SALISBURY, N.C. – The Catawba College football team dropped their home opener to the Tusculum Pioneers 50-17 on Saturday evening.
The Pioneers forced five Catawba turnovers, including two interceptions for touchdowns, and gained 351 yards on the ground to cruise past the Catawba Indians.
Tusculum was the first to score with 6:34 left in the first quarter, but missed a two-point conversion try. On the ensuing kickoff, Kujuan Pryor fielded the ball from his own five yard line and burst through a gap on the far side for a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was Pryor's second kickoff return score of the season putting the Lawndale product in a tie for the program record for most returns in a season just four games in.
With under a minute to go in the quarter, Tusculum struck again on a 67-yard run to go back in front 13-7, and the Pioneers would never look back.
After a quick possession by the Catawba offense, Tusculum went 80 yards in five plays to expand the lead to 20-7 with 12:53 left in the first half.
More program history was made a few minutes later when Catawba's offensive drive stalled inside their own 40-yard line. Kicker Clayton Crile lined up for a 53-yard field goal attempt and buried it with plenty of room left to spare. The 53-yard make tied the all-time record for longest field goal made in Catawba football history, a record set back in 1977 when tees were still used on field goal attempts.
Tusculum cruised the rest of the way by scoring 30 unanswered points on three field goals, two interceptions returned for touchdowns, and a 44-yard run.
Connor McCarthy caught a 21-yard pass from Ridge Jacobs late in the game to bring the score to its final tally, 50-17.
MeKayle Burris led the defense with eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. Quarterback Ridge Jacobs finished with 160 yards passing and was tied for the team lead in rushing with 32 yards on the ground with three interceptions.
The football team will look to bounce back next Saturday when they travel to Emory and Henry for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
