GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — The Tusculum Pioneers are back in action this Saturday as they travel to Irwin Belk Stadium to face the Wingate Bulldogs for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
Tusculum (3-3, 2-2 SAC) is in a three-way tie for fourth place in the South Atlantic Conference. The Pioneers are coming off a heart-breaking 42-40 four-overtime loss at SAC front-runner Mars Hill last Saturday. TU allowed a 10-point lead with four minutes left in regulation slip away. The Pioneers also had a potential walk-off two-point conversion erased in the first overtime period due to an offensive pass interference penalty.
Wingate is off to a 2-4 start to the season including last week’s 35-24 loss at Catawba. The Bulldogs have faced a challenging schedule where their first four opponents were or are currently nationally ranked. Wingate finds itself in a four-way tie for seventh place in the league.
This week’s game will feature Tusculum’s option running attack which is averaging 225.8 rushing yards per game (2nd in SAC / 21st in NCAA II), while Wingate will counter with a balanced offensive game plan that posts 350 yards per game (4th in SAC).
THE SERIES
Tusculum and Wingate renew a rivalry which dates back to 1996. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 18-10 and have won five of the last six meetings.
Wingate won the first four games of the series (1996-1999) before Tusculum answered with four wins in a row from 2000-2003. The Bulldogs won eight of the next 10 meetings from 2004-2013.
The Pioneers followed by winning three of four contests from 2014-2017 including a 14-10 victory at Wingate in 2014. In that game, TU quarterback Kyle Dickey came off the bench and threw a pair of TD passes to rally the Pioneers from a 10-0 deficit and snap a five-game losing streak at Belk Stadium.
Tusculum upset 23rd-ranked Wingate, 26-17 in the 2015 meeting in Greeneville. Two years later, TU spoiled the Bulldogs’ bid for an undefeated regular season with a 25-17 upset win over then No. 12 Wingate.
Wingate reeled off four wins in a row from 2018-2022. In 2023, TU quarterback Matthew Palazzo accounted for three touchdowns including the game-winning 46-yard TD toss as TU edged No. 24 Wingate, 23-21 on the road. Eleven of the 28 previous meetings have been decided by 10 points or less including five of the last seven which have been by eight points or fewer.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
The Tusculum Pioneers will be looking to get back on the winning track when the Sons of Davy Crockett travel to North Carolina for a second straight week to take on the Wingate Bulldogs.
Head coach Billy Taylor, who is in his third season at Tusculum, has the Pioneers clicking on both sides of the ball as the second half of the 2026 campaign gets underway.
After back-to-back 1-9 campaigns over the last two seasons, Tusculum enters this week’s contest with 3-3 overall record and is tied for fourth place in the SAC.
The Pioneers have recorded victories over Bluefield State (42-7), Emory & Henry (23-21) and Catawba (27-25). TU’s losses have been to NCAA-FCS East Tennessee State University (48-14), Anderson (14-7) and last week’s 42-40 loss at No. 21 Mars Hill in four overtimes.
Leading the Pioneer offense is senior quarterback Tedros Gleaton who has emerged as the team’s top rusher and passer. He is averaging 185.5 total offensive yards per game including 70.5 rushing yards which leads the team and is fifth in the SAC and seventh-best rushing average amongst NCAA II signal callers.
Gleaton is averaging 11.3 points responsible per game as he has rushed for a SAC-leading six touchdowns (27th in NCAA II), while also passing for five TDs (8th in SAC) with one interception. He has passed for 690 yards (9th in SAC) while rushing for 423 yards (3rd in SAC / 43rd in NCAA II).
Last week, Gleaton accounted for four touchdowns (2 rush, 2 pass) as he established career highs with 106 rushing yards and 193 passing yards.
Gleaton began his collegiate career with the U.S. Naval Academy, before transferring to Carson-Newman where he played the 2024 and 2025 campaigns.
