GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum Pioneers are back in action this week as the Sons of Davy Crockett venture to the Electric City to take on the undefeated Anderson Trojans in a South Atlantic Conference match-up at Younts Stadium.
Tusculum (1-1, 0-1 SAC) is coming off a 28-7 loss to 24th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC opener for both programs. TU couldn't overcome a pair of turnovers inside their own territory and went 1-of-4 on fourth-down, including one just shy of the endzone which in third quarter which would have tied the game and potentially change the momentum of the contest.
Tusculum's lone score of the night came on Xavier Gunn's 34-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Anderson (2-0, 0-0 SAC) will be playing its league lid-lifter this week as the Trojans host the Pioneers for first time ever at Younts Stadium. The Trojans opened the season with a 34-7 road victory at Shorter and followed with last week's 35-7 home win over arch-rival Erskine.
Tusculum will encounter one of the most disciplined teams they have on its 2025 schedule as Anderson has yet to commit a turnover this year while the Trojans are also the second-least penalized team in the country.
THE SERIES
This week will be the second meeting on the gridion between the Pioneers and Trojans.
Tusculum was victorious in last year's inaugural encounter, winning 30-28 in Greeneville for head coach Billy Taylor's first win as a collegiate head coach.
TU receiver Corey Moraux's school-record 90-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Matthew Palazzo in the fourth quarter proved to be the winning score.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Tusculum will make its Electric City debut this week as the Pioneers travel to the Palmetto State to face the Anderson Trojans.
Despite the 28-7 loss last week to nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne, Tusculum still managed to run for 229 yards on the vaulted Bears defense.
Offensively, Tusculum has racked up 15 explosive plays in its first two games including eight alone in the opening quarter this season.
The Tusculum offensive attack is ranked third in the conference and 32nd in NCAA II as the Pioneers are averaging 421.5 yards per game.
TU is averaging a SAC-leading 348.5 rushing yards per game (4th in NCAA II) and is second in the conference in first down offense (41 - 37th in NCAA II).
Transfer quarterback Buddy Taylor (New Orleans, La.) had an oustanding Tusculum debut two weeks ago in a 49-23 win at Bluefield State. The 5-11, 165-pound junior spent the last three seasons at NCAA II Arkansas-Monticello where he logged 14 games under center. He accounted for 1,300 yards of offense with the Boll Weevils to go along with eight touchdowns (5 pass, 3 rush).
Against Bluefield, he rushed for 105 yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground. He also went 6-of-7 with 94 passing yards including a TD.
Taylor was held in check last week against Lenoir-Rhyne as he ran for 35 yards on nine carries and went 1-of-4 for 38 passing yards before leaving the game in the third quarter due to injury.
Junior quarter Richard Hunter (South Pittsburg, Tenn.) took over for the sidelined Taylor and performed valiantly as he guided the TU offense and ran for 35 yards on his seven attempts and went 1-for-7 for 14 passing yards.
Sophomore Lex Dinwiddie leads the Tusculum rushing game as he has totaled 230 yards (2nd in SAC / 5th in NCAA II) on the ground including last week's team-high 85 yards against Lenoir-Rhyne. His 9.58 rush per carry average is best in the SAC and listed sixth in the country. He ran for a career-best 145 yards in the season-opener at Bluefield State.
Junior John Celestin (Orlando, Fla.) is third on the club, rushing for 138 yards in two games including his career-best 121-yard outing with a TD at Bluefield State. Celestin's 6.90 rush per carry average is fourth in the conference and 29th in NCAA II.
Junior Otasowie Dion (Montgomery, Ala.) has rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown. He also hauled in a 14-yard reception last week against Lenoir-Rhyne.
Redshirt freshman Jerome Newland has rushed for 56 yards on eight carries including a touchdown. He also hauled in a 55-yard reception at Bluefield State.
ETSU transfer Javon Richardson has the team-lead with three receptions for 57 yards including his acrobatic 38-yard catch last week against Lenoir-Rhyne.
Senior wideout Ashton Hagans had a pair of catches for 17 yards at Bluefield State, including an 11-yard touchdown toss from Taylor.
