DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- Five Tusculum football student-athletes helped the American All-Stars to a 48-13 win over the National All-Stars in the 2017 National Bowl played at the Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The American squad led wire-to-wire and used a 28-point second quarter in routing the National team. The American defense, paced by Tusculum linebackers Matt Simon and L'Keith Brown, limited the National offense to 152 yards on the day, including minus-17 rushing yards and forced seven turnovers.
Simon finished tied for the team lead with four solo tackles, while Brown posted one tackle and an interception in the second quarter which he returned 13 yards to set up his team's third TD of the afternoon.
Tusculum punter Hunter Cantrell averaged 38.3 yards on his three kicks, with a long of 41 yards and one which was downed inside the 20-yard line. Also participating for the Pioneers were offensive lineman Malik Brewer and All-South Atlantic Conference long-snapper Ian O'Grady.
The National Bowl is an annual post-season college football all-star game consisting of top players from Non-Division I schools. Celebrating its eighth year, the National Bowl showcases All-American and All Conference seniors from around the nation that travel to the game from over 30 states representing over 400+ NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA schools.
Tusculum associate head coach and offensive coordinator Brian Ferguson served as the American Team's head coach in Sunday's all-star game. Joining him from the Tusculum coaching staff were JJ Laster, Mike Klein, Brandon Jackson and Chuck Bell.