Carson-Newman 45, Shaw 24

August 27, 2005

Raleigh, NC – Junior quarterback Jermonty Kimbrough (5’11, 190, JR/Mobile, AL) broke the school passing record completing 35 of 54 passes for 433 yards, but it was Carson-Newman’s running game that put the game out of reach, as the Bears dropped their season opener 45-24. The outcome snapped the Bears seven game win streak, and also gave them their first season opening setback since the return of football in 2002.

The Eagles veer offense was too much for the Bears as they pounded out 476 yards on 53 attempts. Junior running back Jeremy Arrington (5’11, 175, JR/Lewisburg, NC) led all rusher with 145 yards on 14 carries and J.J. Chatmon (5’9, 200, SR/Cartersville, GA) added 102 yards on 11 carries for the Eagles.

Carson-Newman got on the board first at the 6:51 mark of the 1st quarter on a 23 yard field goal by Mott Brandon (5’11, 180, SR/Seminole, FL). The big play in the first half was Deonte Bolden’s (5’11, 180, SR/DB-Tampa, FL) 71 yard interception return at the 7:08 mark of the second quarter that stopped a SU scoring drive that started on their one yard line. Bolden took advantage of a tipped ball, which destroyed the Bear’s best drive of the first half.

In the second half the Bears out gained the Eagles 350 to 292 in total offensive yards, but it was their 285 rushing yards that dug a whole too deep. The 476 rushing yards was the most given up by a Shaw defense since the return of football in 2002. On the other hand, the Bears 433 passing yards and the 498 total offensive yards were also new school team records. Kenneth Robinson (5’7, 186, JR/WR-Tallahassee, FL) also broke the single game reception record with 10, while Kimbrough also broke the single game completion (35) and attempts (53) record.

SU All American free safety “T” Nunnally (5’11, 178, JR/Danville, NC) had a huge day with six solos and eight assisted tackles, along with one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. The Eagles were led on defense by Eric Rice (5’11, 190, SO/LB-Thomasville, GA) who finished with seven tackles and one sack.

The Bears will travel cross town next weekend to face rival St. Augustine’s College, while the Eagles will travel to Rome, GA to take on West Georgia.