Saturday, September 1, 2007

LIBERTY DEFEATS TUSCULUM FOOTBALL 38-14

LYNCHBURG, Va. --- Zach Terrell rushed for 153 yards on 21 carries, including a touchdown as Liberty University defeated visiting Tusculum College 38-14 Saturday night at Williams Stadium. The Flames (1-0) are victorious in their season opener, while the Pioneers fall to 0-2 on the year.

On an evening that the Flames honored the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, the founder of Liberty, the host team took advantage of five Tusculum turnovers, converting those into 21 points.

Brock Smith passed for 143 yards, going 13-for-25 on the night for Liberty, including four completions for 63 yards to Dominic Bolden.

Tusculum’s Corey Russell went 16-for-36 for 117 yards and accounted for two touchdowns (1 rush, 1 pass). Russell was also picked off four times on the evening. TC newcomer Marques Stewart rushed for 63 yards on 14 carries, mostly coming in the second half.

Liberty took the opening kickoff and marched into Tusculum territory and drove all the way to the TC 19 before the stalling. Noah Greenbaum put the first points of the night on the board with his 37-yard field goal at the 12:11 mark of the first period to give the Flames a 3-0 advantage.

The second quarter saw both teams erupt for a combined 28 points, including 21 for Liberty, capitalizing on three huge plays.

Tusculum took its first lead of the game as the Pioneers’ Chris Young caused and recovered a fumble on a Liberty punt at the LU 32.

Seven plays later, Russell scored on a two-yard run, his second TD score of the season with 10:42 remaining before halftime. Justin Higgins added the extra point to give TC a 7-3 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Smith completed a 50-yard pass to Bolden to the LU one-yard line. On the next play, Terrell punched the football into the end zone to snatch the lead once again for Liberty at the 9:34 mark of the quarter.

Tusculum went three and out on its next possession and were forced to punt. Wynton Jackson took the punt and sprinted up the right sideline for a 65-yard touchdown. It marked the first time in nine seasons that the Pioneers have allowed a touchdown on a punt return.

LU took advantage of another Tusculum miscue as Ryan Best intercepted a Russell shuffle pass and returned it for a 17-yard touchdown to put Flames up 24-7 heading into halftime.

Liberty added two second half touchdowns to increase its lead to 31-7, before Tusculum answered in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers marched 13 plays on 65 yards, capped off by a Russell 10-yard pass to Ryan Tallent with 5:37 remaining in the game.

LU added a late touchdown off an interception to for the final margin.

Tusculum wraps up its three-game, season-opening road trip when it travels to Florence, Ala. to face fourth-ranked North Alabama.

- TC -