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Tusculum listed in final 2014 NCAA football statistics

Tusculum listed in final 2014 NCAA football statistics

INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College football team is listed in four statistical categories, while four Pioneers are listed individually with the release of the final 2014 NCAA Division II national statistics.

Junior wide receiver and return specialist Justin Houston is mentioned in three individual categories including a South Atlantic Conference best 6.0 receptions per game, which is listed 38th in the nation.

The 5-8, 180-pound product from Cleveland, Tennessee, led the Pioneers in receiving for a second straight year with 66 receptions (11th in TC history) for 643 yards (3rd in SAC) and four touchdowns. The two-time All-SAC first team selection also led TC in all-purpose yardage in consecutive seasons with 1,130 yards (7th in SAC), including his 473 kickoff return yards on 17 attempts (27.8 ypr - 2nd in SAC/18th in NCAA II).

The 2013 All-American accounted for a career game against North Greenville University as he finished with a school record 17 catches for 199 yards (3rd in TC history). His 199-yard performance was the tenth 100-yard game of his career, which are third most in school history.

Earlier this year, the 2014 Beyond Sports Network All-Region selection became the program's all-time receptions leader and currently has 216 career catches to his credit. He is third in school history with 2,383 receiving yards and sixth with 15 career touchdown receptions. After three seasons at TC, Houston is now fourth all-time with 3,563 all-purpose yards, fourth in kickoff return yards (1,164), fourth in kickoff returns (49) and fourth in kickoff return average (23.76 ypr).

Houston has scored 18 total touchdowns in his career (T10th in TC history), including a school record three kickoff returns. He returned a 65-yarder for a score in this year's season-opener against the College of Faith and a 91-yarder against Carson-Newman. His two kickoff returns for touchdowns this year are tied for the most in NCAA Division II this season.

Senior defensive end Caushaud Lyons recorded one of the finest seasons ever by a TC defensive lineman. The 6-5, 295-pounder from Ellenwood, Georgia led the Pioneers with 89 tackles, which are a new school single-season record for a defensive lineman. Of those stops, 19 were for loss, which are the second most in TC history and most by a Pioneer lineman. His 1.5 tackles for loss per game average led the SAC and were 40th in the country.

The 2014 All-South Atlantic Conference first team and consensus All-Region pick averaged 8.1 tackles per game, which are most in the South Atlantic Conference and Super Region 2 for defensive linemen and fourth most in the nation (NCAA II). His 8.1 tackles for loss are third in the league overall. He also averaged 0.77 sacks per contest, which is second in the SAC and 38th in NCAA II.

In 2014, he recorded 10 or more tackles on four occasions, including a career-high 15 stops against Carson-Newman. A week later, he posted seven tackles, including four for loss and two sacks in Tusculum's 14-10 road win at Wingate. Against the Bulldogs, he made five quarterback hurries and broke up a pass. He was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week and the Tennessee Sportswriters Association College Player of the Week.

Lyons wraps up his collegiate career with 181 tackles, which are a new Tusculum record for a defensive lineman. His 28 career tackles for loss are 10th in school history and second most by a TC lineman. His 13 career sacks are tied for seventh in program history (3rd for defensive lineman). He also was credited for two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four passes defended, including an interception.

Lyons finished one of eight national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II lineman in the country. He is also national finalist for the 2014 Cliff Harris Award, which honors the top small college defensive player of the year for NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA. The Harris Award winner will be announced Dec. 24.

Senior receiver JohnathanDiliberto led the league with his 21.42 yards per reception, which finished 15th highest in the nation. Diliberto, a 5-10, 185-pound product from Lexington, Kentucky, accounted for 24 receptions for 514 yards and a team-best six touchdowns in his senior campaign. His 21.42 yards per catch average is also the third-best in program history.

Diliberto wraps up his Tusculum career with 1,211 receiving yards (16th in TC history) on 73 receptions, including 15 touchdowns, which are tied for the sixth most in Pioneer history. His 16.59 career yards per reception average is also the sixth highest in the Tusculum record book.

Junior linebacker Mike Mosah led the Pioneers with his three fumble recoveries, which are the second most in the conference and 10th in NCAA II. He recovered two fumbles against North Greenville University on Sep. 20, including one which he returned for a 72-yard touchdown, the third longest return in Tusculum history.

The 6-0, 200-pound Memphis, Tennessee native finished the season with 50 tackles, including four tackles for loss, forced a fumble and blocked a kick.

The Pioneers led the South Atlantic Conference in red zone defense allowing teams to score 66.7 percent of the time they entered inside the 20-yard line. That percentage was also 19th in the country. The Tusculum defense also allowed only 134.9 passing yards per game, which was second in both the conference and the nation. TC also boasted the No. 2 kickoff return average in the land at 21.98 yards per return, which is 42nd in the NCAA II.

Tusculum finished the season with a 6-5 overall record, including a 4-3 league mark to finish in sole possession of third place in the conference. After starting the year 1-4, the Pioneers rebounded by winning five of their final six contests, including a four-game winning streak to conclude the 2014 campaign.

- TC -

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