JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- Quarterback De'Andre Thomas rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns to lead 19th-ranked Carson-Newman University to a 45-17 South Atlantic Conference win over Tusculum College Saturday at Burke-Tarr Stadium in the Eagles' annual homecoming game.

Both teams combined for over 1,100 yards of total offense, as Carson-Newman (6-1, 3-1 SAC) totaled 628 offensive yards, including 558 on the ground. The Eagles led wire-to-wire while converting on all four of their fourth-down conversions, while the C-N defense forced three turnovers.

Tusculum (3-4, 1-3 SAC) generated 487 offensive yards, including Bo Cordell's 360-yard performance through the air. Cordell's pursuit of the NCAA Division II passing yardage record will have to wait one more game as Cordell is now 33 yards shy (14,700) of the all-time mark set by 14,733 yards posted by West Liberty's Zach Amedro (2007-2010).

Tusculum linebacker Brian Alexander recorded a career-high 20 tackles, tying for second-most stops in a game by a Pioneer. Alexander's 331 career tackles are now the second most in TC history, just nine shy of the program record 340 posted by Jacques Sessions from 1991-94.

TC sophomore Justin Houston was the Pioneers top target as he finished with 10 receptions for a career-high 162 yards. Houston recorded his 100th career reception and eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in the same contest. Houston would lead all players with a career-best 234 all-purpose yards (162 receiving, 72 kickoff returns),

Alexander was one of four Pioneers to record 10 or more tackles. Dustin Lane added a dozen tackles, while Chaz Moulder recorded a career-high 11 stops. LiRonta Archie posted 10 tackles, while Wayne Soliai and Josh Davis contributed eight tackles each.

C-N's Brandon Baker rushed for 141 yards on 14 carries, including a pair of touchdowns, while Andy Hibbett added 74 yards on five carries and a pair of scoring runs.

C'Ns Jaycoby Coleman led the Eagles' defense with 17 tackles, including a sack, while Jonathan Sites added nine tackles, including one for loss.

On its first possession of the game, the Pioneers went three and out deep in its own territory and were forced to punt. TraShaun Ward returned the ensuing kick 21 yards to the TC 29-yard line. Baker would score on his first touch of the game when he scampered three yards to the end zone and a 7-0 Eagle lead at the 11:40 mark of the first quarter.

Tusculum answered with an 11-play, 65-yard drive that stalled at the C-N 10. Logan Cornelius came on and drilled a 27-yard field goal as TC cut the deficit to 7-3. Cornelius remains perfect on the season connecting on all four of his field goal tries in 2013.

Neither team could muster a scoring threat on their next possessions. After receiving a TC punt, the Eagles would get to their own 28-yard line and faced fourth down and a yard to go. C-N converted on a three-yard run by Tyron Douglas. On the next play, Baker rambled up the middle for a 69-yard touchdown and a 14-3 C--N lead with 2:42 remaining in the quarter.

Tusculum drove into C-N territory once again thanks to a 31-yard pass from Cordell to Houston. Cordell completed a 10-yard pass to Ken Funnye as he sprinted to the CN 20, but while attempting to pick up extra yardage, the football was stripped by C-N's Greg Beauduy and recovered by teammate Javaris Neal to stop the TC drive.

On the first play of the second quarter, Thomas fumbled the football and recovered by Moulder at the TC 43.

Isaac Robinson rushed for a 29-yard gain up the sideline and Cordell found Deon Hicks in the right corner of the end zone for a 28-yard TD with 14:31 left before halftime. Cornelius' extra point pulled the Pioneers to within 14-10.

Thomas answered almost single-handedly with a 33-yard run into TC territory. The following play Thomas sprinted in for the 32-yard touchdown and extended the C-N advantage to 21-10 with 13:05 left on the clock.

The Pioneers once again drove into Carson-Newman territory, but were unable to get into scoring position and would be forced to punt. The Eagles mounted a 15-play, 57-yard drive that took almost nine minutes off the clock. On fourth down and two yards to go with 2:34 left before the intermission, the Eagles were flagged for a false start. All-American kicker Curt Duncan came on to attempt a 39-yard field goal, but his kick was blocked at Alexander.

The Pioneers looked to cut into the Carson-Newman lead and drove across midfield. But Cordell would be sacked at midfield and fumbled the ball as the Eagles recovered with less than a minute to play in the half. C-N would be unable to mount a threat as the Eagles took the 21-10 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, Carson-Newman scored 24 unanswered points as Hibbett scored on runs of 10 and 52 yards, while Thomas added his second TD of the day on his 15-yard scamper. Duncan capped the C-N scoring with a 19-yard field goal late in the game.

Cordell completed a 12-yard TD pass to Wesley Powell on the Pioneers' final possession of the game to provide the final scoring margin in the 43rd installment of the Battle of US 11 E.

Tusculum running back Fernando Smith ran for 75 yards on 13 carries, while also posting 19 yards on two receptions. Robinson finished with 60 yards on his seven attempts, while Powell posted 66 yards on his four receptions.

The Pioneers return home next Saturday to take on Wingate University for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff from Pioneer Field.

- TC -