MARS HILL, N.C. --- The Tusculum Pioneers scored 35 unanswered points and churned out 541 yards offensively in a 58-20 victory over Mars Hill Friday night at Meares Stadium in South Atlantic Conference football action.
The Pioneers opened SAC Mountain Division with a victory as TU running back TJ Jones scored three touchdowns including two rushing scores and a TD reception. Pioneer quarterback Rogan Wells passed for 296 yards and four touchdowns as he went 14-of-25 with no interceptions as five of his completions went for 30 or more yards.
Tusculum records its first 500-plus yard performance since TU's last game at Mars Hill in 2018. The 58 points scored by the Pioneers are the most against the Lions in the 37 meetings between the cross-mountain rivals. It was also Tusculum fourth straight win against Mars Hill.
Jones finished the game rushing for 71 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns, while also hauling in a 10-yard TD toss from Wells.
Tusculum accounted for 342 passing yards, while rushing for 199 yards as TU averaged 7.4 yards per offensive play. The Lions totaled 371 total offensive yards (303 passing, 68 rushing).
Defensively, senior linebacker Jackson Cauthen led TU with his six tackles including one for loss and a pass break-up. The trio of Jonovan Lowe, Jordan Smith and Xavier Clemmons had five tackles each, while Ivan Hogans had four tackles including one for loss.
MHU quarterback Jimmy Urzua went 10-of-24 for 157 yards and touchdown, while running back Christopher Roberts rushed for 45 yards on 16 carries with two TDs. Receiver CJ Thompson had five receptions for 103 yards and Marquis Williams made two catches for 138 yards, including a
Punter Andrew Cantrell pinned the Lions with his 47-yarder down to the MHU 47. The Tusculum defense allowed just two yards on the ensuing possession forcing a MHU punt. Tanner Fox's kick went 32 yards and returned by Tory Ponder to the MHU 32.
TU took advantage of the short field and three plays later, Wells found TJ Jones open on the right sideline and walked in for the 10-yard touchdowns. Eli Shepherd's kick made it a 7-0 TU lead at the 7:50 mark of the first quarter.
Mars Hill wasted little time to answer as Urzua found a wide open Marquis Williams for a 75-yard touchdown. A bad snap on the extra-point kept it a 7-6 Tusculum lead.
The Pioneers drove into MHU territory down to the 11, but Mikial Fourney forced a fumble which was recovered by teammate Jabril Norman. The Lions marched down the field before to the TU 11 before the drive stalled. Fox's 28-yard field goal try sailed wide right as the visitors held onto the one-point lead.
The Black & Orange took advantage as Parham made an outstanding over the shoulder catch on a 37-yard pass from Wells to the MHU 7 to end the first quarter. Two plays into the third quarter on third-and-goal from the one, Maurice Gomillion plunged in up the middle for the score and a 14-6 lead.
MHU would tie the game on its next possession as Urzua completed a 15-yard pass and followed with a 16-yard run to get to the TU one-yard line. Urzua fumbled the snap, but Tre' Spearman recovered the ball in the end zone for the TD. Christopher Roberts converted the two-point conversion to knot the game at 14-14 with 10:04 remaining in the first half.
Tusculum answered by scoring 35 unanswered points. Jones scored on a 45-yard sprint to the end zone. Wells completed a 64-yard pass to tight end Aaron Fudge for his first collegiate touchdown.
Mars Hill drove to the Tusculum four-yard line but Uruza was intercepted by Jermaine Witherspoon at the goal line and he returned the pick 45 yards. Three plays later, Parham took a 44-yard pass from Wells for the touchdown with 58 seconds left before the intermission.
In the third quarter, Raphael Williams got in on the scoring frenzy as he hauled in a 51-yard pass from Wells at the 12:09 mark of the period.
Tusculum went to the ground attack on its next possession with Jones running for 38 yards and Gomillion posting a 24-yard scamper. Jones capped the scoring drive with a one-yard run to the left side to increase the TU lead.
MHU ended the scoring drought when Roberts ran in for a four-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. The Lions had another bad snap on the extra point as Earnest Johnson III picked up the loose ball and rumbled to the MHU 10 before he was hit and fumbled. From there, Chase Sanders picked up the ball and ran it in the rest of the way for the defensive two-point PAT and a 51-20 lead.
TU's Gerard Hearst scored his first collegiate touchdown on a five-yard run to cap the scoring for the game.
Mars Hill finished the game with more first downs (21-20) and dominated time of possession (36:33 – 23:27). Tusculum was penalized 12 times for 137 yards, while Mars Hill was flagged eight times for 38 yards.
Cantrell had a strong game on special teams as he averaged 43.4 yards on his five punts including two inside the 20-yard line. Fox punted 10 times for a 37.5 average including a long of 55 yards for the Lions.
Tusculum returns to action on Thursday, March 25 as the Pioneers travel to UVA Wise for a 6 p.m. contest.
