GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College football team
has wrapped up one of the most successful gridiron campaigns in
school history.
The Pioneers (9-4) established 48 team and individual records this
year while capturing the program's second South Atlantic Conference
championship. Tusculum won four of its last five games, while
earning the program's first-ever NCAA Division II Playoff berth. TC
finished with a school record nine wins, matching the victory tally
of the 2003 squad that also won a share of the SAC title.
Tusculum's "Showtime" offense produced some amazing numbers that
future Pioneer teams will be aiming for in years to come. The
Pioneers scored a school-record 452 points this season, thanks to
62 touchdowns, including a TC-best 37 passing scores. Tusculum also
established school records in pass attempts (523), passing yards
(4,179), total offensive plays (917), total offensive yards (5788),
first downs (298), extra points (51) and extra point attempts
(61).
The TC defense excelled with school records in fumbles recovered
(19), fumbles forced (21) and punting average (42.7). Tusculum also
established records for home wins (7), consecutive home wins (12),
consecutive quarters scored (20) and games played in a season
(13).
Leading the Tusculum offense was SAC Offensive Player of the Year
Corey Russell. The senior quarterback from
Speedwell, Tenn. has peppered his name throughout the Tusculum, SAC
and NCAA II record books.
Russell, one of eight national finalists for the Harlon Hill
Trophy, set 15 Tusculum records this year, including a pair of NCAA
II bests. He recorded 300 or more total offensive yards on 11
occasions this season, which were the best in DII history. He
recorded 674 total offensive plays, which are a new NCAA II record.
The All-SAC First Team signal caller established league
single-season records in total offensive yards (4907) passing yards
(4097) and touchdown passes (37). He also set TC season records for
completions (301) and pass attempts (505).
Russell caps one of the most successful careers in Division II
history. His 11,315 total offensive yards are the most ever by a
Pioneer, second in SAC history and ninth in NCAA II history. He
also set career marks in pass attempts (1382), completions (773),
passing yards (9887), touchdown passes (82), touchdowns accounted
for (103), interceptions (49) and total offensive attempts
(1853).
Junior receiver Ryan Tallent established a pair
of school records himself, both coming on the last offensive play
of the season for Tusculum. Tallent, a native Maryville, Tenn.,
hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of
Saturday's 27-19 road loss at No. 4 Delta State in the second round
of the DII playoffs. That catch was his 92nd this year, tying the
all-time single-season mark with former All-American wideout
Kevin Wolcott. The two-time All-SAC First Team
standout also tied a school season record with nine TD receptions
this year, matching the mark set by junior teammate Nate
Binder (Maidstone, Ontario, Canada) who also grabbed nine
scoring tosses in his inaugural Pioneer campaign.
Sophomore receiver Calvin Britt (Augusta, Ga.)
averaged 25.1 yards per reception, surpassing the previous school
record he set in 2007.
The Minister of Defense for Tusculum has been two-time All-SAC
linebacker Justin Scott (Jamestown, S.C.). Scott
pushed his name into the record book in tackles for loss in a
season (22) and a career (51). His seven career fumble recoveries
are the most ever in Tusculum history. Also on defense, TJ Jones
put his name in the r