Western Kentucky transfer Ja’Von McMahan is second on the team with his 255 rushing yards including a career-high 123 yards last week at Mars Hill.
Former C-N teammates Cam Ferguson and Keithan Washington are also in the Pioneer backfield with Gleaton this fall.
Two weeks ago against Catawba, Ferguson rushed for a career-high 114 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown late in the contest. He finished the game with a career-best 208 all-purpose yards as he surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for his collegiate career.
Ferguson achieved a personal milestone at Emory & Henry game as he 1,000 career rushing yards. This year, he has 44 rushing attempts for 234 yards and four touchdowns (6th in SAC).
Washington is fifth on the roster in rushing this year with 108 yards on 18 carries for a team-best 6.0 yards per carry average. He has scored two rushing touchdowns in his first six games, including a 21-yard TD run at Emory & Henry which gave TU its first lead of the afternoon.
The receiving trio of Ashton Hagans, Zion Job and Javon Richardson has been the top targets for Gleaton this season.
Hagans has made nine catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns (8th in SAC). He has appeared in 27 career games where he has collected 24 receptions for 313 yards and seven touchdowns including his career-long 59-yard TD catch at Emory & Henry.
Job has made nine receptions for a team-high 170 receiving yards including a career-long 77-yarder last week at Mars Hill.
Richardson has made six grabs for 127 yards averaging a team-best 21.2 yards per catch. He hauled in a 65-yard TD two weeks ago against Catawba. He has made 16 career receptions for 267 yards and two TDs.
The Tusculum offensive line is anchored by junior Gabe McLamb. McLamb has been named a SAC Player to Watch in each of the last two seasons. He had played in 22 straight contests in the offensive trenches before that string ended two weeks ago against Catawba. He was also out last week against Mars Hill and is listed day-to-day.
Junior Matt Nunley started in all 10 contests in 2025 at right tackle for Tusculum and earned the start in the first two games this year. He went down to injury on the first play from scrimmage at ETSU and missed the Emory & Henry game, before returning to the starting line-up in the Anderson game.
Five true freshmen have stepped up this season and have worked their way into significant playing time in the TU offensive front including four of the five starting spots including Caleb Wray, Javeon Hinton, DJ Elkins, Jermichael Hardy and Delhart Courtney.
Sophomore Brady Rinkus has earned the start at tight end this season. He has seen action in 13 contests over the last two years, including nine career starts.
The Tusculum offensive line leads the SAC in fewest sacks allowed (0.67 – 13th in NCAA II) and fewest tackles for loss allowed (3.67 – 19th in NCAA II) per outing.
The Tusculum defense has been outstanding so far in 2026 as the Pioneers are ranked in the top-four in the league in several statistical categories including: defensive touchdowns (1 – 1st in SAC/22nd in NCAA II), first down defense (90 – 4th in SAC/37th in NCAA II), fumble recoveries (5 – 2nd in SAC/18th in NCAA II), interceptions (7 – 2nd in SAC/20th in NCAA II), rushing defense (101.5 ypg – 2nd in SAC/18th in NCAA II), sacks (2.83 spg – 1st in SAC/17th in NCAA II), turnover margin (+6 – 1st in SAC/22nd in NCAA II) and turnovers gained (12 – 2nd in SAC/14th in NCAA II).
Sophomore linebacker Greg Williams is Tusculum’s top tackler with 57 stops (3rd in SAC/29th in NCAA II) and has recorded 10-plus tackles in four of his last five games including career-high dozen two weeks ago against Anderson and another 12 last Saturday at Mars Hill. He has also posted 3.0 tackles for loss (-6 yds) this year and posted a fourth quarter interception in the win against Catawba.
During his 16-game career, Williams has totaled 79 tackles including 5.0 for loss (-12 yds) with one sack (-4 yds).
