INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College football team leads the nation in pass defense according to this week's NCAA Division II statistics.
The Pioneers are allowing just 123.7 passing yards per game, which is the lowest average in the country.
On the offensive side of the football, Tusculum is eighth in the country in pass offense, generating 312.6 yards per contest, which is tops in the South Atlantic Conference. TC is also 12th in fumble recoveries (15), 30th in kickoff return average (22.52) and 47th in passing efficiency (134.56).
Senior receiver Deonte Gist (Wellford, S.C.) is second in the country in receptions per game, averaging 8.78 catches an outing. Gist is also sixth in all-purpose yards (181.44 ypg), eighth in kickoff return average (29.43 ypr), 11th in receiving yards per game (99.00 ypg) and 22nd in total receiving yards (891).
Senior teammate Rashaad Carter (Stone Mountain, Ga.) is 17th in total receiving yards (925) and 21st in receiving yards per game (92.50 ypg).
Gist and Carter established a NCAA II record last week as the senior duo has combined for 404 career receptions in their respective careers, which are the most catches by two players from the same team in DII history. Gist's 205 career receptions are second in school history, while Carter's 199 grabs are fourth. The previous record of 399 was set by Loch Haven's Jon Spinosa (218) and Bryan McGinty (181) from 1993-95.
Sophomore punter Andy Rosetti (Kenneth City, Fla.) is 27th in the nation in punting, averaging 40.29 yards per boot (3rd in SAC). Freshman kicker Logan Cornelius (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is 35th in field goals per game (1.00), while sophomores Kaytron Becton (Miami, Fla.) and Nick Smith (Seymour, Tenn.) are listed 12th and 23rd in the nation in fumble recoveries per game. Becton has accounted for 0.33 recoveries per contest, while Smith is averaging 0.30.
Tusculum (2-8, 1-5 SAC) will close out the regular season this Saturday afternoon when the Pioneers host defending SAC champion Wingate University for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at Pioneer Field. Saturday will be "Senior Day" as 15 Pioneers will be playing in their final collegiate games, including Gist and Carter.
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