Tusculum closes out its home schedule on Saturday when Mars Hill comes across the mountain for Homecoming at Pioneer Field.

The two rivals have met 25 times dating back to 1922, and although the Pioneers have a decided advantage in the series, it's always one of the most anticipated games of the year.

Mars Hill has only beaten Tusculum once in the last nine meetings -- the infamous Mud Bowl game of 2002.

Mars Hill coach Tim Clifton and Tusculum coach Frankie DeBusk are the second and third longest serving active coaches in the South Atlantic Conference, respectively.

They've squared off 11 times in the past, so DeBusk knows what Tusculum has in store.

"Mars Hill is very predictable. I can tell you what they are going to do," DeBusk said. "They are going to do what Tim Clifton has done since I've known him. They are going to be a tight end oriented team. They are going to run it to the tight end. They are going to run a power game at you, pull a guard every now and then and try to get a little more on that side of the ball than you have. They are going to give the ball to (Jonas) Randolph and try to beat you."

Randolph is the head and shoulders rushing leader in the South Atlantic Conference. He has 1,358 yards rushing. The next closest is 500 yards behind.

Randolph has 244 carries this season. Tusculum has 204 as a team.

Stopping Randolph is the key for the Pioneers.

"I think that's bottom line. He has 12 rushing touchdowns. He has almost 1,400 yards rushing. If you look at our stats from a defensive standpoint, we are not very good at stopping the run. They are really good at running the football. They have a good offensive line that is good at opening holes for Randolph.

"He is a unique running back. He is not one that is going to run over you. He is not going to take off, out run you and score a big, long touchdown. He is very patient in the back field. He finds his holes. He has great vision, good balance. He is going to turn 2 and 3-yard gains into 8 and 10-yard gains. If we can tackle him, I think we have a great opportunity to win the game."

The Pioneers (2-6, 1-4) hope to build off last week's win at Newberry. It as Tusculum's first conference win of the year.

Mars Hill (6-2, 4-1), on the other hand, is challenging at the top of the conference standings and hoping to nail down a playoff berth with wins in its final two contests.

"My hat's off to Mars Hill. They are winning close ball games, and that's why they are 6-2," DeBusk said. "Unfortunately, we are 2-6. We are in ball games, but we are not winning them. They are doing a great job finishing. We are going to be challenged."

DeBusk believes Tusculum's passing attack will be a tipping point for the Pioneers because the Lions haven't had to contend with a team that throws the ball 45 times a game.

"An advantage I think we have is look at who they've played ... they have yet to play Wingate, who likes to throw it a bunch; they did play Newberry, but it was not good weather; they played Catawba in a driving rain storm where no one could throw it," the coach said.

There is a 50 percent chance of rain on Saturday, but DeBusk hopes that with everything going on at the game, there will still be a big turnout.

It's the final home game of the year. It's senior day for 13 Pioneers. It's Homecoming. It's induction day for the Tusculum Sports Hall of Fame. It's Halloween.

"It would be awesome if you could fill up the stands not only for our seniors but for all the alumni that is coming back to see this game," DeBusk said. "This season hasn't been what we wanted it to be, but if we can go out with a bang in our last home game it will be much, much sweeter."
Game time is 2:30 p.m.

Elsewhere around the South Atlantic Conference, Catawba is at Brevard; Carson-Newman travels to Wingate; and Lenoir-Rhyne entertains Newberry.