 52-48, in four overtimes, dropping its record to 0-3 in the Division II national championship.

Grand Valley State has been the most successful Division II team this decade, winning four national titles (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and finishing runner-up in 2001. The Lakers are making their seventh appearance in the semifinals and fourth in the last five years.

Saturday's meeting will be just the second between the Eagles and Lakers. C-N defeated Grand Valley State, 42-9, in its season opener in 1984.

How they made it to the semifinals:

C-N traveled to Florence, Ala., last Saturday and came away with its first-ever win in Braly Municipal Stadium, defeating No. 5 North Alabama, 24-21, in the quarterfinals.

The Eagles jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter behind a 25-yard touchdown run by senior running back Buck Wakefield (Drummonds, Tenn.) and a 21-yard field goal by Carolos Lopez (Seymour, Tenn.).

The Lions rallied to score the next 14 points to take a 14-10 lead late into the third quarter, but C-N answered with touchdowns on its next two drives, including an 80-yard scoring run by Wakefield that put the Eagles ahead for good.

C-N finished the day with 353 yards of total offense, including 260 yards on the ground. Wakefield led the way with 160 yards rushing and two touchdowns, making him C-N's all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns with 48.

Grand Valley State punched its ticket to the semifinals by defeating defending national champion Minnesota Duluth, 24-10, in Duluth, Minn.

Minnesota Duluth returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead, but it was all Grand Valley State the rest of the way.

The Lakers' defense held the Bulldogs to a field goal for the remainder of the game and recorded four interceptions. The Grand Valley State offense scored 14 points off those turnovers and went on to outscore Minnesota Duluth 24-3 to pick up the win.

Senior quarterback Brad Iciek completed 14-of-27 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Lakers in the victory. Grand Valley State finished the game with 393 yards of total offense.

Offense

Saturday's contest will feature two of the top offensive teams in the nation. C-N ranks first nationally in rushing offense (349 yards per game), fourth in total offense (486.85) and eighth in scoring offense (39.23 points per game).

The Eagles have amassed more than 500 yards in a game on six different occasions this season, including a school-record 803 yards against Tusculum in their regular season finale on Nov. 7.

Grand Valley State has been just as impressive running its no huddle, one back offense this season. The Lakers are 11th nationally in total offense (458.69), ninth in rushing offense (233.23) and 12th in scoring offense (36.46).

The Lakers have also been one of the most efficient red zone teams as they rank seventh nationally. Grand Valley State has entered the red zone 61 times this season and has scored points on 56 of those possessions.

A pair of 1,000-yard rushers has led the way for C-N this season. Wakefield, a first team All-Super Region 2 selection, has rushed for 1,396 yards and 18 touchdowns in just 10 games.

Senior quarterback Alex Good (Greensboro, N.C.), the Eagles' all-time leader in total offense, has piled up 1,211 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Good, who is a second team All-Super Region 2 performer, has also thrown for 1,758 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Iciek, who is a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist for a third straight year, has been the leader of Grand Valley States offense. The Grandville, Mich., native has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 2,786 yards and 31 touchdowns. Iciek ranks second nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 174.11.

Defense

The Eagles turned in arguably their best defensive effort of the season against North Alabama.

C-N held the Lions to a season-low 277 yards of offense, including minus four yards rushing, which was North Alabama's lowest rushing total since 1987.

The Eagles intercepted Harlon Hill Trophy finalist Harrison Beck three times to set up two of C-N's touchdowns.

C-N is led by two second team All-Super Region 2 selections in senior linebacker Brian Brown (Hartwell, Ga.) and sophomore defensive end Zeke Andrews (Eastman, Ga.) and junior safety Mario Russell (Columbus, Ohio), a first team All-South Atlantic Conference selection.

Brown has recorded 81 tackles this season, including seven for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions.

Andrews leads the team in tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (6.5) and has also tallied three forced fumbles.

Russell leads the team tackles (93), passes defended (17) and forced fumbles (six). He has also recorded on interception.

Grand Valley State will showcase the No. 9 rushing defense in the country as it gives up 83.85 yards per game on the ground. The Lakers have allowed opponents to rush for more than 100 yards just four times this season.

Grand Valley State is also ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 16.08 points per game. The Lakers have held opponents to 10 points or less six times this season.

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year Danny Richard has turned in a stellar season to lead the Lakers. The junior from West Bloomfield, Mich., has tallied 48 tackles, including 17.5 for a loss, and 11 sacks on the season. He has also forced two fumbles and blocked three field goals.

Joining Richard on the first team All-GLIAC defense are defensive lineman Alex Gilde, linebacker Justin Victor and safety Jacob McGuckin.

Gilde has tallied 23 tackles, including five for a loss, and 4.5 sacks in the Lakers 4-3 scheme.

Victor has recorded a team-high 91 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions.

McGuckin is second on the team in tackles with 86 and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with three.