GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The regular-season comes to a conclusion on Saturday as the Tusculum Pioneers venture to Hickory to take on the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Moretz Stadium on the Lenoir-Rhyne campus.
Less than a month ago, this week's game between the Pioneers and the Bears was looking to potentially be another SAC Championship Showdown "Between the Bricks". On Oct. 15, LR had rolled to a 5-0 SAC record, while the Pioneers won 4 of its first 5 league outings and were atop the SAC Mountain Division table.
Tusculum's bid for a return trip to the SAC title game came up short as the Pioneers lost 34-27 last week at Mars Hill, sending the Lions to the SAC Championship game at Newberry.
After a 5-0 SAC start, the Bears dropped back-to-back home losses to Newberry and Wingate to fall out of contention for the Piedmont Division crown.
Tusculum (8-2, 6-2 SAC) is looking to tie the school record for wins in a season, while also trying to keep their slim hopes of earning a berth to next week's NCAA Playoffs. TU was sixth in last week's Super Region 2 poll, but fell completely out of the rankings after last week's loss.
The Bears (7-3, 6-2 SAC) are coming off a 62-10 dismantling of rival Catawba.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
It has been an incredible 2022 season for the Sons of Davy Crockett. Tusculum is within one victory of tying the program single-season mark for wins (9).
The Pioneers had its six-game winning streak snapped last week in a 34-27 loss at Mars Hill. TU committed three turnovers while also surrendering four pass completions over 30 yards including touchdowns covering 34 and 84 yards.
It has been a balanced attack for the Pioneers in 2022 with Tusculum's vaulted offense to go along with one of the top defenses in the country.
On defense, the Pioneers lead the nation with 19 interceptions which are the second-most in program history. TU is third in the country with 25 caused turnovers and fourth in team pass efficiency defense (89.52).
Coach Jerry Odom's hard-hitting defense has been turning turnovers into offense with the Pioneers converting those 25 turnovers into 80 points including four defensive touchdowns (1st in SAC / 4th in NCAA II). TU has forced at least one turnover in nine of its 10 games this season with the only turnover-less outing coming in a loss to Wingate (Sep. 17).
Defensively, Tusculum is listed 16th in the country in pass defense (159.5 ypg - 5th in SAC), 18th in scoring defense (16.3 ppg - 2nd in SAC), 22nd in total defense (278.9 ypg - 3rd in SAC), 26th in team tackles for loss (7.7 tpg - 3rd in SAC), 31st in first down defense (157 - 4th in SAC), 33rd in turnover margin (+6 - 2nd in SAC), 41st in third down defense (.335 - 3rd in SAC), 45th in red zone defense (.739 - 3rd in SAC) and 48th in rushing defense (119.4 ypg - 3rd in SAC).
Last week against Mars Hill, the Tusculum defense gave up season-highs in points (34), offensive yards (418) and explosive plays (5).
Leading the way on defense has been linebacker and SAC Defensive Player of the Year nominee Wesley Scott. Scott leads the Pioneers with 87 total tackles, averaging 8.7 per game (2nd in SAC / 36th in NCAA II). He has a team-best 14 tackles for loss (10th in SAC) with one sack and is tied for the team-lead with six quarterback hurries.
He posted a team-best 13 tackles last week at Mars Hill including a season-best three for loss. In the win over Emory & Henry, he returned an interception for a 35-yard touchdown. For his efforts, he was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week.
The Keiser University transfer earned All-Conference honors with the Seahawks in 2021 where he led the team with 90 tackles and helped his KU to the NAIA quarterfinal.
New Haven transfer Ryan Dolce is second on the roster with his 51 tackles including six for loss and a sack. He is tied for the team-lead with three interceptions including two in the home finale vs Erskine. He has four pass break-ups to his credit to go along with and three QB hurries. In TU's 50-17 win at Catawba, he posted six tackles including a forced fumble and returned an interception for a 72-yard touchdown (5th longest in TU history). Last week, he had a career-best eight tackles including two for loss against Mars Hill.
In 2021 at New Haven, Dolce played in 12 games while earning Northeast 10 All-Conference honors and helped New Haven to a league title and a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Sophomore linebacker Earnest Johnson is third in stops with 47 tackles including nine for loss, one sack, three quarterback hurries and forced two fumbles (5th in SAC) with a recovery. Johnson recorded career highs last week with 10 tackles at Mars Hill. Two weeks ago, he notched seven tackles including a career-best three behind the line of scrimmage.
