NEWBERRY, S.C. — The Newberry defense forced two turnovers and recorded four sacks including two late in the game to thwart a potential game-winning drive as the Wolves posted a 26-20 South Atlantic Conference win over visiting Tusculum Saturday night at Setzler Field.
Newberry (7-2, 5-2 SAC) wins its fourth consecutive game and have won six of its last seven to set up next Saturday’s road game at nationally-ranked Carson-Newman as a potential SAC title contest.
It was a crazy Halloween night at Setzler Field as the play clocks malfunctioned early in the contest and were not operational for the entire game, while the main scoreboard timer did not work for most of the second half.
The Pioneers (4-5, 3-4 SAC) outgained the Wolves in total yardage by a 349-284 margin but the TU offense had eight negative plays for loss of 34 yards including 14 yards on its last two offensive plays as Tusculum turned the ball over on downs at the NBY 48 with 1:53 remaining.
Leading 10-6 at halftime, Newberry scored 13 points in a ghoulish manner in the opening five minutes of the third quarter. The Wolves pulled off a reverse as Tyleke Mathis got some key blocks down the near sideline to score a 36-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good as TU trailed 16-6.
Tusculum would commit its second turnover of the game as Newberry’s Cortez Thomas deflected a pitch in the backfield by TU quarterback Tedros Gleaton and picked up the loose and returned it for an 18-yard touchdown. Jake Spadavecchia’s kick was good as the Wolves extended the lead to 23-6 at the 10:25 mark of the quarter.
Facing a fourth down and two yards to go situation on its own 43, Newberry went for the conversion, but quarterback Mason Kidd would by sacked by Nathan Thomas for a nine yard loss as TU took over at the NBY 34.
Gleaton completed two passes to Javon Richardson covering 13 yards to move to the NBY 23 and into the fourth quarter. On the first play of the new period, Cam Ferguson ran for a 23-yard touchdown. Max Turan‘s kick made cut the Newberry lead to 23-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, Jonah Norris returned it for 28 yards to the NBY 48. Kidd’s 29-yard completion to Keshon Washington advanced the ball to the TU 23. After a five-yard run by Ed Meeks, Kidd connected with tight end Isaiah Williams for a 17-yard gain to the TU 11. But Gray was tackled for a loss by Greg Williams and Jimi Olarinde and Judah Knight broke up a pass on second and long. On third down, Kidd was sacked by Malachi Jefferson for a nine-yard loss. Spadavecchia would miss his 34-yard field goal try as the Pioneers had new life with 11:37 remaining in the game.
From there, Tusculum marched 76 yards on 10 plays thanks to a 42-yard pass by Gleaton to Ashton Hagans on fourth-down and long to move to the NBY 4. On the next play, Ja’Von McMahan scored on a four-yard touchdown as TU trailed 23-20 with 5:11 remaining. But on the touchdown, Tusculum was flagged for its fifth unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the game as TU would have to kickoff from its own 20.
Newberry took advantage of the penalty as Will Young V returned the kickoff 37 yards to the TU 43. The Wolves would record one first down as moved to the TU 26 before the drive stalled. Spadavecchia would connect on the 40-yard field goal to move the Newberry lead out to 26-20 with three minutes on the clock.
On third down, Gleaton would find Richardson again, this time for a 36-yard gain as Tusculum moved into Newberry territory to the NBY 34. After a pair of incomplete passes, Gleaton would be sacked on back-to-back plays by the duo of Aakil Brown and Jaevion Harris as the Wolves took over on downs to end the game.
Tusculum took the opening possession of the game and moved into Newberry territory as Ferguson ran for 40 of his team-high 79 rushing yards on the drive. But on fourth and seven yards to go from the NBY 33, Gleaton’s pass to Ferguson was broken up as TU turned the ball over on downs.
The Wolves answered with a nine-play, 67-yard drive with Kidd completing a 14-yard touchdown to Young as Newberry led 7-0 at the 5:18 mark of the first quarter.
Tusculum would once again get into Newberry territory, but Gleaton would be intercepted for only the second time this season as Elijah Vereen came up with the pick. The Wolves would convert the miscue into points as Spadavecchia hit a 31-yard field goal early in the second quarter to extend the Newberry advantage to 10-0.
The Pioneers would answer quickly as Gleaton posted carries for 22 and 18 yards to get to the NBY 26. After a three-yard carry by McMahan, Donovan Jones sprinted to the left side for a 15-yard gain to the NBY 8. On third down, Ferguson would score the first of his two touchdowns as he ran in for an eight-yard score. Turan’s extra-point would be blocked by Devron Williams as the score remained 10-6. Turan’s miss snapped a 29-consective extra-point streak for the Tusculum sophomore.
After Newberry went three plays an out and after a poor punt, Tusculum took over at the NBY 44. A seven-yard completion to Richardson coupled with a Newberry personal foul moved the ball to the NBY 22. But after a positive gain, Tusculum would be flagged for delay of game and a false start. McMahan posted a four-yard run on second down and Jones ran for 11 yards on third down to set up a fourth down and two-yards to go from the NBY 14. Gleaton would call his own number but he would be stopped one-yard shy of the yard to gain, turning the ball over on downs. Both teams would get a possession before halftime as the teams headed to the intermission with Newberry leading 10-6.
Ferguson finished the game with 78 yards on 10 carries with a pair of touchdowns, his fifth and sixth of the season. Gleaton ran for 37 yards on his 19 attempts, while passing for 163 yards on his 11-of-21 effort. Richardson was his top target as he posted six catches for 75 yards, while Hagans tallied two grabs for 47 yards.
Kidd led Newberry with his 207 passing yards going 21-for-30 with a touchdown. Norris ran to 60 yards on 10 carries as the Wolves finished the game with 77 rushing yards.
Williams led the Pioneers with his seven tackles, while Knight accounted for six stops with a pair of pass break-ups.
Tusculum recorded 18 first downs to Newberry’s 15 as the Pioneers held onto the football for 34:10 of the contest. TU went 5-of-14 on its third-down conversions, while Newberry went 3-of-10.
Newberry wins its sixth in a row over the Pioneers in the 27-game history of the series that has included 13 games decided by seven points or less.
Tusculum returns to action next Saturday when they travel to Lenoir-Rhyne for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Moretz Stadium.
