GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Fernando Smith rushed for a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as Tusculum College rallied from an 11-point deficit to defeat Newberry College 16-14 on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field in South Atlantic Conference football action.
The Pioneers (2-4, 1-2 SAC) snap their four-game losing streak, as well as a four-year drought against the Wolves (2-4, 1-3 SAC).
The two teams combined for nine fumbles on the afternoon, including five lost and two interceptions.
Trailing 14-3 in the final period, the Pioneers marched 80 yards on eight plays capped off by Smith's one-yard plunge on fourth down with 8:01 remaining in the game. Logan Cornelius' kick trimmed the Newberry lead to 14-10. The two big plays of the drive came on a 25-yard roll-out screen pass to Justin Houston to get the NBY 36. That was followed by a sensational 34-yard catch by Deon Hicks at the two-yard-line to set the table for the Pioneers.
The Tusculum defense held the Wolves to three-plays and out on the ensuing series. The punt was blocked by Mike Mosah as the Pioneers took over at the NBY 24 with 5:55 remaining.
TC quarterback Malcolm Pendergrass completed back-to-back passes to Ken Funnye and Houston to the NBY 8. On first and goal, Newberry was penalized for pass interference in the end zone, placing the ball at the two-yard line. Two plays later, Smith dove over the top for his second score of the afternoon to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game with 4:33 left on the clock. The extra point try was no good as TC held on a two-point lead.
Newberry took over at its own 26-yard line as the Wolves moved the ball to midfield, but the Tusculum defense held once again, forcing the visitors to punt with 3:15 remaining.
TC put together three straight running plays to milk time off the clock before punting the football away with 1:39 to go, as the Wolves took over at their own 37.
Tusculum was penalized for pass interference on the first play of the drive moving the ball to the NBY 47. After Newberry was called for a false start infraction, Wolves signal caller Zach Blair was sack for an eight-yard loss by Emmanuel Gbunblee at the NBY 34 with 1:26 remaining.
Following a Newberry timeout, Blair completed a pass over the middle to Cole Watson, but L'Keith Brown forced the Wolves' fifth fumble of the afternoon and was recovered by Gbunbleee at the NBY 39 to secure the Tusculum victory.
Tusculum limited Newberry to 244 offensive yards on the afternoon, including 50 passing yards.
Smith finished the game rushing for 85 yards on 22 carries, while Pendergrass passed for 116 yards, going 12-for-25. Houston added six catches for 59 yards, while Hicks finished with four grabs for 50 yards.
Newberry's two touchdowns were the result of Tusculum turnovers. A high snap on a TC punt gave the Wolves the short field at the TC five-yard line early in the game. Dureal Elmore ran it in from there as Kyle Clark's extra-point gave the Wolves a 7-0 lead at the 9:35 mark of the first quarter.
Later in the quarter, Mosah forced an Elmore fumble, which was recovered by Chaz Moulder at the NBY 28 setting up the Pioneers in great position. The TC drive stalled at the NBY 12 as Cornelius connected on a 30-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 7-3 with 1:36 left in the quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Newberry's A.J. Booker recovered a Tusculum fumbles and returned it for an 11-yard touchdown as the Wolves extended their lead to 14-3 as that would be the score into the intermission.
Tusculum committed back-to-back turnovers in the third quarter, but Newberry could not capitalize. The first turnover came when Pendergrass was picked off at the TC 48 by Devin Kelly. But on fourth down and two-yards to go from the TC 19, Elmore was stopped at the line of scrimmage by seniors LiRonta Archie and Rocky Jones as TC took over on downs.
But TC gave the ball back on the very next play as Edmond
Robinson came up with the loose football at the TC 23. But the
Tusculum defense held once again and Clark's 22-yard field went
wide right in the sloppy conditions with 13:48 left in the game
setting the stage for Tusculum's comeback.
Archie tied a career-high with his 14 tackles, while also recording
his sixth career interception, tying him for fifth-most in program
history. Brown added 12 tackles, including two for loss and a
fumble, while Caushaud Lyons and Dominic James made seven tackles
each.
Robinson led the Wolves with nine tackles, including two for loss and a fumble recovery, while Brett Borders finished with nine tackles as well.
Tusculum will host arch-rival Carson-Newman University next Saturday for homecoming at Pioneer Field. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
- TC -