C-N Drops Thriller to TC, 45-44
Nov. 8, 2008
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum's Jeremy Thompson recovered three Carson-Newman turnovers, including a 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter for the winning score as the Pioneers upset the 15th-ranked Eagles 45-44 to win a share of the South Atlantic Conference title Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Both teams now await the word of a possible NCAA Division II Playoff berth. The playoff field will be revealed on Sunday on ESPN News beginning at 3 p.m. (EST).
Tusculum wins its second SAC championship and first since 2003. That 2003 campaign was also the last time the Pioneers defeated their in-state rivals. Carson-Newman and Newberry also claim a share of the league crown.
In one of the wildest finishes in the history of the "Battle of US 11E", Tusculum led 45-38 following Thompson's fumble return with 4:24 remaining in the game. Both teams went three and out on their next possessions and following a Tusculum penalty on a punt, Alex Good connected with Otis Miller on a 43-yard scoring strike with 1:49 left in the contest to cut the deficit to one (45-44). But on the ensuing extra point attempt, Brandon Kelly blocked the game-tying PAT.
TC's Javon Forsett recovered the on-side kick and the Pioneers ran out the clock as Tusculum remained perfect at home (6-0) and winning its 11th-straitght game at Pioneer Field. The last time Tusculum lost at home was to Carson-Newman in 2006 (23-3).
Harlon Hill Trophy candidate Corey Russell accounted for five touchdowns in the victory, including a career-best three rushing and two more passing. Russell went 29-for-51 in the air for 345 yards. He ended the regular season with 4,126 total offensive yards, which are a new school and league record. The previous SAC-best was held by former Gardner-Webb quarterback John Craven in 1992 (3,993).
But as good as Russell was, C-N's Good was equal to the task as he rushed for 169 yards and four touchdowns, while passing for 224 yards and two scores.
Both teams amassed almost 1,000 yards offensively on the day as C-N won the yardage battle 576-413, but three Carson-Newman turnovers resulted into a pair of Tusculum scores.
Ryan Tallent led all receivers with 11 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown. Jarrell NeSmith finished with eight grabs for 72 yards, while Nate Binder added six catches for 82 yards and a TD.
Russell, who has rushed for over 100 yards in two of his last three games, was limited to only 43 yards on the ground, but his three TD rushes are a career-best.
The Tusculum defense had only 15 players record a tackle on the afternoon, including Justin Scott as he finished with a dozen stops and forced a pair of fumbles. He also finished with a tackle for loss, which was his 49th of his career, establishing a new school record.
Thompson recovered both of the C-N fumbles, returning the first Carson-Newman miscue 31 yards to the C-N 3, setting up a Russell one-yard run in the first quarter to give TC a 10-0 advantage. Thompson, who tallied seven tackles on the afternoon, posted an interception in the third quarter to stop a C-N drive.
Also rushing for over 100 yards for the Eagles was Dewayne Mims as he ran for 103 yards on 10 carries.
Brian Brown led the C-N defensive efforts with nine tackles, including two for loss, while Otis Ballard finished with seven stops, including two hits behind the line of scrimmage.
Tusculum scored on the first possession of the game as the Pioneers cashed in on a 30-yard field goal by Gareth Rowlands. TC took advantage of a C-N fumble on its next possession scoring on Russell's quarterback keeper for a 10-0 lead.
The Eagles (7-3, 5-2 SAC), who lead the nation in rushing offense, showed why as Good sprinted up the right sideline for a 49-yard touchdown. Joey Scribner-Howard's extra-point drew the Eagles to within three at 10-7 at the 2:06 mark of the first quarter.
The Pioneers answered on their next drive as Russell led his team on an eight-play, 80-yard drive, including a 21-yard TD pass to Binder in the back of the end zone and a 17-7 lead.
C-N stalled on its next possession and punter Chris Jones' kick into a 16 mph win was downed at the TC 31. Russell found Calvin Britt on a 37-yard pass to the C-N 32. Later in the drive, Russell connected with Tallent on goal line as TC took its biggest lead of the day at 24-7 with 7:31 left before halftime.
But Carson-Newman responded yet again as the Eagles went 80 yards on nine plays with Good connecting with Reggie Hubbard on a 41-yard touchdown pass as TC led 24-14.
The Pioneers were pinned on their next possession with the drive stalling at the TC 29. But punter John Gregory answered with a 71 yard punt into the end zone with 1:26 left in the half. The Eagles would drive deep into TC territory thanks to passes of 54 and 23 yards from Good to Buck Wakefield as C-N got the four-yard line. Scribner-Howard connected on a 29-yard field goal as time expired as Tusculum's lead was cut to 24-17 at the intermission.
As it was all day, the wind was a factor and Chris Jones' punt in the 16 mph gust gave Tusculum the ball at the C-N 40. Russell would move the Pioneers up 31-17 on his eight-yard dive for the end zone.
That would trigger the offensive fireworks in the third quarter as the two teams traded touchdowns. Wakefield sprinted on a 53-yard scamper to the TC 13, setting up Good's one-yard run. TC answered on their next possession as the Pioneers went 59 yards on five plays, including Russell's third touchdown rush of the day, this one from three yards out and a 38-24 lead.
On the first play of their next possession, Mims rambled 62 yards to the TC 18 and Good would wrap up the drive with a one-yard dive at the 4:43 mark of the quarter to trim the deficit to 38-31. Tusculum would take its next possession into C-N territory, but Rowlands' 51-yard field goal attempt was wide right. But two plays later, Thompson snatched an Alex Good pass out of the air for the interception.
Tusculum looked to put the game away early in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers drove to the C-N 16. But Revel Coffey intercepted Russell in the end zone to give his team new life.
They wouldn't have to wait long as Good sprinted up the sideline and scored from 80 yards out. Scribner-Howards' PAT tied the game at 38-38.
With seven minutes left in the game, C-N took over in great field position at its own 44-yard line. The Eagles would get across midfield, but on second down, Good was hit by Scott, coughing up the football, which was picked up by Thompson as he ran 55 yards for the game-winning score.
