Brevard, N.C. – The Brevard College Tornados football team is coming off their second loss of the season, yet look to be more confident than ever heading into their first contest versus a South Atlantic Conference opponent in Mars Hill this Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

 

“We were in that game until the very end on Saturday night,” commented Head Coach Paul Hamilton.  “It was a tough one to lose but now it is time to come together as a team, regroup and prepare for Mars Hill on Saturday.”

 

In their home opener last Saturday in front of approximately 3500 fans, the Tornados quickly showed both Shorter College and the home crowd that they are not the same team as a year ago.

 

In the 2006 match-up between Shorter and BC, the Tornados only managed to gain 83 total yards of offense in the 39-7 loss against the stingy Hawks’ defense.  Last week, the BC offense posted 264 yards of total offense, including 230 of those yards coming on the ground by way of the running game.

 

Newcomer John Taylor shouldered most of the load for the Tornados offense as he rushed for 218 yards on 30 carries for an average of 7.2 yards per carry.  Taylor punched the ball into the end zone three times last week, including a 70 yard touchdown scamper through the Hawks defense late in the second quarter which brought all the fans throughout Brevard Memorial Stadium to their feet.

 

Taylor’s 30 carries, 218 yards and three rushing touchdowns were the most for a BC running back in one game in their brief history of fielding a football team as a four-year institution.

 

The Tornado offense will look to help Taylor and the running game this week as theyattempt to regain some of their run-pass balance from week one versus UVA Wise.  At that game, they passed for 218 yards, helping to provides some rest to the BC running backs and keep the defense on their toes.

 

Verses Shorter, the Tornados only managed 34 yards through the air, relying heavily on the run offense to get the job done.

 

The Tornados defense continues to improve each week and is lead by the linebacking corps.  Sophomores Stanley Jones, Devin Simpson and ReShaun Parks continue to make plays, as they combined for a total of 33 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in the Shorter loss.

 

The BC defense continues to cause turnovers as in their first two games BC has picked off one pass and forced three fumbles and will look to do the same in this week’s match up with the Lions of Mars Hill..

 

The Tornados defense will once again face a run first opponent in Mars Hill, as the Lions rushed for 163 yards on 49 carries in their 22-9 victory over Saint Augustine’s last week. 

 

The Lions (1-0) are led by running back Chappell Rose, who has rushed for 137 yards on 24 carries in one game thus far this season.  Rose also scored both of Mars Hills’ touchdowns in their season opening victory.

 

In last year’s meeting the Lions roared past the Tornados, rushing for 279 yards and passing for 277 yards in a 55-0 victory over a very inexperienced BC squad.

 

The Saturday afternoon game will be the home opener for the Mars Hill Lions, as they open their newly renovated football stadium for the first time for the 1:30 p.m. kickoff.

 

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