SALISBURY, N.C. --- Jalen Ferguson passed for 351 yards and touchdown as sixth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University defeated Tusculum University 37-23 Sunday afternoon in a South Atlantic Conference football game at Shuford Stadium on the campus of Catawba College.
The rare Sunday contest was played at a neutral site due to power outage issues on the Lenoir-Rhyne campus.
The Bears (4-0, 2-0 SAC) outgained the Pioneers (0-3, 0-2 SAC) in total offense by a 470-357 margin as Ferguson went 23-for-34 passing and running back Alex Boyd rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
Tusculum freshman Kamden Wellington went 14-of-26 for 217 and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 17 yards on the day. Zaron Collins accounted for three receptions for 131 yards including a 57-yarder.
LR scored 21 consecutive points in the third quarter including a 16-yard TD interception return by Christian Santana as the Bears took a 21-3 lead into the locker room.
Tusculum's Daryl Smith matched last week's career-high with his game-high 10 tackles. Dayquan Liston added seven solo tackles while forcing two fumbles including a recovery. Corey Radcliff also had seven tackles including one for loss, while Earnest Johnson III and David Alston posted five tackles apiece.
Andre Jefferson led the Bears with seven tackles including two for loss with sack and a pass break-up.
Lenoir-Rhyne took its opening possession and got across midfield thanks to Boyd's 40-yard run to the left side. The Bears would get to the TU 5 and would go for it on fourth down and short, but Radcliff would stop Boyd up the middle as the Pioneers took over on downs.
Later in the first quarter, TU senior Matthew Palazzo completed a 57-yard pass to Collins to the LR 18. The drive would stall there as Tusculum got on the board thanks to a 36-yard field goal by John-Aiden Pittman with 2:41 remaining in the period.
The teams would exchange punts and LR took over in great field position at its own 48. Ferguson completed a 32-yard pass to Songa Yates on the first play of the second quarter to the TU 7. Ferguson would find DeAree Rogers in the back of the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown. Jake Brown's kick was good as the Bears led 7-3 with 13:48 left in the half.
LR rolled the dice later in the quarter and on fourth down and three from the Bears 41, Ferguson completed a 37-yard pass to Dominique Marshall to the TU 22. Five plays later, Boyd ran in for a seven-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-3 with 5:55 left in the half.
On Tusculum's first play of its ensuing possession, Wellington's pitch was caught in mid-air by Santana and returned for a 16-yard touchdown to push the LR advantage to 21-3 with 5:42 remaining in the second quarter.
Wellington bounced back on the next possession as he completed a 43-yard pass to Collins who raced down to the LR 22. But back-to-back six-yard losses put the Pioneers behind the chains and would be forced to attempt a 50-yard field but Pittman lost his footing as the try came up short as LR took over at its 29-yard line.
Lenoir-Rhyne drove into Tusculum territory and got down to the 26 before the Pioneer defense held. Brown's 43-yard field goal try with 11 seconds left was wide right.
Tusculum took the second half kickoff and moved into LR territory thanks to a 34-yard completion from Wellington to Kemani Brown to move to the LR 35. The Pioneers would get to the 32 but they would turno the ball over on downs after Wellington's pass fell incomplete.
Two plays later, the Tusculum defense came through as Liston forced a Ferguson fumble which was recovered by Bode patton at the LR 42. Joseph Goho and Wellington posted consecutive three-yard runs. On third down, Wellington completed a 31-yard pass to Collins where he was stopped at the LR 5. Otasowie Dion ran up the middle for a five-yard touchdown at the 8:38 mark of the third quarter to trim the deficit to 21-10.
On the following kickoff, Rogers posted a 47-yard return to the TU 48 and a 15-yard personal foul on the Pioneers gave LR great field position at the 33. The Tusculum defense and an illegal block on the Bears kept Lenoir-Rhyne out of the end zone. Brown connected on the 30-yard field goal to extend the LR lead to 24-10 with 4:15 remaining in the period.
The Pioneers would go three-and-out on its next possession and the Bears would get across midfield before Liston forced his second fumble and recovered it as the TU 34 at the 2:41 mark of the third.
Early in the fourth quarter, TU punter Stefaan Forbes boomed a 59-yarder to pin the Bears at their own 15. But Ferguson completed a pass to Adonis McDaniel, who broke three tackles and sprinted 75 yards to the TU 10. Two plays later, Boyd ran into the end zone from four yards out. Brown missed the extra point as the Bears led 30-10 with 9:54 left in the contest.
The Pioneers answered when Wellington completed a 44-yard pass on fourth down to Carlton Terry for the touchdown Tusculum drew within 30-17 with 6:07 to go.
TU attempted an onside kick which was recovered at the LR 45. Ferguson completed a 20-yard pass to Rogers and Tye Roberson rushed up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown to make the score 37-17 in favor of the Bears with 4:30 remaining.
Tusculum added a touchdown on the final play of the game as Wellington completed a 10-yard TD to Ashton Hagans.
McDaniel led the Bears with five catches for 134 yards, while Rogers tallied six grabs for 73 yards.
Forbes, who entered the week as the top punter in NCAA Division II, averaged 42.3 yards on his seven punt attempts. LR's Stewart Simmons averaged 41.2 yards on his four punts.
The Pioneers held the ball for 34:46 including 18:56 in the second half. The Bears tallied 18 first downs but was held to 2-of-11 on its third down conversions. TU finished with 13 first downs and went 5-of-18 on third down and 2-of-3 on fourth down.
Tusculum is scheduled to return to action this Saturday (Oct. 5) when they face Limestone University. Due to the continuing water outage situation in Greene County caused by Hurricane Helene, the location of the game has yet to be determined.
For schedule updates, visit our web site at www.TusculumPioneers.com and our social media platforms on Facebook, X and Instagram (@TusculumSports).
