The Game:  The Newberry College football team (0-2) travels to Tusculum Keiser (0-1) in the South Atlantic Conference opener for both teams.  Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Niswonger Sports Complex and Pioneer Field.

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The series:  Newberry leads the all-time series 13-11.  The series began in 1998 and this is the first game between the two schools since 2022.  Newberry has won the last three meetings including the last two meetings at Tusculum.

Inside the Wolves:  The Wolves hit the road for the first time this season after dropping their first two games at home to #5 Division 2 Valdosta State and #1 ranked and defending NAIA champion Keiser at Setzler Field.  Newberry has not started a season 0-3 since 2019.

Newberry has won four consecutive SAC openers – 2020 at home against Tusculum (21-6), 2021 at home against #5 Lenoir-Rhyne (28-21), 2022 in overtime at Emory & Henry (26-23) and last year in an NCAA Division 2 record 8 overtimes also against Emory & Henry (25-23).

Saturday's Carolina Concrete Rock Solid Player was sophomore running back Quez Spells (Summerville) who ripped off a thrilling 33-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's game against #1 Keiser.  He finished with career-best 50 yards on six carries and a score.  He has 78 yards on nine carries already this season after just four attempts for 13 yards as a freshman.

Quarterback Reed Charpia, playing in his first game for the Wolves, came off the bench to account for 298 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in a 42-33 loss to #1 ranked and defending NAIA champion Kaiser.  Charpia completed 15 of 28 passes for 226 yards and ran the ball five times for 72 yards and two touchdowns.  He scored on touchdown runs of 13 and 25 yards.

His grandfather, also named Reed Charpia, was the head coach at Newberry College from 1978 through 1981 recording a record of 21-20 including seasons of 7-3 and 6-4 his first two seasons as head coach.  Charpia took over for the legendary Fred Herren in 1978.

Another family connection in this game is between opposite sidelines. 

Newberry Wolves assistant coach Drew Watson will be coaching against Newberry College alum and former star player Cole Watson, Drew's son.  Drew, a member of the Newberry College Hall of Fame, played for the Indians from 1986 to 1989 while Cole played at Newberry from 2013 to 2016.

Cole served on Wolves' coaching staff from 2018-2021 where he was an offensive assistant (2018-19), quarterbacks coach (2020) and running backs coach (2021). He also held the post as recruiting coordinator.

Cole had an outstanding career for the Wolves from 2013-2016. At the time of his graduation, he ranked eighth in school history with his 115 career receptions and 10th with 1,412 receiving yards. He accounted for 10 touchdowns in his career and as a senior, his 51 receptions, 697 yards (fourth in SAC), and six touchdowns (third in SAC) earned him All-SAC first team honors and All-ECAC laurels.

Inside the Pioneers:  Tusculum is 0-1 and coming off a bye week after losing at West Alabama 45-9 on September 7^th.

Head Coaches:  Todd Knight is in his 16th year at the helm of the Newberry program in 2024 season, having made his mark as the most successful coach in program history. His 93-71 overall record makes him the winningest coach in school history.

Billy Taylor was named Tusculum University's 17th head football coach on Dec. 22, 2023.

Taylor is no stranger to the area and comes to Tusculum after serving the last nine seasons at NCAA Division I East Tennessee State University where he was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator. He also served as ETSU's defensive coordinator during the 2002 and 2003 campaigns before the sport was discontinued at the Johnson City school.

Up Next:  Newberry returns home to face South Atlantic Conference foe UVA Wise at 7:00 p.m. at Setzler Field.  Tusculum travels to Lenoir-Rhyne next Saturday.