Tusculum 49, Stillman 21

Slover completed 23 of 40 attempts for 279 yards to help the Pioneers improve to 3-0, which is the second best start in school history. He threw his touchdown passes to four different receivers. Stillman dropped to 1-1.

Tusculum running back Aaron Caridy led all rushers with 70 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. Antwain Glenn made seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Stillman gained 277 yards, but the Tigers were limited to 22 yards in the second half as Tusculum forced three turnovers.

Tusculum took the lead on its first offensive play as Slover threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Glenn with 13:17 left in the first quarter. Paul Czerniak kicked the first of his seven extra points.

Stillman answered with an 80-yard drive in 10 plays. Antwan Blatch threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Hall with 8:57 left in the first quarter. Eric Beech's extra point kick tied the score at 7-7.

Tusculum capped its next possession with a five-yard touchdown pass from Slover to Kevin Wolcott at the 7:58 mark of the first quarter.

Tusculum regained possession by forcing a punt, but the Pioneers had to start from inside their 20. On third down, Stillman linebacker Brenden Givan forced Slover to fumble. Defensive lineman Jermaine Blakely made the recovery at the Tusculum 22. One play later, Blatch threw a touchdown pass to Hall, and Beech's extra point kick tied the score at 14-14. Tusculum took command by scoring 21 points in the final two minutes of the first half. After Keno Ward forced a Stillman turnover, the Pioneers drove 38 yards for a touchdown. Claridy scored from two yards out with 1:59 left before halftime.

On Stillman's ensuing possession, D.J. Starling blocked a punt by Jimmy Leith. D.J. Sands picked up the football and scampered 17 yards for a touchdown.

Donald Amaker returned a Leith punt 39 yards to the Stillman 43. Four plays later, Slover threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Thompson with 18 seconds left in the half.

In the third quarter, Tusculum capped an 11-play, 74-yard march with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Claridy.

Stillman's Jamark Jones intercepted a Carson Bradley pass and scored on a 60-yard return with 4:55 left in the third quarter. Jones finished with two interceptions in the game.

Slover threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Jones with 11:26 left to play.

Tusculum and Stillman combined for 35 penalties, including 22 in the second half.

Riccardo Thomas led Stillman in rushing with 43 yards on nine carries. The Tigers lost Thomas in the first minute of the second quarter to an ankle injury. Marcus Shoddie gained 42 yards on 10 carries.

Blatch completed 13 of 31 passes for 154 yards. Wide receiver Tavares Spillman had seven catches for 73 yards.

Daris Robinson led the Tusculum defense with nine tackles. Alan Commons had five stops, including one for a loss. He also forced a fumble. Defensive back Erwin Royal led Stillman with nine tackles. Givan had six stops, including three for losses and two sacks.

Stillman will play the University of South Alabama Saturday in Mobile.

Front Page

Football Index