INDIANAPOLIS --- Tusculum College senior Deonte Gist leads the nation in receptions according to this week's NCAA Division II football statistics. The Pioneers are listed in seven team rankings, while six TC players and mentioned, individually.

Tusculum (2-7, 1-4 in South Atlantic Conference) is second in the country in pass defense, allowing just 137.44 passing yards per game. The Pioneers are also seventh in pass offense (320.44 ypg), 14th in fumble recoveries (13), 30th in fewest interceptions thrown (7), 34th in kickoff return average (22.68 ypr), 44th in pass efficiency (134.33) and 47th in total offense (397.11 ypg).

Gist, a senior receiver from Wellford, S.C., is averaging a NCAA Division II best 9.25 receptions per game. The 2010 All-American is sixth in all-purpose yards per game (187 ypg), seventh in kickoff return average (30.94), ninth in receiving yards per game (106.12 ypg) and 13th in total receiving yards (849).

Rashaad Carter, a senior wideout from Stone Mountain, Ga., is listed in three categories, including 21st with his 782 total receiving yards. The 2011 Preseason All-American is also 24th in receiving yards per game (86.89 ypg) and tied for 46th with his 5.67 receptions per outing.

Gist and Carter are closing in on a NCAA record. Gist (200) and Carter (191) have combined for 391 receptions in their respective careers. The NCAA II record for most catches by two players from the same team is 399 by Lock Haven's Jon Spinosa (218) and Bryan McGinty (181) from 1993-95.

Carter became Tusculum's all-time leader in receiving yards two weeks ago as his 2,654 yards are currently ninth in SAC history. Gist also set a school record at Newberry as he became the program's all-time leader in all-purpose yardage (4,228).

Sophomore punter Andy Rosetti (Kenneth City, Fla.) is 25th in the nation in punting average at 40.65 yards per attempt (2nd in SAC).

Freshman placekicker Logan Cornelius (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is tied for 26th in field goals made per game, averaging 1.11 per outing. Cornelius' 10 field goals made are the fourth most in a TC single-season. He is also fifth in field goal attempts (15) and his 57 points are the sixth most in a season by a TC kicker.

Sophomore defensive back Kaytron Becton (Miami, Fla.) is tied for 12th in fumble recoveries per game (0.38 avg), while sophomore defensive end Nick Smith (Seymour, Tenn.) is tied for 19th in the country (0.33 avg).

The Pioneers travel to arch-rival Carson-Newman (4-5, 2-3 SAC) this Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Burke-Tarr Stadium in Jefferson City. It will be the 41st recorded meeting in the second oldest football rivalry in the State of Tennessee (1904).

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