Staff report
SALISBURY — Catawba’s football team is preparing for an important road game on Saturday at Carson-Newman.
Sure, every week is important in a football season — they don’t play that many games — but this is a super-important South Atlantic Conference game that doesn’t need any extra hype. Both teams are serious contenders in the SAC with three games left. Both are 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the league.
Kickoff is at 1 p.m at historic Burke-Tarr Stadium in Jefferson City, Tenn. Carson-Newman attracted 4,000 fans for last week’s homecoming romp against UVA Wise, so this game may bring in a similar throng. That’s a big home-field edge for the Eagles, who have won eight straight in front of the home folks.
It will be the SAC’s best offense (the Indians) against the SAC’s best defense (the Eagles). Those match-ups of an irresistible force against an unmovable object are always intriguing. This one promises to be.
Catawba quarterback Preston Brown is very experienced and very good and has stayed healthy. His completion percentage — 72 percent — is astounding, third in the nation. Catawba head coach Tyler Haines puts a lot in Brown’s hands with RPOs (run/pass option plays), and Brown has delivered a super season.
Catawba has the best stable of running backs in the SAC when everyone is healthy. They haven’t been lately, but Marquece Williams, the third guy on the depth chart, is as good as most starters. He was terrific last week as the Indians mauled Tusculum 38-3.
There’s also Catawba’s offensive line. Carson-Newman head coach Ashley Ingram insists they’re as good as any unit the Eagles will face all season.
Catawba’s defense is good, while Carson-Newman’s offense is good. Carson-Newman quarterback Zane Whitson accounted for five touchdowns last week on his way to SAC Offensive Player of the Week accolades. He can be an explosive runner when he gets loose.
Catawba is still the only team that has beaten Newberry in the league. The Indians lost to Wingate and Emory & Henry.
Carson-Newman also lost to Emory & Henry and dropped an overtime game against Mars Hill that the Eagles would like to have back.
Carson-Newman owns significant SAC wins against Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne.
Carson-Newman has won six of the last 10 meetings with the Indians, including a close one in 2024. Carson-Newman has won 14 of the last 18 played in Jefferson City, Tenn.
Carson-Newman is favored by seven points. Catawba is the underdog mostly because of the venue, and is given a 29 percent win probability by the Massey Ratings.
