GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Isaac Robinson rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown to lead Tusculum College to a 26-17 upset win over 23rd-ranked Wingate University Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field in TC's annual homecoming game.

The Pioneers (3-3, 2-2 SAC) hand the Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1 SAC) their first loss of the season as TC records its first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent since 2008 (45-44 home win over No. 15 Carson-Newman).

Tusculum racked up 26 points and 511 yards (268 passing, 243 rushing) against NCAA Division II's top scoring defense (5.6 ppg) and DII's No. 4 total defense, which allowed only 196 yards per game entering today's South Atlantic Conference clash.

The Tusculum defense limited Wingate to 248 yards offensively, including 82 yards by the league's second leading rusher Lawrence Pittman.

Robinson, who established a school single-game record with 250 rushing yards last week at Brevard College, followed that outing with the ninth-best rushing performance in Tusculum history. Robinson averaged seven yards per carry on his 28 attempts. He also hauled in a 16-yard reception as he finished with over 200 all-purpose yards for a second straight week.

TC sophomore quarterback Luke Lancaster passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 16 yards on four carries. Senior Justin Houston accounted for a game-high eight receptions for 44 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior linebacker Quez Gaines led the Pioneers in tackling for a second consecutive game as he totaled nine stops, including two behind the line of scrimmage.

Wingate's Kameron Johnson led the Bulldog defense with his 14 tackles, including one for loss, forced a fumble and made two pass break-ups.

Tusculum took its opening possession of the game and marched 93 yards on 19 plays in 7:53 capped off by a seven-yard TD pass from Lancaster to Houston. Will Tommie's kick went wide left as the Pioneers led 6-0.

That lead would last until early in the second quarter as Kyle Johnson connected on a 19-yard touchdown toss to Jake Jenson. Caleb Baird's kick gave the Bulldogs the lead at 7-6 with 9:36 remaining before halftime.

Tusculum wasted little time regaining the lead as Lancaster connected on a 76-yard pass down the field to freshman Ken Drummond for his second TD catch this year at the 8:28 mark of the second quarter. It is tied for the 14th longest pass play in program history and Lancaster's third pass covering more than 70 yards this season. Tommie's kick made it a 13-7 TC advantage.

TC held defensively on Wingate's ensuing possession forcing a Bulldog punt. But on the return, Cody Cothren applied a hard hit on TC punt returner Evan Altizer, causing a fumble which was recovered by WU's Jackson Trawick at the TC 25. Five plays later, Wingate regained the lead on Johnson's four-yard run with 4:20 remaining in the half.

Both teams would get the ball down the stretch before heading to the locker room with Wingate leading 14-13.
Late in the third quarter, Wingate punter Christopher Birozes pinned the Pioneers inside their two-yard. Tusculum got out of the shadow of its own end zone as Altizer made an outstanding over-the-shoulder catch on the near sideline for a 40-yard completion from Lancaster. Lancaster and Altizer connected on passes covering 12 and 10 yards. The nine-play, 98-yard drive was ended on Robinson's 16-yard run for the go-ahead touchdown and a 19-14 TC lead. The two-point conversion try was no good as Tusculum held onto the five-point lead with 1:35 left in the quarter.

Wingate drove down the field on its next possession, while converting on a third down and a fourth-and-three yards to go at the TC 22. Tusculum kept Wingate out of the end zone as Baird hit a 27-yard field goal with 11:20 left in the game to trim the TC lead to 19-17.

Robinson churned out runs of 26 and 16 yards on the next TC possession to get deep into Wingate territory. The nine-play, 66-yard drive was capped off by Lancaster's two-yard pass to Houston as TC extended its lead (26-17) to a two-possession game with 7:46 remaining.

Tusculum's defense held Wingate to a three plays and out on the next possession, while the Pioneer offense milked the remaining 6:04 off the clock to preserve the TC victory and its second straight win over the Bulldogs.

During that final possession, senior Ken Funnye made his fifth reception of the game. With his catch, he and Houston have tied the NCAA II record for most receptions in a career from two receivers from the same team (Houston 270, Funnye 147). The TC duo matches the 417 receptions made by fellow NCAA II record holders Rashaad Carter (210) and Deonte Gist (207) from 2008-2011.

TC defensive lineman D'Andre Johnson tallied seven tackles including one for loss, while senior linebacker Mike Mosah tallied five stops, including a game-best three for loss.

Kyle Johnson finished the game going 15-of-22 for 129 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 26 yards and a TD.

Tusculum will travel to North Greenville University next week for a 2:30 p.m. non-conference contest in Tigerville, South Carolina.

- TC -