The offensive line is anchored by SAC Player to Watch Gabe McLamb. The 6-3, 295-pound sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida made nine appearances in the offensive trenches from a year ago.
Junior Nehemiah Storey is the starting center as the 6-1, 285-pound native of Rockwood, Tennessee played in seven games last season for Tusculum.
Junior tackle Chris Sweeney (6-6, 300, West Palm Beach, Fla.) is slated to make the start while sophomore Ramirez Young (6-3, 285, Smyrna, Tenn.) could make his first collegiate start at Anderson.
Redshirt freshman Matt Nunley (6-2, 255, Hixson, Tenn.) will get his third straight start at right tackle for the Pioneers
Junior guard Jeff Linton (6-5, 315, Rockingham, N.C.), missed the LR game after getting injured in the season-opener two weeks ago. His progress continues and may return to the line-up in the coming weeks.
Tusculum's defensive depth chart includes a healthy blend of returners to go along with an infusion of new talent with 10 transfers including six student-athletes from the Division I ranks.
Anchoring the defensive line is senior tackle Solomon Maosa. The 6-3, 270-pound native of Nashville, Tennessee, played in 10 games where he totaled 13 tackles from a year ago. He is listed as a SAC Player to Watch and came to TU last season after starring two years at Cumberland University. Maosa has played in two games where he has a pair of tackles with a quarterback hurry.
Sophomore defensive end Malachi Jim-Lawson (6-4, 260, London, England) has appeared in 10 career games for Tusculum and has totaled 28 tackles including five for loss, three sack and five quarterback hurries. Two weeks ago, he posted two sacks and forced a fumble at Bluefield State.
Earning the other starting defensive end spot is junior Dylan Horne. Horne's 2024 season was halted early due to injury for the 6-3, 245-pound product from Ocoee, Florida. He had an outstanding return two weeks ago as he tied for the team lead with seven tackles which included two for loss and two QB hurries.
So far this year, Horne leads the team with 3.5 tackles for loss (-15 yds) and is third on the rsoter with his 11 tackles including seven solos.
New to the defensive front this year is Murray State University transfer Colbe Haddox (Chattanooga, Tenn.). Haddox, a 6-2, 245-pound junior, played two seasons with the Racers where he played in 11 career games. He made his TU debut last week for the Pioneers and finished with three stops including 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
Sophomore Taeshawn Clark (6-3, 260, Clarksville, Tenn.) is back in the TU defensive trenches where he totaled 11 tackles including three hits behind the line of scrimmage during his redshirt freshman season in 2024. He did not play against Bluefield State but made his 2025 debut against LR where he posted a tackle for loss.
Also returning up front is 6-2, 240-pound senior Aiden Dark. The Niceville, Florida native tallied 30 tackles in 2024 including a team-best 10 for loss. He also had two sacks and four QB hurries. After missing the season-opener Dark returned to the line-up and recorded four tackles with one for loss against Lenoir-Rhyne.
The linebacker corps is a talented and deep one for the Pioneers with returning starter Rashad Watson anchoring the corps. The 5-11, 205-pound junior from Apopka, Florida, led the team last year with his 64 tackles (32 solos, 32 assists) as he started in every game. He tallied six tackles for loss with one sack, while also posting four passes defended including an interception. Watson led TU with seven tackles at Bluefield State including five solo hits. He also tallied one sack and had a pass break-up. He followed that with nine tackles against the Bears in the home-opener while also making a hit behind the line of scrimmage.
Two mid-year transfers have joined Watson on the attack in linebackers Tre Mobley and Cam Garnett.
Mobley, a 6-1, 200-pound senior from Ocala, Florida, played the last two seasons at Webber International where he recorded 98 career tackles (62 solos, 36 assists) with a dozen hits for loss, one sack, nine passes defended, one interception, forced two fumbles, recovered a pair of fumbles and blocked a kick. For his efforts, he has been named a SAC Player to Watch. Mobley is tied for the team-lead with Watson with his 16 total tackles including a TU-best 10 last week against LR. He also recorded a pair of pass break-ups.
Garnett, a 6-1, 230-pound senior from Harlem, Georgia, played the past four seasons at ETSU where he logged action in 23 contests. In his TU debut, he was credited with a pair of tackles and followed with three stops last week including a sack.
