Former Soddy Daisy Kevin Day as a redshirt freshman is the starting center for the Carson-Newman football team, which has reached the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Two other local players have been instrumental in the team's success.
Day will be starting his 11th game on Saturday when the Eagles face West Alabama.
Carson Newman started the season with two losses, then went on to win nine straight. The Eagles wrapped up their 21st South Atlantic Conference title and are only four games away from their sixth national championship.
Day was listed as the third center on the roster in camp this past summer, but he worked hard and adjusted quickly to the speed of the game. After an injury to a fifth-year senior in the first game, the coaches moved the starting center to tackle. Then Day beat out a fourth-year senior for the starting job.
Reggie Hubbard (Fort Oglethorpe) is playing his final season as a starting receiver.
Also, a true freshman from Ooltewah High School, Qua Jackson is playing on the defensive line.
The game is at Carson Newman with a 1 p.m. kickoff.