GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Anderson University quarterback Wilson Edwards completed a pair of touchdown passes to Zay Williams while the AU defense recovered a pair of fumbles and forced three turnovers on downs including one in the final minute as the Trojans held on for a 14-7 South Atlantic Conference football win at Tusculum University Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Both Anderson (3-1, 2-0 SAC) touchdowns came in a second quarter including the eventual game-winner on the final play of the first half as Edwards found Zay Williams from five yards out. P. Bonacci’s kick made it 14-0 in favor of the Trojans heading to the locker room.
Since dropping a close decision to NCAA-FCS Furman in its season opener, AU has recorded three straight wins while handing the Pioneers (2-2, 1-1 SAC) their first set back of the year.
Tusculum put the football on the ground five times on the 84-degree afternoon, losing two of fumbles as the Pioneers entered the contest as one of only eight NCAA Division II teams yet to commit a turnover on the season.
It was a defensive slugfest between the teams as Tusculum outgained Anderson in total offense by a 253-221 margin. The Pioneer defense also recovered a pair of fumbles, while the Trojans posted seven tackles for loss including two sacks. TU also tallied three stops behind the line of scrimmage with a sack.
Edwards went 19-of-26 for 142 passing yards with his top target being Kenneth Brown who made seven receptions for 66 yards. Zay Williams had five grabs for 39 yards including short TD catches cover four and five yards.
AU’s Darren Lloyd led all ball carriers with 65 yards on 17 carries as the Trojans were held to 79 rushing yards on the afternoon.
Tusculum quarterback Tedros Gleaton was the top rusher for the home team as he ran 20 times for 64 yards, including a touchdown late in the third quarter. He also went 12-of-16 for 149 passing yards including three completions each to Javon Richardson, Ashton Hagans and Zion Job. TU was held to a season-low 104 net rushing yards.
TU linebacker recorded a career-high 12 tackles for his team-leading third double-digit tackle game of the season. He also had a tackle for loss and a pass break-up. Kevin Jordan accounted for 11 stops, while Jimi Olarinde posted eight tackles with one for loss including a forced fumble.
Defensive lineman Nathan Thomas recovered both fumbles to go along with two tackles including one behind the line of scrimmage.
Anderson’s Aaron Bryant led the Trojans with his 10 tackles including 1.5 for loss including a sack.
Anderson went three plays and out to start the game as Tusculum took over at the TU 26. Tusculum marked into AU territory on its first possession, converting on third down twice including third-and-17 when Gleaton completed a 24-yard pass to Hagans to get to the AU 43. Facing fourth-down-and-two-yards to go, Gleaton was stopped by a yard shy by Chase Sturgeon as the Trojans took over on downs.
Anderson responded with a 17-play, 66-yard drive that took 9:11 off the clock with Zay Williams scoring on a four-yard TD completion from Edwards to take a 7-0 lead with 13:05 left in the second quarter.
On its next possession, Tusculum moved into Trojans territory thanks to a 22-yard run on third down by Gleaton to get to the AU 39. But on the next play, Cade Eavenson forced a fumble which was recovered by Luke Rankin at the AU 47.
The Tusculum defense would respond on the ensuing possession. Following a TU face mask penalty the set up Anderson at the TU 36, the Pioneers’ Olarinde hit Edwards and was recovered by Thomas at the 35 with 8:58 left in the half.
The teams would exchange punts with the later being an Anderson shank as Tusculum took over at its own 42 with under four minutes remaining.
On third down and eight yards to go, Gleaton completed a 28-yards pass to Richardson to get to the AU 28. But on third down, Tusculum fumbled the ball away for a second time with Ledford coming up with the loose ball at AU 21 with 1:27 remaining.
Anderson would use all of that clock, using two timeouts and a costly unnecessary roughness penalty that moved the ball to midfield. With 16 seconds left, Edwards completed a 14-yard pass to Zay Williams to taken down at the TU 5 with six seconds left. After a timeout, Edwards would roll out to the right and found Williams again for a five-yard TD catch on the final play of the period.
With the football to start the second half, the Pioneers would march 74 yards on 16 plays and took 10:29 off the clock to get on the scoreboard on Gleaton’s six-yard run as he stretched across the goal line for his second TD this season. Max Turan‘s kick was good as TU cut the deficit in half 14-7 with 4:23 remaining in the third quarter. Tusculum covered on a third-down and 20 thanks to a 39-yard completion to Cam Ferguson. TU also convered on fourth down twice including a 20-yards to go situation as the Pioneers got a 20-yard run by Gleaton to extend the drive.
Tusculum looked to have the momentum as the TU defense stepped up again, forcing another Anderson fumble as Brock Tankersley popped the ball free and Thomas recovered again, this time at the TU 39 with 2:28 left in the quarter.
The Pioneers crossed midfield thanks to a roughing the passer on the first play of the series. After three running plays and facing a fourth down and three yards to go situation from the AU 39, Tusculum went for it, but came up short turning over the ball on downs for a second time.
After an Anderson punt, Tusculum took over at its own 20 with 12:02 left in the game. Tusculum recorded a pair of first downs, but a critical holding penalty backed the Pioneers up and would be forced to punt with under seven minutes remaining.
The Trojans converted a pair of first downs on the following possession and took the clock to the two-minute timeout. Anderson would punt as the Pioneers took over at the TU 20 with 1:38 remaining.
TU would get one first down, but facing fourth-down and 10 yards to go at its own 31, Gleaton’s pass to Richardson near midfield was broken up by Wit to force a third turnover on downs as the Trojans ran out the clock to preserve the win.
The Pioneers recorded 14 first downs, going 8-of-16 on third down and 2-of-5 on fourth down. Anderson tallied 15 first downs, going 4-of-10 on third down and were successful on its two fourth-down tries.
TU punter Nathan Holbrook averaged 40.5 yards on his two punts, while Anderson’s Corey Shoemaker averaged 38.3 yards on his three kicks.
Tusculum is back at home next Saturday night when they host Catawba for a 6 p.m. contest.