Junior Jermaine Witherspoon is fourth this season with 44 total tackles including 11 stops in a 14-13 win at Barton. He has three passes defended including two interceptions. He was injured during the Carson-Newman (Oct. 8) contest and missed the next three games before returning to the line-up last week and Mars Hill.
During his 22-game career, Witherspoon has totaled 122 tackles with four for loss and has recorded six interceptions, which are tied for the ninth-most by a Pioneer.
Junior defensive back Trey Trawick has moved into fifth on the team with 35 tackles including six for loss and leads TU with six pass break-ups.
Preseason All-SAC defensive lineman Dajavon White has made 34 tackles with 11 tackles for loss (14th in SAC) and a team-best five sacks. He also has four QB hurries and has recorded a blocked kick.
Senior Trejen Fox-Birdwell has been a force on the defensive front for the Pioneers in 2022. He has 31 tackles including 10 behind the line of scrimmage, three sacks and five QB hurries. He also lettered on the TU baseball team as a pitcher last spring.
Joslyn Mira had the game of his life at UVA Wise earlier this year where he posted a career-high eight tackles including three for loss with a sack. He also had a QB hurry and blocked a field goal with 58 seconds remaining to preserve a 10-9 win. Mira is tied for the team-lead with his six QB hurries to go along with 29 tackles including eight for loss and two sacks.
Jamichael Wilson has earned the start at nose guard for Tusculum in every game this season where he has totaled 26 tackles including eight behind the line of scrimmage and two sacks.
Senior John Smith has been credited with 25 tackles including one for loss with an interception and a pass break-up. He joined the century tackle club with his three stops against Emory & Henry. He has missed the last two games against Erskine and Mars Hill, but is expected to return for the regular-season finale at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Ten (10) different Pioneers have recorded an interception this season led by Dolce and the Robinson Twins (Andrae & Adrian) who have three picks apiece (4th in SAC). Andrae Robinson has 23 tackles including 21 solo hits. Against Catawba, Andrae returned his pick for a school-record 97-yard touchdown. He also has two break-ups and a fumble recovery. Adrian Robinson has made 21 tackles on the year with one for loss, one pass break-up and forced a fumble.
The Robinsons have established a rare feat on two occasions this season with two siblings each recording an interception in the same game. The duo did it at Catawba and followed with repeating the feat at UVA Wise.
Tusculum defensive back Ty'Korian Brown and 2021 All-SAC standout Jordan Taylor eachhave two interceptions each, along with Witherspoon.
On offense, TU is listed amongst the SAC leaders including scoring offense (32.2 ppg-3rd in SAC/41st in NCAA II), total offense (399.2 ypg-2nd in SAC/47th in NCAA II), pass offense (222.9 ypg-2nd in SAC), rushing offense (176.3 ypg-6th in SAC/47th in NCAA II), first down offense (201-2nd in SAC) and fourth down offense (63%-2nd in SAC/24th in NCAA II).
Sophomore quarterback Tre Simmons leads the Tusculum attack as he continues to top the conference in total offense (244.6 ypg - 37th in NCAA II) and touchdown passes (19 - 26th in NCAA II). Simmons is second in the SAC in total passing yards (2,120 - 35th in NCAA II), passing yards per game (212.0 ypg - 39th in NCAA II), points responsible for (132 - 37th in NCAA II), points responsible for per game (13.3 ppg - 40th in NCAA II) and completions per game (16.44 cpg - 45th in NCAA II).
He passed for a season-high 307 yards and three touchdowns in the Homecoming win over Emory & Henry and has completed a TD toss in nine of his 10 starts this year, including three against Erskine. He also hauled in a 20-yard TD pass from Kemani Brown against the Flying Fleet.
Simmons rushed for a career-high 122 yards at Catawba earlier this year including a 44-yard touchdown run. He recorded 279 total offensive yards and accounted for three touchdowns with zero turnovers in a 34-6 win over Carson-Newman. He ran for 89 yards including a career-long 71-yarder for a TD which is tied for the 10th longest run from scrimmage in school history.
In his 19-game collegiate career, Simmons has passed for 2,896 yards (7th in TU history) and 27 touchdowns (6th in TU history) against 13 interceptions (9th in TU history). His 3,350 total offensive yards are the seventh-most by a Pioneer.
Eighteen (18) different players have recorded a catch this season with eight of them having recorded at least 100 receiving yards.
Sophomore Tyler Burke leads the Pioneers with his 31 catches for 478 yards (15.4 ypc) and six touchdowns (T1st in SAC). Last week, he hauled in six receptions for 89 yards including a 41-yard touchdown. Eight of his 31 grabs have been for over 20 yards this season.