Junior defensive back Kevin Jordan is second on the team with 44 tackles (8th in SAC), including a TU-leading 25 solo hits. Jordan has forced a fumble and recorded a school-record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, both coming against Bluefield State. He has also forced a pair of fumbles (4th in SAC/47th in NCAA II). Jordan made a career-high 11 tackles against Anderson and had 10 stops last week at Mars Hill.
Carson-Newman transfer Jimi Olarinde is third on the team with 35 tackles including a career-high 11 stops against Catawba. He leads the conference with his 4.5 sacks (-36 yds) which are also 25th in the nation. He is also tops on the club with his 5.5 tackles for loss (-38 yds).
During his 28-game college career, Olarinde has posted 75 tackles with 13.5 for loss (-80 yds) and 9.5 sacks (-71 yds) to go along with an interception and two blocked kicks.
Sophomore defensive back Justin Thomas is fourth on the team with 28 tackles to go along with a team-best three interceptions (2nd in SAC/17th in NCAA II). Thomas has accounted for a tackle for loss and a pass break-up.
Senior linebacker Cameron Garnett is fifth with 24 tackles including 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He has totaled 55 tackles in his 16-game career at Tusculum including 6.0 for loss (-17 yds) and 3.0 sacks (-10 yds).
Sophomore linebacker Brock Tankersley has 20 tackles to his credit to go along with two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Two weeks ago against Catawba, he had a career-best eight tackles to go with 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Sophomore Kupakwashe Zvandaziva has been a force on the defensive front where he has made 20 tackles including 1.5 for loss with a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry.
Redshirt freshman Judah Knight has emerged as one of the starting cornerbacks for the Pioneers. Knight is third in the conference with his eight passes defended (19th in NCAA II) including two interceptions and six pass break-ups. He also has 17 tackles to his credit.
Redshirt freshman cornerback Zavien Bryant has 15 hits in six outings this year. He has been credited with a fumble recovery and five pass break-ups including four posted against Catawba, which are tied for the sixth-most in a TU single-game.
Muskingum University transfer Nathan Thomas has been playing well in the defensive front for Tusculum through his first six outings where he has 16 tackles including 3.5 for loss (-20 yds) with 2.5 sacks (-19 yds). He recovered a pair of fumbles against Anderson and followed with four stops with 1.5 sacks and a pass break-up against Catawba. His two fumble recoveries this year are first in the SAC and fourth nationally.
Thomas earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference first team honors at Muskingum as he totaled 50 tackles including 10.5 for loss and five sacks. The 2025 NCAA Division III All-Region honoree forced a fumble and recovered another to go along with two pass break-ups. He also shined in the classroom and is a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District first team honoree.
Also contributing on the defensive line is Malachi Jim-Lawson. In his three seasons with the Pioneers, he has accounted for 44 total tackles including 5.5 for loss and 3.0 sacks. He has forced a fumble, recovered another and broken up two passes in his 21-game TU career.
Redshirt freshman punter Nathan Holbrook is SAC’s top punter through six games. He continues to lead the SAC in punting, averaging with 44.5 yards per punt (10th in NCAA II). He averaged 46.5 yards on his six punts including a critical 58-yarder that flipped the field on the final defensive series of the game in Tusculum’s SAC win at Emory & Henry. For his efforts, he was named the SAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Greeneville junior Quinton Brandon, last year’s starting punter, is handling the kickoff duties for the Pioneers, while Johnson City sophomore Max Turan is manning the placekicking duties where he is a perfect 21-for-21 on his extra points. Turan has connected on 34 of his 35 career PAT’s which gives him a school-record 97.5 success rate so far and enters this week having made 24 consecutive PATs.
Cam Ferguson leads the TU kickoff return unit where he is averaging 22.9 yards (8TH in SAC) on his nine returns. Ferguson returned 19 kickoffs while at Carson-Newman for a 26.2 yards per return average including a 92-yard touchdown two years ago.
