Wingate University Athletics

Greeneville, Tenn.----Tusculum College sophomore running back Isaac Robinson (Palmyra, Va.) compiled 182 rushing yards on 27 carries, leading the TC Pioneers to a 26-17 South Atlantic Conference victory over number 23 Wingate University at Pioneer Field Saturday.
 
Tusculum sophomore quarterback Luke Lancaster (Gaffney, S.C.) completed 22-of-34 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns as the Pioneers improve to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the SAC. The Bulldogs drop their first decision of the 2015 season, slipping to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the SAC.
 
The home-standing Pioneers posted 29 first downs and 511 yards total offense. By comparison, Wingate recorded 248 yards total offense. Bulldog redshirt junior quarterback Kyle Johnson (Hickory, N.C.) completed 15-of-22 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown. The Hickory High product also rushed for a score. Sophomore running back Lawrence Pittman (Charlotte, N.C.) carried the ball 22 times for 82 yards.
 
The Bulldogs led 14-13 at intermission, as Johnson posted his third game of the season (and fourth of his career) with both a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. Tusculum struck first, as Lancaster orchestrated a 19-play, 93-yard scoring drive in the opening frame. The seven-minute, 43-second march concluded when the Gaffney High graduate hit senior wide receiver Justin Houston (Cleveland, Tenn.) with a seven-yard TD pass. The PAT failed, giving the hosts a 6-0 lead with 3:30 left in the first quarter.
 
Johnson put together a nine-play, 63-yard drive in the second stanza to give the Bulldogs their first of two leads. The movement ended when Johnson found redshirt sophomore Jake Jensen (Fayetteville, N.C.) with a 19-yard scoring strike. The TD is first career score for Jensen. Wingate junior place kicker Caleb Baird (Kinston, N.C.) added the extra point to make the score 7-6 visitors with 9:36 remaining in the second period.
 
The Pioneers responded on the next possession, as Lancaster connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver Ken Drummond (Woodruff, S.C.) on a 76-yard catch-and-run scoring play. TC freshman place kicker Will Tommie (Greenwood, S.C.) redeemed himself with his extra point conversion, making the score 13-7 Pioneers with 8:28 to go before halftime.
 
The two teams traded punts. On the Wingate punt, Tusculum fumbled and Bulldog redshirt sophomore defensive back Jackson Trawick (Suwanee, Ga.) recovered to give the visitors the ball on the TC 25-yard line. Trawick is third in the NCAA Division II with three fumble recoveries this season (all on special teams).
 
Five plays later, Johnson found pay dirt from four yards out. On the afternoon, Johnson rushed 13 times for 26 yards and the one score. Baird added his second PAT of the day, giving the visitors a 14-13 advantage with 4:20 remaining in the second quarter.
 
In the second half, Tusculum converted four-of-six third down plays, while Wingate managed only one successful third-down conversion in six tries. The Pioneers took the lead for good late in the third frame, when Robinson scored from 16 yards out to give TD a 19-14 edge with 1:35 on the clock. The two-point conversion try was unsuccessful.
 
On the next possession, Wingate drove to the red zone (14 plays, 72 yards), but could manage only a 27-yard field goal from Baird on the five-minute-and-change drive. Due to Tusculum's ball control, Wingate would run only three more offensive plays the rest of the way.
 
Houston recorded the game's final score with his second TD catch of the day with 7:46 left in the contest. The two-yard touchdown grab and Tommie's successful PAT settled the 26-17 final. Houston led all receivers with eight catches for 44 yards and two touchdowns. TC junior wide receiver Ken Funnye (Georgetown, S.C.) caught five passes for 47 yards. Drummond's 76-yard TD reception was his only catch of the day.
 
Wingate redshirt junior wide receiver Jody Fuller (Indian Trail, N.C.) had four receptions for 42 yards. In addition, the Sun Valley High School product returned four kick-offs for 90 yards. Bulldog sophomore punter Christopher Birozes (Suwanee, Ga.) averaged 45.5 yards per punt on six boots. He had three punts inside the 20-yard line with a long kick of 55 yards.
 
For the Bulldog defense, redshirt freshman defensive back Kameron Johnson (Durham, N.C.) had a career-high 14 tackles (eight solo, six assists). Johnson filled out his stat sheet with two pass break-ups, one quarterback hurry, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. Redshirt freshman linebacker Robert Wallace (Covington, Ga.) had eight tackles, while redshirt junior defensive end Andre Foulks (York, S.C.) had seven stops and three quarterback hurries.
 
Tusculum sophomore linebacker Quez Gaines (Anderson, S.C.) led the Pioneers with nine tackles. He added two tackles for loss. Pioneer junior defensive lineman D'Andre Johnson (Memphis, Tenn.) contributed seven stops, while three teammates had six tackles each.
 
Wingate visits number 19 Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday, Oct. 17 national television game. Kick-off is slated for 12 noon at Moretz Stadium. The Bulldogs host Carson-Newman for homecoming the following Saturday (Oct. 24). Tusculum starts a two-game road swing Saturday, Oct. 17 with a 2:30 p.m. visit to North Greenville. The Pioneers venture to Limestone the next week (7 p.m. kick-off).