Better Know the Opponent, Week 11: Tusculum
August 19, 2015

Better Know the Opponent, Week 11: Tusculum

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the finale for an 11-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football's opponents for the 2015 season. This feature breaks down the Eagles' senior day contest with rival Tusculum.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the finale for an 11-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football's opponents for the 2015 season.  This feature breaks down the Eagles' senior day contest with rival Tusculum.

It's the second oldest rivalry game in the state of Tennessee.  It's Carson-Newman and Tusculum. And it's a game that's back on the schedule as the regular season finale for both schools.

Carson-Newman and TC close the year as the finale for the first time since 2010 when the Eagles squeezed out a 49-48 triumph over the Pioneers.  That year ended a string of five consecutive seasons where the Eagles and Pioneers closed out the regular season. 

The Eagles have won six in a row in the series and surpassed the 30-point threshold in all of those meetings with TC. 

It's been the Eagles' ground game that's been otherworldly against the Pioneers.  Carson-Newman has had eight players rush for more than 100 yards on TC in the last three years and five go for more than 150 yards. 

The Pioneers will look to improve upon a rush defense that gave up 228.3 yards  per game a year ago (a number that could be skewed high with three of the nation's top 10 rushing offenses in the league). 

The good news for the Pioneers needs defensively is that seven starters return.  The bad news is that one of those starters lost now suits up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Defensive end Cashaud Lyons had 15 tackles against the Eagles last year and now plays at football's highest level. 

The Pioneers still have plenty of options defensively.  Brandyn Bartlett returns at linebacker (he also had 15 tackles last year against the Eagles en route to leading the Pioneers with 75 stops last year.

Joining him is SAC defensive freshman of the year L'Keith Brown.  Brown had 70 tackles a year ago. 

Offensively, the Pioneers return only five starters.  However, included in that bunch is All-American wide receiver Justin Houston.  Houston snatched 66 passes  for  643 yards a year  ago, scoring four TDs. 

While the Pioneers lose starting quarterback Kyle Dickey, Malcolm Pendergrass has plenty of experience.  He got the start against the Eagles last year, completing 13 of 25 passes for 230 yards and three scores.

"Malcolm progressed well in the spring, but will have serious competition this preseason," Tusculum head coach Frankie DeBusk said during the South Atlantic Conference's Digital Media Day. "Obviously Justin Houston is the guy where it starts with in the receiving corps. We are looking for a BIG year from him." 

DJ Haney represents TC's leading returning rusher. He gained 566 yards last year and scored six touchdowns. 

Carson-Newman opens its season Sept. 3 under the lights of Burke-Tarr Stadium against the University  of the Cumberlands at 7 p.m.  Coverage of that contest will be available on the Eagle Sports Network on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live with a free high definition stream.