Monday, November 6, 2006

                                                                               

TUSCULUM FOOTBALL LEADS NATION IN RUSHING DEFENSE

 

                INDIANAPOLIS --- Tusculum College leads the nation in rushing defense according to this week’s NCAA Division II football statistics announced College officials Monday.

 

                The Pioneers (6-4, 3-3 in South Atlantic Conference) are allowing 37.6 rushing yards per game.  Tusculum established a new school record last week when it held Mars Hill to minus 50 yards rushing.  TC held nationally ranked Newberry to minus 15 yard rushing a week before.

 

                Tusculum’s 37.6 yards per game average is also fifth of all NCAA divisions.  Mount Union (NCAA III) is allowing just 18.9 yards, followed by Division III counterparts Rowan (23.3) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (26.8).  Michigan is the best in NCAA I-A and fourth overall with 30.3 ypg.  Tusculum is fifth, followed by Wisconsin-Whitewater (39.3 – NCAA III), Bemidji State (NCAA II – 42.4), Texas (43.9 - NCAA I-A), Trinity (44.3 – NCAA III) and Bethel, Minn. (44.6 – NCAA III).

 

                The Pioneers are also eighth in NCAA II in total defense (239.1 ypg), eight in team net punting (35.33) and 25th in scoring defense (15.7 ppg).

 

                Individually, freshman punter John Gregory is 14th in the country in punting averaging 40.3 yards per punt.

 

                 Tusculum closes out its season this Saturday when it hosts in-state rival Carson-Newman for a 1:30 p.m. contest at Pioneer Field.

 

- NCAA -

 

NCAA Division II Rushing Defensive Leaders

Pl.

School

G

Yds.

YPG

1

TUSCULUM

10

376

37.6

2

Bemidji State

10

424

42.4

3

Chadron State

10

586

58.6

4

South Dakota

10

609

60.9

5

California, Pa.

10

656

65.6

6

Shepherd

9

627

69.7

7

Edinboro

10

705

70.5

8

Kentucky State

9

654

72.7

9

Western Oregon

9

664

73.8

10

North Dakota

9

665

73.9

 

NCAA Rushing Defensive Leaders
(All Divisions)

Pl.

School

Div.

G

Yds

YPG

1

Mount Union

III

9

170

18.9

2

Rowan

III

8

186

23.3

3

Mary Hardin-Baylor

III

9

241

26.8

4

Michigan

I-A

10

303

30.3

5

TUSCULUM

II

10

376

37.6

6

Wis.-Whitewater

III

9

354

39.3

7

Bemidji State

II

10

424

42.4

8

Texas

I-A

10

439

43.9

9

Trinity

III

7

310

44.3

10

Bethel (Minn.)

III

9

401

44.6