Posted: Nov 03, 2007
With the win, Tusculum climbs back into a first-place tie in the South Atlantic Conference, setting up next week's in-state showdown with nationally-ranked Carson-Newman.
The contest was a defensive struggle as four Tusculum players recorded double-digit tackles, including Jarvis Littlejohn who finished with a career-high 17 stops, while tying a school single-game record with five tackles for loss. Adrian Samples added a career-best 13 stops, including four for loss and a sack, while Brandon Kelley and Jeremy Jones added 10 stops each.
Stan Galbraith led Mars Hill on defense with 10 tackles and returned a blocked extra point for a defensive score. Xavier Jordan had a stellar performance as he accounted for nine tackles, two for loss, forced a fumble, recorded an interception and blocked the extra point that Galbraith scored the defensive PAT.
Tusculum out-gained the Lions in total offense by a 354-303 margin, but Mars Hill dominated the time of possession, controlling the ball for 38:35 (TC had 21:25 time of possession).
Russell went 13-for-40 for 227 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times on the day. Mars Hill's Kenyari Addison tossed for 73 yards on 8-for-21 passing, was intercepted once and was sacked four times.
George Washington led the Mars Hill ground attack 73 yards on 23 carries, while senior Patrick King was Tusculum's top runner with 55 yards on 11 attempts.
Freshman Gareth Rowlands got the Pioneers on the scoreboard first when he kicked a 24-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The field goal capped a 14-play, 86-yard drive.
Mars Hill tied the game just before halftime as the Lions drove to the TC 19. Following a holding penalty that moved the Lions back to the TC 29, kicker Chase Harris connected on a 46-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining to even the score 3-3 at intermission.
MHC took advantage of a Tusculum turnover as DeShun Nesbitt intercepted Russell at the Lions' 12-yard line. On fourth-down and five, punter Adam Bailey took the snap and ran 14 yards to the right side and a MHC first down. On the ensuing play, Addison ran scrambled out of the pocket, got a terrific block and scampered 69 yards for the touchdown. Harris' kick gave the Lions a 10-3 advantage at the 1:44 mark of the third quarter.
Tusculum went three plays and out on its next possession as Mars Hill took over at the MHC 42. The Lions would get to the TC 28 but would turn the ball over on downs. TC gained new life as Russell completed a 17-yard pass to senior Jamichael Caldwell and a 25-yard strike to rookie Cameron Harris to the MHC 30. Russell would hook up with Caldwell one more time, this one on a 30-yard TD strike to bring TC to within one point (10-9). Rowland's extra point attempt was blocked and returned by Jordan. Jordan was stopped at the MHC 30 before he laterally tossed the ball to Galbraith who took it the remaining 70 yards for the defensive two-pointer and a 12-9 Mars Hill advantage with 10:51 left in the game.
Mars Hill looked to have the momentum as the Lions drove across midfield into Tusculum territory on its next series. But the play of the game came when TC's Justin Scott forced a fumble from Addison and was recovered by Littlejohn at the Tusculum 49. On the next play, Britt got behind the MHC secondary and scored on the 51-yard strike from Russell with 7:46 remaining. The extra-point sailed wide right as TC led 15-12 lead with 7:46 left in the game.
Mars Hill went three and out and was forced to punt as Tusculum regained the ball with si