Senior and All-SAC selection Justice Parham has made 20 receptions for 301 yards and three touchdowns. In his TU career, he has made 89 catches for 1,462 yards (13th in TU history), which includes 15 touchdown receptions (T7th in TU history).
Sophomore Tyler Ajiero is third on the TU team with 17 receptions and is third with his 253 receiving yards and a touchdown. He has not played the last three weeks.
Tulsa transfer Kemani Brown is fourth on the roster with 16 receptions for 202 yards and is third with three touchdowns. He has made a catch in eight of his 10 outings including a season-best four receptions for 89 yards and two TDs in his TU debut vs St. Augustine's.
Sophomore Lanadrick Bradley has accounted for 14 receptions for 195 yards including a 49-yard TD catch two weeks ago against Erskine. It was his second collegiate TD and first in a Pioneer uniform since transferring from Shorter University.
Mydreon Vines is a seasoned veteran with 44 collegiate games under his belt including 34 at the NCAA Division I level which includes three seasons at NCAA-FBS East Carolina and last year at NCAA-FCS Western Carolina. This season, he has made 13 grabs for 226 yards and four touchdowns including last week's 14-yarder Mars Hill. He has made a catch in nine of 10 games this year.
In the offensive backfield, Marist College transfer Mekhai Johnson has emerged as TU's top all-purpose runner. He has totaled 771 all-purpose yards this year (89.0 ypg - 8th in SAC) including a season-best 156 yards vs Emory & Henry. He rushed for 78 yards on eight carries including a five-yard touchdown. He also hauled in a 78-yard TD reception for the 14th longest catch in school history. Against Erskine, he tallied 147 all-purpose yards (81 rushing, 20 receiving, 46 kick returns).
Johnson has 599 rushing yards (6th in SAC) including a team-high eight TD carries (6th in SAC / 49th in NCAA II). In his last seven games, he has run for 548 yards and six touchdowns during that span including a season-best 104 yards last week at Mars Hill. His nine total touchdowns have him first on the team in scoring (54 pts - 9th in SAC).
He has rushed for 1,462 yards in his collegiate career including 33 games at Marist where he was an All-Conference performer, especially on the return team where he was a three-time NCAA FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week.
Graduate student Maurice Gomillion has ran for 1,392 yards (8th in TU history) in his career on 324 carries (10th in TU history) and nine touchdowns. He has also made 55 receptions for 515 yards and three TDs. This season, he has rushed for 376 yards on 77 attempts (4.9 ypc).
Sophomore Cortney Jackson earned All-SAC second team honors in 2021 in the TU backfield. This season, he has carried the ball 58 times for 358 yards and five TDs (T5th in SAC). He rushed for 79 yards at Catawba including a 67-yard touchdown run. He has missed the last three games due to injury and is listed as day-to-day.
Jackson has rushed for 915 yards in his 18-game career at Tusculum which includes 12 touchdown carries. He needs 85 rushing yards to become the 14th player in program history with 1,000 for his career.
The Tusculum offensive line has battled injuries for most of the season but the anchor of the trenches has been All-SAC first team choice Tommy Mahoney. He has been a consistent performer in his 26 consecutive starts at center for the Pioneers and is a candidate for the SAC's Jacob's Blocking Trophy.
Junior Ben Shellenback played in 11 games last year and was a Preseason All-SAC second team pick in 2022. He has played in all but one game this year with eight starts.
Senior Taylor Williams earned a start in the season's first three games but was injured against Wingate. He returned to the TU line-up last week after a five-week absence.
The veteran duo of Bryce Moore and Will Shellenback are manning the tight end position in 2022.
Moore made the transition from quarterback in 2021 and has started in eight of TU's nine games this year. He has made 12 receptions for 115 yards while recording a catch in each of his last six games.
Shellenback has played in nine of 10 games this year where he has eight grabs for 32 yards and a touchdown. In his TU career, he has played in 27 games while totaling 202 receiving yards on 21 receptions including three touchdowns.
Andrew Cantrell has been TU's starting punter for the past five seasons. Including the four seasons his older brother Hunter spent at TU, there has been a Cantrell punting for the Pioneers in the last nine gridiron campaigns.
