SALISBURY — Catawba head coach Curtis Walker uses one of the “E” words at every press conference.
Execution.
But Walker offered another “E” word at Tuesday’s luncheon that he rarely employs.
Embarrassed.
“We’re all disappointed and embarrassed with the Wingate game,” Walker said. “When you get shut out at home, you’ve got to pick it up.”
Catawba (2-2, 1-1 SAC) will try to pick it up today at 1:30 p.m. at Shuford Stadium.
The Indians may be facing another rain-drenched game and they definitely will be facing another tough South Atlantic Conference opponent in Newberry (3-1, 1-0 SAC). Catawba will be taking on a team that’s been more impressive than the Indians in the season’s first month and a team that earned a Division II Playoff berth last November.
“Newberry is almost all South Carolina guys and that’s one reason they play together as a team real well,” Catawba guard Tim Pangburn said. “Their defense is always athletic and they’ll move around a lot. They’re also always one of the most physical teams we play.”
Catawba inside linebacker Michael Peppers agreed with that assessment.
“Very physical,” he said. “After a half against Newberry last year, I felt like I’d already played a whole game. We know what we’ll get from them.”
The bottom line is Catawba can’t afford another loss if it’s going to accomplish any major goals in 2015.
Football is a team game with the three phases of operation — offense, defense and special teams — working together to achieve a positive result. Effective offense allows the defense to rest. Effective defense and special teams provide field position and scoring opportunities for the offense.
Coaches never say, “These guys are getting it done, but those guys aren’t,” and Walker didn’t say it out Tuesday. Nor did he point any fingers.
But he didn’t have to. The stat sheet makes it clear how much Catawba’s offense is struggling, and the soggy 17-0 loss to Wingate was only the exclamation point that brought it to everyone’s attention.
The SAC is an eight-team league. Catawba ranks seventh in scoring (15.5 points per game), seventh in yards per game and seventh in first downs. Catawba has just two passing TDs in four games.
Catawba is dead last in the SAC when it comes to converting third downs into first downs. The Indians have succeeded a dismal 28 percent of the time, with 18 successes and 47 failures.
“We haven’t been very good in third-and-long,” Pangburn said. “We’ve got to stay out of negative plays.”
Catawba has visited the red zone 12 times in four games, which is not often enough.
Making matters worse, only four of those dozen trips were finished with touchdowns. On four occasions, Catawba settled for Chad Hollandsworth field goals. The other four times the Indians didn’t score.
“We’ve got to execute better — and that’s everybody,” Walker said. “I believe we will against Newberry. We’ve had good practices. Everyone has been sharp and mentally focused.”
Quarterback Mike Sheehan and receiver Carlos Tarrats, preseason All-SAC picks, are off to slow starts.
Sheehan has thrown for 477 yards and has netted another 125 on the ground. Tarrats has been held — sometimes literally — to 10 catches and 90 receiving yards.
Tarrats averaged 17.1 yards per catch last year. Sheehan’s completion percentage is at 52.3 percent this season. He was a 61.4 percent guy last year.
Catawba has to find a way to get both standouts untracked.
“It’s been frustrating for several weeks, with a lot of double coverage,” Tarrats said. “But I’ll be ready for Saturday.”
Workhorse running back Cary Littlejohn (421 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry) has been Catawba’s most dependable offensive player, but even Littlejohn had a fumble and a dropped shuttle pass on Saturday.
Walker is certain that shuttle pass would’ve produced a touchdown.
Catawba’s offense may get a boost from David Burgess today. The explosive back hasn’t played since he was hurt in the opener.
Defensively, Catawba has been fine — first in the SAC in fumble recoveries and third in sacks.
But the Indians’ defense faces a challenge today.
Newberry has two backs with 300-plus rushing yards and has outrushed opponents substantially — 1,081 yards to 377. Three quarterbacks have played quite a bit. Zach Blair has thrown effectively, while Braxton Ivery has run the ball with success.
Defensively, Newberry’s Wolves are led by senior end Alstevis Squirewell, who produced the football equivalent of hitting for the cycle in last week’s 38-31 win over Tusculum — an interception, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Newberry whipped North Greenville, a team that beat Lenoir-Rhyne.
Newberry also has had some good fortune. The Wolves won 31-28 against Florida Tech when a last-second field goal by Florida Tech caromed off an upright.
Even Newberry’s lone loss — 17-14 to Division I FCS school Jacksonville — is a little scary.
Catawba won 37-34 in two overtimes last season at Newberry — on a Sheehan-to-Tarrats pass.
Newberry routed Catawba in the rain on its last visit to Shuford Stadium two years ago.
Catawba leads the all-time series 39-36-3, but Newberry is 4-2 against Catawba under coach Todd Knight.