Division II Tusculum College Sets NCAA Records in 71-0 Victory

The Tusculum College (Tennessee) Pioneers didn't have much problem beating the College of Faith Saints Thursday night, but not even the score tells the whole story of just how dominant the Pioneers were.

Tusculum (Division II) opened its season with a 71-0 victory, but the record-setting performance could have been much worse. This game was essentially over after the opening kickoff, which the Pioneers' Justin Houston took 65 yards for the score. That was just the start of things.

The score was 23-0 less than six minutes into the game and 55-0 at halftime. 

As dominant as the offense was, it was the team's defense that set NCAA records in the game.

Tusculum limited the College of Faith to minus-100 total yards, which obliterated the previous record of minus-69 yards set by Division II Fort Valley State against Miles in 1993. The Pioneers set that record while holding the Saints to minus-124 rushing yards, which bested the minus-112 rushing yards that Division III Coast Guard "allowed" against Wesleyan in 1989. The Pioneers defense recorded three safeties in the game, tying the Division II record set by Fort Valley in the same game against Miles.

Although Tusculum only came up with one turnover, its defense had no problem stopping the Saints. College of Faith failed to convert on any of its 13 third-down attempts and officially went 0-of-6 on fourth down.

It was just one game, but it was a night that none of the Pioneers—or the Saints—will ever forget.

[USA Today, Tusculum College Athletics]