NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College football team piled up 568 yards of offense, with 493 yards rushing on the way to a thrilling 42-41 win over Tusculum on Homecoming at Setzler Field. Running back John Gadson (North Charleston, S.C.) carried the ball 15 times for 181 yards and a touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass.
Newberry moves to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in South Atlantic Conference play, while Tusculum falls to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the SAC. Newberry hosts UNC Pembroke for a 4 p.m. kickoff next Saturday, while Tusculum hosts Mars Hill.
The Wolves trailed by 14 early in the game, after the Pioneers scored on a 65-yard pass from Torrey Slaven to Xzanvion Smith and a 4-yard touchdown carry by Marcus Foster before seven minutes ran off the clock.
Newberry lit up the scoreboard for the first time on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Ehrlich (San Antonio, Texas) to Gadson with 4:18 left in the first quarter. A 24-yard field goal by Tusculum's Logan Cornelius with 14:48 left in the second quarter pushed the Tusculum lead to 17-7, and the Wolves answered with a six-play drive capped by a 11-yard touchdown carry by Dureal Elmore (Abbeville, S.C.) to narrow the lead to 17-10.
The Pioneers scored twice more before the half on a 34-yard field goal by Cornelius and a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab by Rashaad Carter to make it a 27-14 lead at the half.
The two teams traded punts to open the second half, but Tusculum's punt was emphatically blocked by Jamal Bethune (Gable, S.C.) and returned 15 yards for a touchdown by Deandre Richburg (Moncks Corner, S.C.) to narrow the lead to 27-21 with 10:21 left in the third quarter.
Tusculum was forced to punt again on the next drive, and the Wolves drove down the field, but a 47-yard field goal attempt fell to the right. The Pioneers got into Newberry territory and went for it on fourth-and-10 at the Newberry 30, but Slaven's toss to the end zone was broken up by James Bostick (Scotia, S.C.).
Gadson broke off a 48 yard carry on the first play of the ensuing drive, and quarterback W.T. Murden (West Columbia, S.C.) gave the Wolves their first lead on a 21-yard keeper for a touchdown. Eight plays and 70 yards later, the visitors took the lead back on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Slaven to Deonte' Gist to make it 34-28 in Tusculum's favor as the game went to the fourth quarter.
The fireworks got even hotter in the first moments of the fourth quarter, as Gadson scampered 53 yards for a touchdown to give Newberry a 35-34 lead, only to see the Pioneers take the lead right back on a 90-yard kickoff return for a score by Gist, making it 41-35.
A fake punt was perfectly executed by the Wolves' Kelton Hall (Clinton, S.C.) as Newberry drove inside the Tusculum 5-yardline, but a fumble snuffed out an excellent scoring opportunity. Newberry forced a three-and-out on the next drive and went 70 yards in nine plays on the ground, with fullback Ryan Williams (Gainesville, Fla.) scoring the game-winning touchdown.
Tusculum went three-and-out again, and Newberry converted on fourth down twice in Tusculum territory to keep the clock moving it hit all zeroes to give Newberry another fantastically exciting Homecoming victory.
Both offenses were huge in the game with Tusculum gaining 467 yards and Newberry gaining 568 yards. Newberry's 493 rushing yards are one of the top games in school history, marking the first time since 2005 that the scarlet and gray rushed for over 400 yards.
Gadson piled up 198 all-purpose yards with 181 on the ground and the 17-yard touchdown catch. Jason Livingston (Conway, S.C.) had 169 yards with 23 rushing, 34 receiving, 95 kick return yards and 17 punt return yards.
Tusculum's Slaven completed 22-of-41 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns. Gist had 12 catches for 155 yards and Carter had three catches for 134 yards.
Newberry's Apollo Stretch (Columbia, S.C.) led Newberry with eight tackles, while Tusculum's Brian Alexander had 13 stops.
