ETSU Rolls Past Tusculum 48-14 for First Win of 2026
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — East Tennessee State found its footing in a big way Saturday night, cruising past Tusculum 48-14 at Bank of Tennessee Field at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium to pick up its first win of the 2026 season.
The Buccaneers improved to 1-1 on the season with a dominant second-half performance, while Tusculum fell to 1-1. ETSU outgained the Pioneers 484-321 and scored touchdowns on all four of its second-half possessions.
ETSU quarterback Mason Mims led the way through the air, completing 13 of 21 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns. His biggest connection came on the game's opening scoring drive, when he found Suderian Harrison for a 55-yard touchdown to give the Bucs an early 7-0 lead. Harrison finished with three catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Tusculum answered later in the opening quarter. A 45-yard pass from Tedros Gleaton to Zion Job set up a one-yard touchdown run by Cam Ferguson, tying the game at 7-7.
ETSU responded before the quarter ended.
Running back TJ Peyton broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown run with just 10 seconds remaining in the first quarter, putting the Bucs back in front 13-7. Peyton added another touchdown early in the second quarter, scoring from one yard out to extend the ETSU lead to 20-7 at halftime.
Peyton was one of the biggest difference-makers of the night. He finished with a career-high 121 rushing yards on only 11 carries, averaging 11 yards per attempt and scoring twice. Jaiden Daniels added 56 yards on seven carries, while D'Marius Rucker contributed 28 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Buccaneers took complete control after halftime.
Mims connected with Brandon Winton for a 45-yard touchdown early in the third quarter before finding Charlie Browder for a 31-yard touchdown later in the period. Those two scoring strikes pushed ETSU's advantage to 34-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
ETSU continued to pour it on in the final period.
The Bucs put together an 85-yard scoring drive that lasted nearly five minutes and ended with Jason Albritton's one-yard touchdown run, making it 41-7. Tusculum answered with a 57-yard touchdown run by Lavante Adams, but ETSU responded one final time when D'Marius Rucker scored on a 10-yard run with 22 seconds remaining.
The final score: ETSU 48, Tusculum 14.
The numbers reflected ETSU's offensive efficiency. The Buccaneers totaled 259 passing yards and 225 rushing yards, averaging 6.6 yards per rushing attempt. ETSU converted 8 of 11 third-down opportunities and picked up 21 first downs.
Defensively, Dre Delinois once again led the Buccaneers in tackles, recording 11. Jarvis Johnson added eight tackles and a sack, while the ETSU defense recorded five tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Tusculum managed to control the clock, holding the ball for 36:45 compared with ETSU's 23:15, but the Buccaneers made the most of their possessions. Tusculum finished with 212 rushing yards and 109 passing yards, but could not keep pace with ETSU's explosive offense.
The win also renewed a series that had been dormant for more than 75 years and brought former ETSU coaches Billy Taylor and Teddy Gaines back to Johnson City on the Tusculum sideline.
For ETSU, the focus now shifts to one of the biggest tests on the 2026 schedule.
The Buccaneers will hit the road next Saturday to face North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Kickoff is scheduled for noon, with the game set to air on the ACC Network.
After dropping its season opener to Campbell, ETSU responded with a statement win against Tusculum. Now, the Buccaneers will look to carry that momentum into Chapel Hill.
