Tusculum Rallies To Beat Albany State; Carson-Newman Falls to Valdosta State In Football Playoffs

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- The 23rd-ranked Tusculum College football team rallied with 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers defeated Albany State University 34-22 Saturday afternoon in a first round contest of the 2008 NCAA Division II Playoffs. It was a hard fought battle in adverse weather conditions that included 15 mile per hour winds, bone-chilling temperatures and a mix of heavy rains and hail.

The Pioneers (9-3) tie a school record for wins in a season in their first-ever trip to the NCAA postseason. The Golden Rams (No. 5 seed in Super Region 2), who were making their sixth straight trip to the NCAA Playoffs, ends their year at 7-4. Tusculum (No. 4 seed in Super Region 2) will advance to next Saturday's second-round match-up against top-seeded Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.

Trailing 22-14 heading into the final quarter, Harlon Hill Trophy candidate Corey Russell orchestrated three scoring drives, including a pair of touchdown passes and a 41-yard TD run with 1:39 remaining to ice the game. On the day, Russell accounted for 274 passing yards and three TD tosses, while also rushing for 87 yards and two scores. His 361 total offensive yards is his 10th straight 300-yard game, establishing a new NCAA II single-season record.

On defense, Justin Scott led Tusculum with a career-best 18 tackles, while Tagon Richard and Jarvis Littlejohn finished with 12 and 10 stops, respectively.

ASU's Brian Porter had an outstanding game as he rushed for 170 yards on 20 carries, including a 62-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Kisan Flakes ran for 72 yards on 20 attempts and a touchdown, while also passing for 44 yards and a TD.

TC's Ryan Tallent led all receivers with seven catches for 89 yards and a TD, while Nate Binder posted five grabs for 67 yards and two TD catches. Binder now has nine touchdown receptions this season, which is a new school record.

Isaiah Gay paced the Golden Rams with 10 tackles and a forced fumble, while Quinton Nelson accounted for seven tackles in the loss.

ASU jumped out to a 10-0 advantage thanks to a 32-yard field goal by Patrick Cuff and a 12-yard TD run by Kisan Flakes. Albany State took advantage of a pair of Tusculum turnovers for both scores. The score would remain that way until the final moments of the half as Russell scored on a 17-yard run with 37 seconds left before halftime. Gareth Rowlands' extra-point cut the deficit to 10-7 at the break.

Midway through the third quarter, ASU upped its lead again with Porter's 61-yard sprint up the sideline. But Scott came through with the block on the extra point as Albany State led 16-7 at the 6:33 mark of the period.

Tusculum wasted little time, taking advantage of an unsportsmanlike penalty on the ensuing kickoff, taking over at the ASU 46. TC marched to the end zone on four-plays, covering 46 yards in just 52 seconds as Russell found Binder from 17 yards out to cut the ASU lead to 16-14.

Albany State would answer on its next possession with an eight-play, 39 yards drive as Flakes found Demetri Johnson on an 11-yard pass to paydirt and a 22-14 lead. But Antrez McDaniel blocked the extra point to keep it a one possession game heading into the final quarter.

Marcus Foster came through with 44-yard kickoff return to set up the Pioneers with excellent field position to the ASU 44. The drive would stall forcing Tusculum to punt, but ASU was whistled for roughing the kicker on the punt, keeping the possession alive.

With new life, Russell guided Tusculum downfield once again and found Binder from eight yards away to bring the Pioneers within two at 22-20. TC attempted to tie the game on the two-point conversion try, but the pass was deflected out of the hands of Calvin Britt as ASU held onto the lead.

After three-and-out on ASU's next possession, Tusculum drove to the Albany State 14 before the drive stalled. Rowlands' 31-yard field goal attempt sailed just wide and high with 7:52 remaining in the game.

The Tusculum defense once again stifled ASU once again forcing another punt with TC taking over at its own 25 with five minutes left. Russell completed a 38-yards pass to Calvin Britt to the ASU 26 and followed that with a 26-yard scoring strike to Tallent in the back corner of the end zone as Tusculum took its first lead at 27-22 with 3:31 left.

The Golden Rams would get to the ASU 41, but would turn the ball over on downs. On the first play from scrimmage, Russell scrambled to his left and hustled up the sideline for a 41-yard touchdown to put the game away.

Tusculum out-gained ASU by a 386-320 margin, but it was the Golden Rams who dominated the time of possession (36:23 to 23:37).

Valdosta State 24, Carson-Newman 20

VALDOSTA, GA. -- Defending national champion Valdosta State took advantage of four Carson-Newman fumbles to rally from a 14-point deficit and pull out a 24-20 victory in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium Saturday.

"It's just hard to explain," said Sparks, whose squad was ranked in the top five nationally to begin the year. "We've had a problem with execution all season long, and that was once again the case today. And it begins at the top with me."

Carson-Newman (7-4) committed 14 turnovers in its four losses this season. The Eagles had three straight drives end with a fumble Saturday, including one with 39 seconds remaining in the first half. Carson-Newman was at the VSU 4-yard line and looking to take a 21-7 lead when Jermel Daniels jarred the ball loose from Ricky Harris.

"There is no question (that was a big play in the game)," said Sparks. "Instead of going up by 14 points heading into the half, we give (Valdosta State) all the momentum."

It took Valdosta State (9-2) almost the entire third quarter, but they finally managed to use the momentum to pull in front.

After recovering a Reggie Hubbard fumble at the C-N 39-yard line, Tucker Pruitt completed a pass to Cedric Jones for 38 yards. Pruitt ran in the touchdown from one-yard out on the very next play and then converted a two-point try to put the Blazers up 15-14 with 2:39 left in the quarter.

"I felt like at that point in the game, (the game) could easily end 15-14," Valdosta head coach David Dean said. "Both defenses were playing good at that point."

Carson-Newman was able to answer just minutes later, after Valdosta State returner Roger King muffed a Chris Jones' punt at the VSU 1-yard line and Carson-Newman's Anthony McAllister was there to fall on it. Buck Wakefield dove in for the touchdown two-plays later, but Carson-Newman was unsuccessful on the two-point attempt, leaving the score at 20-15.

Ronnye Nelson answered the call for Valdosta State with a 35-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive to make it 21-20 with 13:08 remaining in the game. Devin Sabina added a 36-yard field goal eight minutes later to give the Blazers a four-point cushion.

Carson-Newman had one last scoring opportunity when Valdosta State punter Jack Fulford mishandled a long snap at the VSU 40-yard line and the Eagles took over on downs with 42 seconds remaining. However, three penalties put C-N in a third-and-30 situation and quarterback Alex Good was sacked on consecutive plays to end the game.

"You just can't keep shooting yourself in the foot and expect to win a football game," said Sparks. "We had too many turnovers and too many penalties today."

The Eagles were penalized 11 times for 80 yards. Valdosta State had 400 yards of total offense to Carson-Newman's 334. C-N had only 51 yards in the second half.

No one could stop the Eagles but themselves in the first half. They opened the game with a nine-play, 79-yard drive, capped by a 19-yard touchdown run by Wakefield. Wakefield found the end zone from one-yard out at the 3:54 mark of the second quarter.

Valdosta State cut the margin to 14-7 just 54 seconds later when T.J. Williams got loose on the other side of the Carson-Newman secondary for a 71-yard scoring strike from Chris Hart.

The Vikings' two-quarterback system of Hart and Pruitt combined to complete 18-of-30 yards for 284 yards.

Good was 11-of-19 for 118 yards and also rushed for 92 yards. Wakefield finished with 67 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries.