Better Know the Opponent, Week Four: Catawba
This is the fourth in a 10-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football’s opponents for the 2014 season. This feature breaks down the Eagles’ week four contest – Sept. 27 at Catawba.
Catawba was the only team not named Lenoir-Rhyne to defeat Carson-Newman during the 2013 season. The Indians handed the Eagles a 25-22 defeat in Burke-Tarr Stadium – just Catawba’s third win on the road in the series since 1980.
Much of the Indians core nucleus returns; however, a defensive stalwart is out of the mix.
Eight starters are back on offense, plus seven return on defense to form a good grouping that could well improve on last year’s 6-5 record. The Indians will be without the services of All-American safety LJ McCray, who has spent his summer in the San Francisco 49ers camp.
Offensively, Catawba sees quarterback Danny O’Brien exit after one season (he transferred in for his senior year from Wisconsin) and move on to play professionally in the CFL. O’Brien completed 68 percent of his passes last year for 2,490 yards. The Indians shouldn’t have to worry much about his replacement, Mike Sheehan had a 135 pass efficiency rating as a reserve last year, while BJ Sherrill – the Indians’ 2012 starter – sat out the season as a redshirt. Sherrill completed 57 percent of his passes two years ago for nearly 2,000 yards.
The Indians also return their top two rushers in Cary Littlejohn – a preseason second team All-SAC selection – and Lee Burgess. The duo combined for 11 rushing touchdowns last year.
Among receivers, the Indians lose all-conference selection Nate Charest, but Carlos Tarrats and his 480 yards and seven scores are back. Tarrats made a sensational 34-yard grab for a score in the game last year that put Catawba ahead by the final margin with 56 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
On the offensive line, all five starters are back for Curtis Walker as he enters the second season as the Indians head man. Taylor Fender is the standout up front, earning preseason All-SAC honors.
Statistically, the Indians had the 12th-best red zone offense in the country last year, scoring 89 percent of the time they took the ball inside the opposition’s 20. However, Catawba didn’t put up beaucoup yards, averaging 390 yards of total offense a game.
On the defensive side of the ball, Catawba brings back two members of its front four from a squad that held Carson-Newman to under 250 yards rushing last year. The Indians were the only team last year to keep an Eagle from rambling off a rush of 20 yards or longer.
Leading the way on the front four is all-conference selection Jonathan Jean. He had eight stops and a sack in the game last year. Jean tallied 39 stops on the year with four sacks.
Arguably the best defender the Indians have is at linebacker. Jason Taylor returns, all-conference accolades in tow, and he brings his 105 tackles from last year with him. He notched a career high 16 tackles in the meeting a year ago.
While the Indians do lose McCray in the secondary, the other three starters are back in Mark McDaniel, Gary Williams and Terence Williams. That’s not to understate the impact McCray had on last year’s game. He blocked Curt Duncan’s potentially game-winning field goal with time expiring. He got his paw on another Duncan field goal AND an extra point. On top of that, he chased down Carson-Newman returner TraShaun Ward to save a touchdown on a kickoff return late, making a touchdown-saving tackle at the Catawba 12 after an 81-yard return.
Terrence Williams is the leading tackler among the returning members of the secondary with 42 stops. McDaniel and Terrence Williams each had an interception last year.
Carson-Newman’s Better Know The Opponent series returns Tuesday with a preview of week five opponent Mars Hill.
