JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Thomas Night Hawks traveled to the Volunteer State to open the 2026 season against NCAA D-II Carson-Newman on Thursday night.
After the Eagles struck first with a touchdown, the Night Hawks began to put a drive together. On third and long, Freshman
Connor Langford found fellow freshman
Artavious Crews for a 15-yard gain for a first down.
Following a three-yard gain from
Roshaun Dudley, Langford stepped back and tried to connect with Crews again, but the pass fell incomplete, however, a pass interference penalty set up Thomas in Carson-Newman territory.
The drive ended up stalling, but
Wyatt Waddell managed to pin the Eagles inside their 20-yard line. After a quick six-yard gain, Carson-Newman ripped off a 10-yard run. However, a well-placed hit from
AJ Traylor knocked the ball loose and
Gavin Thigpen fell on it to give Thomas the ball just outside the red zone.
Facing a third and nine, Langford stepped back to throw and the safety read the young quarterback's eye and picked off the pass.
The Night Hawk defense continued to make things tough for the Eagles, after failing to hold them on third down earlier in the drive. Thomas forced them into a third and long situation. Carson-Newman tried to go up the middle, but
Justin Ames and
Terrell Seward met the runner in the gap to force a field goal.
On the ensuing Night Hawk drive, they faced a third and seven, and Langford found
Kingsten Jackson for the first down as the quarter came to an end.
After an incomplete pass to start the second. Dudley barreled his way through for a 16-yard carry. However, drive came to a halt on third down after Langford's pass was intercepted at the Eagle 27.
The Thomas defense held strong, forcing a three and out to give the Night Hawks the ball back.
Both teams traded punts for the next couple of possessions, until Carson-Newman faced third and long from their own 34. The Eagle quarterback step back to throw, but Rio Grande transfer
Nate Lopez made an impressive interception to give Thomas the ball back in prime position.
However, the turnover bug also struck the Night Hawks as another interception stopped the drive in its tracks. Carson-Newman then drove down and scored a touchdown before halftime.
The Eagles got the ball to start the half, and they made their way to just outside the red zone, until Cameron Thomas ripped the ball from the running back to force the third turnover of the game by the Night Hawks. However, a three and out gave the ball back to Carson-Newman.
After holding the Eagles again, the offense trotted back out and on third down, a fumble recovered in the end zone resulted in a touchdown for Carson-Newman.
Thomas continued to fight throughout the game, but it was not enough as they fell to the Eagles.
The Night Hawks saw several strong individual performances. Traylor finished with 14 total tackles and set the school record for most forced fumbles with three. Freshman
Zakari Henderson also reached double-digit tackles with 11. Finally,
Wilbert Olivera-Munoz came away with a pair of sacks.
Next week, Thomas will return home for the next five weeks as they open their home slate against another NCAA D-II opponent in Erskine College on Sept. 12th at 6:00 p.m at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
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