True freshman linebacker Greg Williams carried his fall camp performance into the season-opener where he finished with two solo hits. The 6-0, 210-pound rookie from Cincinnati, Ohio was an All-Southwest Ohio selection at Princeton High School.
Junior linebacker TJ Jingozian (Ocala, Fla.) finished fifth on the squad last year with his 31 tackles including five for loss and a sack. He has seen action in 19 games during his TU career where he has also been credited with a forced fumble and a blocked kick. He saw action on defense and special teams where he tallied two tackles.
New to the linebacker group is Lyon College transfer Mason Davis. The 5-11, 210-pound graduate student from Little Rock, Arkansas, earned All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference first team honors. During his career at Lyon College, he recorded 212 tackles which are the second-most in program history. He also totaled 28 tackles for loss, six sacks, five pass break-ups and returned six interceptions for touchdowns. In his TU debut two weeks ago, he accounted for two solo tackles.
The defensive secondary is balanced with returning players as well as veteran leadership from four-year and two-year programs.
Senior strong safety David Alston (Groveland, Florida) recorded 26 tackles last season including two for loss. Alston has been credited with four tackles this year including one for loss.
Xavier Gunn, a 6-0, 165-pound sophomore from Deerfield Beach, Florida, redshirted last year after making three appearances in his 2023 rookie season. Gunn leads the secondary with his seven tackles and returned an interception for a 34-yard touchdown last week against Lenoir-Rhyne.
Junior cornerback Jaden Outar is new to the Tusculum program after playing at Iowa Central Community College. The 5-10, 190-pound native of Miami, Florida started his collegiate career at NCAA-FBS Florida Atlantic University after stellar career at Palmetto High School. He has been credited with six tackles and has broken up two passes.
One of the most experienced of the new additions is free safety Jahaad Scales. The 6-0, 195-pound senior from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, played the previous two campaigns at Wofford College after playing 11 games at Old Dominion University.
Missouri Valley transfer DJ Dailey, who has seen action at free safety, was named a SAC Player to Watch this fall. The 5-11, 170-pound sophomore recorded 19 tackles last year at Missouri Valley to go along with his two interceptions and two pass break-ups. Dailey finished with two tackles and tied a TU single-game record with two interceptions two weeks ago at Bluefield State. He added four tackles last week against Lenoir-Rhyne.
Junior Da'Shawn Elder played three seasons at MTSU. He appeared in 22 games with the Blue Raiders, following a glowing prep career at Oconee County High School. The 6-0, 215-pound Watkinsville, Georgia product was an All-State performer and two-time Region Player of the Year. During his final prep season, he finished with 62 tackles with eight for loss to go along with six interceptions. He would post a tackle in the season-opener.
Getting the starting nod at punter is Greeneville native Quinton Brandon. The 6-0, 175-pound sophomore signed with ETSU out of Greeneville High School where he did double-duty at punter and kicker for the Greene Devils. He was the 2023 Region Specialist of the Year as he averaged 40 yards per punt while going 4-of-6 in field goals with a long of 48 yards. He also went 52-of-59 on his extra points and recorded 49 touchbacks on kickoffs. In 2025, he is averaging 37.0 yards per punt including a season-long 61-yarder.
Redshirt freshman Max Turan (Johnson City, Tenn.) is the place kicker as he has gone a perfect 8-of-8 in his first two collegiate games. The Science Hill High School product went 4-of-6 in field goals in his senior season with the Hilltoppers. He also went 37-of-39 on extra points during that 2023 season.
Senior Caleb Swinehart handles the long-snapping duties for Tusculum for a second straight season. The 6-3, 220-pound native of Erwin, Tennessee has recorded 17 career outings on TU's special teams' unit.
FOLLOW THE GAME
If you can't make it to Saturday's game, fans can watch the action on-line at www.TusculumPioneers.com on the Pioneer Sports Network and FloCollege.com, the official video stream provider of the South Atlantic Conference.
The "Voice of the Pioneers" Brian Stayton along former Tusculum quarterback Matthew Palazzo '25 will describe all the action with the radio pre-game show beginning at 5 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.
