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GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Ryan Tallent
scored on a 53-yard scoring strike from quarterback Collin
Wigely with 18.4 seconds remaining as Team Orange rallied
to a 33-33 tie against Team Black in the Tusculum College Spring
Football Game Thursday night at Pioneer Field.
The Orange and Black game used a special scoring system that
credited the defense (Team Black) with points on turnovers,
three-and-outs, and defensive stops while the offense (Team Orange)
earned points using the traditional scoring method. The first half
was dominated by Team Black, while Team Orange bounced back in the
second half, including a pair of scoring drives in the final two
minutes of the fourth quarter.
Wigely (Newport Beach, Calif.) passed for 257 yards and three
touchdowns, going 16-for-29, but was intercepted three times,
including twice by T.J. Jones (Duncan, S.C.).
Rising senior signal caller Altorien Reed (Darien,
Ga.) had an outstanding night as he passed for 195 yards and a pair
of scores. Reed went 17-of-37 and an interception.
Tallent, a rising senior receiver from Maryville, Tenn., finished
with seven receptions for 106 yards. Deonte' Gist
(Wellford, S.C.) was the top target of the night for Wigely and
Reed as he made 11 catches for 118 yards. Maryville, Tenn. native
Tyler Clendenen added five receptions for 43 yards
and a TD, while Michael Rodriguez (Columbia, S.C.) made five grabs
for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Rising senior Chris
Young (Ringgold, Ga.) also made a pair of receptions for
43 yards, including an acrobatic 35-yard TD catch in the fourth
quarter.
The Tusculum defense posted a solid night's work, forcing five
turnovers, including four interceptions. Along with Jones' two
picks, Antonio Johnson (Olive Branch, Miss.) and
Kevin Funches (Kansas City, Kan.) also recorded an
interception for Team Black.
The defense put a lot of pressure on the signal callers, recording
numerous sacks, including two each by Jeremy Jones
(Marietta, Ga.), Robert Hogg (Kingsport, Tenn.),
Terrence Smith (Riverdale, Ga.) and Miles
Washington (Concord, Calif.). Miami, Fla. defensive
lineman David Little also forced and recovered a
fumble to go along with a sack. Washington finished the night as
the top tackler with seven stops, while Mason
Fowler (Dacula, Ga.) added six hits and Smith recorded
five tackles in the game.
The kicking game had an exceptional night for the Pioneers.
All-American punter John Gregory (Ooltewah, Tenn.)
handled the kicking chores for both teams, averaging 46.2 yards per
punt on his 10 attempts, including four of 50 yards or more. Rising
junior Gareth Rowlands (Wales, Great Britain) was
perfect on his five extra point attempts, including two simulated
PAT of 40 and 50 yards.
"This was truly a great night for Tusculum football," said head
coach Frankie DeBusk. "There were too many
mistakes made tonight to win a championship, but definitely enough
big plays on both sides of the ball to know that we have a chance
to be a special football team with so much athleticism."
The Orange and Black Game wraps up the spring practice season for
the Pioneers. "Our coaching staff has worked very hard for 15
practices and it showed by the effort and enthusiasm shown in
tonight's scrimmage," added DeBusk.
The Pioneers will open the 2009 campaign, Saturday, Aug. 29 as
Tusculum travels to the U