Ashton Hagans has been shining on the TU punt return squad where he is averaging 21.0 yards per return. He opened the season with a 53-yarder for a touchdown against Bluefield State. Two weeks ago, his career-high 54-yarder flipped the field late in the contest and set-up Ferguson’s game-winning TD run against Catawba.
SCOUTING WINGATE
The Wingate Bulldogs provide the opposition for this week’s South Atlantic Conference clash at Irwin Belk Stadium.
Rashaan Jordan is in his third season as head coach at Wingate where he has compiled an impressive 20-9 record. He led the Bulldogs to back-to-back 9-win seasons and consecutive trips to the NCAA II Playoffs. In 2024, Wingate went 9-2 while winning the SAC Championship Game over Carson-Newman. Last year, the Bulldogs went 9-3 and earned at-large berth to the NCAA postseason.
It has been a tough season so far for Wingate as they enter this week with a 2-4 record and are 1-3 in SAC play. Their two victories have come against Delta State (36-13) and UVA Wise (41-27). Wingate’s four losses have come to UNC Pembroke (21-13), Carson-Newman (24-23), Newberry (25-22) and Catawba (35-24). WU’s losses have come against teams with a 15-8 combined record.
Quarterback Brooks Brien leads the Wingate offense where he has passed for 1,184 yards (6th in SAC/43rd in NCAA II) with eight touchdowns (4th in SAC). He is averaging 197.3 passing yards per game (8th in SAC), completing 53 percent (7th in SAC) of his passes but has been intercepted nine times this year and has been sacked on 16 occasions.
Xavier Jackson leads the WU receiving corps with 25 receptions (6th in SAC/47th in NCAA II) for 390 yards (4th in SAC/46th in NCAA II) and four touchdowns (4th in SAC/31st in NCAA II).
Aaron Griffin is second on the squad with his 14 catches and third with 182 receiving yards and a touchdown. Kayden Bush is third with 13 grabs for 239 yards and two TDs.
Jason Willis is the team’s top rusher with 354 yards (8th in SAC) on 48 carries and five touchdowns (2nd in SAC/45th in NCAA II). Ethan Wallace is second with 304 yards and two TDs, while Jayshawn Appling has 143 rushing yards and three TDs.
Tyson Brown leads the WU defense with 40 tackles including a team-high 6.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He has a QB hurry to his credit and two fumble recoveries (1st in SAC/4th in NCAA II). David Squires is second with 37 tackles with 4.0 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He has broken up two passes to go along with an interception.
Paul Thompson is third on the roster with 36 tackles including three for loss and sack, while Chris Harris has 32 stops with 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Oliver Whisonant has handled most of the punting for Wingate, averaging 38.2 yards per punt.
Gunnar Hilsinger has connected on four of his five field goal tries including a long of 40 yards. He has scored 24 points this season including going 12-of-13 on his extra-point tries. His 80 percent success rate on field goals is tops in the SAC and 19th in NCAA II.
Aaron Griffin leads the conference in kickoff returns averaging 34.4 per return (3rd in NCAA II) including a 95-yarder for a touchdown last week against Catawba.
The Wingate special teams have blocked three kicks this year (2nd in SAC/9th in NCAA II), including two by Jaden White alone (2nd in NCAA II).
FOLLOW THE GAME
Tusculum fans can follow the action with video and audio links, along with live statistics at www.TusculumPioneers.com.
The “Voice of the Pioneers” Brian Stayton along with former TU quarterback Matthew Palazzo ’25 will describe all action with the radio pre-game show beginning at 2 p.m.
The radio call of the game will be available locally on WSMG Radio on 95.5 FM and 1450 AM, as well as online at https://jewel955.com/listenlive with kickoff at 3 p.m. from Irwin Belk Stadium. The In-The-Booth Audiocast will be live-streamed on the GreeneSportsZone YouTube page along with the GreeneSportsZone and Radio Greeneville Facebook pages.