Andrew has already broken one of his brother's career records and is closing in on two more. He has punted in 47 games where he has 241 punt attempts (T1st in TU history) for 9,433 punting yards (2nd in TU history). His 39.14 career punting average is seventh in the TU record book while his 82 punts inside the opponents' 20-yardline are a new school record, breaking the record held by his brother (70). He is one punt attempt and 72 punting yards away from owning TU career marks on both categories.
He is having a banner season in 2022 where he is fourth in the SAC in punting averaging 41.9 yards per punt which is also 18th in the country. He has accounted for 13 punts of 50 or more yards including last week's career-best 70-yarder at Mars Hill, which is the seventh longest in school history. All five of his punts last week were downed inside the 20, which matches a personal best and are tied for the second most by a Pioneer. He has 24 punts inside the 20 this year, which are two off the single-game mark established by his brother Hunter in 2017.
Andrew has also shined off the field where he is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and is a national nominee this year for the prestigious AFCA Good Works Team.
Sophomore John Aiden Pittman has been handling the kickoff duties on special teams and took over on extra points two weeks ago vs Emory & Henry. He has made all 15 of his extra-point tries this year.
Cumberland University transfer and sophomore kicker Juan Villasenor was TU's starting placekicker for a majority of the season before the Emory & Henry game. He is second on the team in scoring with 43 points including a career-high 14 at Catawba. He went 3-of-4 on field goals and was perfect 5-of-5 on his extra point tries to earn SAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He connected on a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter which proved to be the game-winner in TU's 23-21 win at Chowan. He has gone 25-of-28 on his extra point tries including a perfect 6-of-6 against St. Augustine's in his TU debut. He is also 6-of-12 on field goals.
The trio of Tyler Burke, Mekhai Johnson and Marquel Pittman have been lethal to opposing special teams during their career. Add freshman sensation Eddie Watson on punt returns, Tusculum has one of most productive return units in the land. All of them have posted a TD return during their respective careers.
Burke has returned 14 kickoffs in his career for an average of 25.2 yards per return including a school-record 100-yarder for a touchdown last season against Carson-Newman.
Johnson, who was one of the top return men in NCAA-FCS while at Marist, has continued that trend with Tusculum, averaging 29.4 yards on his five returns this season. At Marist, he averaged 23.8 yards on his 75 kickoff returns including two TD returns over 90 yards.
Pittman, who is also an All-Region and All-SAC standout on the TU track & field team. posted a 96-yard kickoff return (5th longest in TU history) for touchdown last week vs Erskine. He is averaging 49.7 yards per return this year.
Watson made an impression in his collegiate debut with St. Augustine's which included a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown. He has returned 28 punts for an average of 9.9 yards per return (3rd in SAC / 23rd in NCAA II).
THE SERIES
For the 26th time since 1924, Tusculum and Lenoir-Rhyne will square off on the collegiate gridiron. Lenoir-Rhyne owns a 14-11 edge in the series winning 11 of the last 13 match-ups. The Bears had posted eight straight wins over the Pioneers until TU snapped that run with TU's 28-23 win in the 2021 Spring SAC Championship game in Hickory.
Lenoir-Rhyne won the first meeting of the series on Nov. 15, 1924 as the Bears blanked Tusculum 6-0 at College Field in Hickory. The two teams wouldn't meet again until 74 years later at Pioneer Field as Tusculum posted its third straight win to open the 1998 season with a 20-5 home victory over the Bears.
L-R won the first South Atlantic Conference meeting in 1999 in Hickory when Ryan Wilson scored the game-winning TD with 4:09 left in the game in a 21-14 L-R win in Hickory. Tusculum got its first league win over the Bears the following season when D.J. Starling blocked a 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers held on for a 10-9 win in the first game at the newly renovated Pioneer Field (Sep. 30, 2000).
The Tusculum win sparked five straight victories over the Bears from 2000-2004 and a stretch where the Pioneers went 8-1 over Lenoir-Rhyne in a nine-year span.
TICKETS (THROUGH LENOIR-RHYNE ATHLETICS)
Tickets for Saturday's road game at Lenoir-Rhyne may be purchased on-line through the LR web site at: www.LRBears.com/tickets. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. Tickets may be ordered on-line or on Saturday at Moretz Stadium beginning at 10 a.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.
FOLLOW THE GAME
If you can't make it to Saturday's game, fans can watch the action on-line at www.TusculumPioneers.com and www.FloSports.com, the official video stream provider of the South Atlantic Conference.
The Tusculum radio call of the game with Brian Stayton and Joe Byrd will be available locally on WSMG Radio on 95.5 FM and 1450 AM, as well as online at: www.TusculumPioneers.com.
