Mars Hill falls to Tusculum in double OT
The No. 25 Mars Hill football team (7-2, 6-2 SAC) fell to Tusculum (6-4, 6-2 SAC) by a score of 29-27 in double overtime on the road Saturday afternoon.
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 25 Mars Hill football team (7-2, 6-2 SAC) fell to Tusculum (6-4, 6-2 SAC) by a score of 29-27 in double overtime on the road Saturday afternoon.
In the second overtime frame, Matthew Palazzo tied the game at 27 with a two-yard rush. The Pioneers' two-point conversion was successful, giving Tusculum the 29-27 victory in the South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division title game.
The Lions opened the scoring just over four minutes into the contest and led after the first 30 minutes of play, 7-0. Jon Gullette scored off of a nine-yard rush, capping off a two-play, 18-yard drive.
Mars Hill doubled up Tusculum in the third with JR Martin's one-yard rush with 4:13 gone in the period. Tusculum cut the Mars Hill lead in half as Lanadrick Bradley was on the receiving end of a 25-yard pass from Palazzo just over four minutes later.
In the fourth, the Pioneers tied the game with 12:48 remaining in regulation as Jermaine Witherspoon scooped up a Mars Hill fumble and returned it 23 yards.
Tusculum, with first possession in the first overtime frame, scored as Will Shellenback caught a two-yard pass from Palazzo. The Lions responded with a Ja'Hari Mitchell 41-yard touchdown reception.
Alternating possessions in the second, Martin scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, a two-yard run. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful.
Mars Hill outgained Tusculum 356-317 with 258 yards in the air and both teams with 98 on the ground.
Martin threw for 258 yards and ran for 38 yards and two scores. Malik Laurent led the Lions with eight receptions and 88 yards while defensively, Landon Honeycutt led all players with 15 tackles, 10 solo, and one sack. Daquan Carter pulled down two interceptions and added four tackles. Monroe Sanderson and Courtney Slocum each forced a fumble.
