Saturday, October 13, 2007

RUSSELL TIES SCHOOL PASSING RECORD, TUSCULUM DEFEATS BREVARD 30-7

BREVARD, N.C. --- Tusculum College racked up over 600 offensive yards as the Pioneers defeated host Brevard College 30-7 Saturday night at Brevard Memorial Stadium. Tusculum (4-3) wins its fourth consecutive game, while the Tornados fall to 1-6 on the season.

Tusculum finished with 618 yards on the night, including 303 passing yards by junior quarterback Corey Russell as he accounted for four touchdowns (2 rushing, 2 passing). The two passing scores gives him 37 for his career, tying a school record. Tusculum finished with 348 yards passing and 270 yards rushing.

Tusculum (2-0 SAC) will be in action against next Saturday as they host nationally-ranked Catawba College (7-0, 3-0 SAC) in a battle between the only two undefeated South Atlantic Conference teams remaining in the league.

Tusculum drew first blood on their opening drive as the Pioneers marched 79 yards in nine plays, capped off by a Russell six-yard pass to Chris Young at the 12:43 mark of the first quarter. Justin Higgins’ extra point made it 7-0.

Later in the second quarter, the Pioneers drove deep into BC territory, but Russell was intercepted by Austin Williams as he sprinted up the sideline. Russell made the TD saving tackle at the TC 37. The Tornado possession would stall as BC would be forced to punt.

Tusculum would march 80 yards on nine plays on its ensuing drive as Russell ran in from two yards out as the Pioneers increased its lead to 14-0 with 2:09 left in the first half.

Brevard went three and out on its next series as Tusculum utilized timeouts to get the ball back with a 1:33 left before halftime at the TC 36. The Pioneers would march all the way to the BC one-yard line with 1.5 seconds remaining. Russell scored his second touchdown of the night on roll out to the right-side as time expired and a 21-0 Pioneer lead.

TC added a fourth score at the 8:45 mark of the third quarter as Russell completed a 17-yard strike to a leaping Brandon Dixon. Gareth Rowlands’ extra-point try was off target.

Rowlands’ would make up for the miss as he drilled a 45-yard field goal seven minutes later as TC increased its advantage to 30-0.

BC’s Donald Hudson got the home team on the board with a three-yard run, capping off an 11-play, 75-yard drive.

Tusculum’s Jeremy Jones led the Pioneers with nine tackles, while Jarvis Littlejohn accounted for eight stops.

- TC -