GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Jonah Norris scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:37 remaining to lead the Newberry Wolves to a hard-fought 35-28 win at Tusculum University Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Newberry quarterback Reed Charpia went 25-of-33 for 305 yards and two touchdowns while Quez Spells ran for 129 yards on 10 carries including his 84-yard TD run to put the Wolves on the scoreboard first.
Newberry (5-1, 4-1 South Atlantic Conference) overcame an eight-point deficit in the second half and scored 15 straight points thanks to a pair of TD passes by Charpia as the Wolves took a 28-21 lead with 7:53 left in the contest.
On the ensuing kickoff, Newberry kicker Burke Nettles skied a high kick which was fumbled by one of Tusculum blockers and recovered by the Wolves’ Cameron Faircloth at the TU 13.
The Pioneer defense held firm including a sack by TJ Jingozian on third-down. Nettles, who already connected on a pair of 42-yard field goals in the second quarter, stepped onto attempt a 29-yarder. But it was Jingozian who came up with the big play again as he blocked the kicked which ricocheted all the way near midfield and was recovered by TU’s Jeremiah Williams at the Pioneer 49 with 5:54 to go.
Trailing by seven, Tusculum moved into Newberry territory. Quarterback Lavante Adams scrambled for an 11-yard gain to the NBY 27. From there, Adams found Javon Richardson on a 27-yard route down the near sideline and scored. Max Turan‘s extra-point tied the score at 28-28 with 3:40 remaining.
Charpia orchestrated a seven-play, 75-yard drive which was highlighted by a pair of big pass plays. On third-down and 14, Charpia completed a 20-yard pass to Keith Desaussure as he sprinted to the TU 34. The duo connected again on a 33-yard completion as Desaussure was pushed out of bounds, short of the goal line with 1:40 remaining. Norris came in a ran up the middle into the end zone as the Wolves retook the lead, 35-28 with 1:37 on the clock.
Tusculum took over at its own 17-yard line with only one timeout. Adams would be sacked on three straight plays and on fourth-down and 14, his heave to midfield was broke up by Quan Peterson as Newberry took over on downs with 15 seconds left to seal the victory.
Adams, who was making his first start under center for the Pioneers, had a solid outing as he accounted for four touchdowns (2 pass, 2 rush). Adams went 4-for-6 for 56 yards and a pair of scores, while also leading TU on the ground with his 51-net yards on 19 carries and two TD runs.
The Wolves out-gained Tusculum by a 422-226 margin in total offensive yards. Newberry finished with 20 first downs to TU’s 13. The Pioneers went 7-of-14 on third-down while the Wolves went 4-of-11. TU held an edge in time of possession (31:15 to 28:45).
Tusculum, which entered the game as the most penalized team in the SAC, had its best disciplined game as the Pioneers were only flagged twice for 10 yards. Newberry had six penalties for 50 yards.
Defensively, Tusculum linebacker Rashad Watson led the way with his 12 tackles including a sack. Jaden Outar and Da’Shawn Elder finished with seven tackles apiece. Dylan Horne had 3.5 tackles for loss (-21 yds) with a sack, while Jingozian accounted for two sacks and a blocked kick. The Tusculum defense posted a season-high four sacks on the afternoon and posted 8.0 tackles for loss.
Newberry’s Jamar Blandin led the Wolves with a dozen stops including 1.5 for loss and a sack. Devron Williams and Jalen Stradford were credited with eight tackles apiece as the Newberry defense recorded six sacks on the afternoon.
Tusculum punter Quinton Brandon averaged 39.6 yards on his five punts including a long of 53 yards. Nettles averaged 38.5 yards on his four punts for the Wolves.
Both teams came up empty on their opening possessions. On the first play of its second drive, Spells ran un-touched up the middle and sprinted for an 84-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead at the 8:17 mark of the first quarter.
TU also cashed in on its second time with the football. Tusculum converted third-down, three times thanks to a 16-yard run by Otasowie Dion, a 34-yard carry by Adams and a John Celestin one-yard plunge as Tusculum had it first and goal from the one. Adams finished it off with a quarterback keeper with 2:15 left in the quarter. Turan’s kick tied the game at 7-7.
The Wolves would move the ball well on its next two possessions, but on both, the Pioneers would hold as Newberry settled for a pair of 42-yard field goals by Nettles including his second one with 9:18 left in the half as the Wolves led 13-7.
On the ensuing kickoff, redshirt freshman Tyson Wolcott found a cap and sprinted 57 yards before being tackles at the NBY 40. TU would got eight plays and take 3:58 off the clock before Adams scored his second touchdown of the half with his one-yard run to the end zone as TU took its first lead of the game 14-13 with 5:09 left in the half.
The Tusculum defense held Newberry to a three-and-out and were forced to punt. The Wolves’ defense did the same as Newberry took over at its own 26 with 1:56 before halftime.
Charpia completed a 22-yard pass to Tyleke Mathis on the first play to get to the NBY 48. The Wolves moved into Tusculum territory with a seven-yard completion to Desaussure and a four-yard catch by De’Andre Coleman to get to the TU41 with 1:27 on the scoreboard. But Charpia would be sacked by Horne for a 13-yard loss, moving the Wolves back to the NBY 46. Now facing second-down and 23, Newberry’s options were limited and would punt on fourth down as the Pioneers took a 14-13 lead into the locker room.
Tusculum took the opening possession of the second half and got a first down on a face-mask penalty, the first of flag of the day by either team. Tusculum would be forced to punt on fourth and four. Newberry was flagged for off-sides and on the play, the Wolves were penalized 15 yards for taunting as the Pioneers were in good shape at the NBY 39.
Jerome Newland ran for a 10-yard gain while Adams completed a five-yard pass to Gio Newsome to move the Pioneers to the NBY 24. Adams would roll to his right and found Ashton Hagans in the back of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown as TU extended its lead to 21-13 with 8:15 left in the third quarter.
Both teams exchanged punts on its next two possessions. Mathis would set up the Wolves with his 24-yard punt return as Newberry took over at the TU35.
Spells would recorded three consecutive, eight-yard runs to move to the TU 11. Charpia would cap the six-play, 35-yard drive with his eight-yard TD pass to Desaussure with 24 seconds left in the quarter. Nettles kick trimmed the deficit to one (21-20.
The Pioneers went three-and-out as Newberry took over at its own 34 to start the fourth quarter. The Wolves went to the air as Charpia completed six straight passes including an 11-yard pass to Norris and a 21-yard completion to Coleman. Charpia would end the nine-play, 66-yard drive with an eight-yard, acrobatic catch by Dorsey for the go-ahead touchdown.
The Pioneers (1-5, 0-5 SAC) will have a bye next week, before returning to action on Oct. 25 as they travel to Catawba for a 6 p.m. contest at Shuford Stadium.
Tusculum comes up just short in a thriller vs. Newberry, 35-28. @TusculumFB @TusculumSports#FirstHorizon pic.twitter.com/9IKectFy72
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) October 11, 2025
