Tusculum closes out its 2009 football campaign on Saturday, and while it's been a disappointing season, the Pioneers still have one more shot at glory.

The Pioneers make the short trip to Jefferson City to take on arch-rival Carson-Newman and try to win on the banks of Mossy Creek for the first time since joining the South Atlantic Conference.

"There are probably only about 65 people that really think the game is going to be won by the Pioneers, and that's going to be the 65 on the bus going over there," said Pioneer head coach Frankie DeBusk. "Our players and coaches believe we are going to win the game. We are going to work as hard we can to end this season on a positive note."

The season as a whole hasn't been as positive as the Pioneers would have liked. Coming off last year's SAC championship and a playoff run, Tusculum was picked to finish second in the league.

They've struggled, going 3-6, 2-4. Both of the Pioneers' two conference victories have come in the last two weeks, and DeBusk hopes that they can keep the momentum going.

"I am going to have the same attitude this week that we've had the previous four or five," he said. "We are playing the spoiler. We have nothing to lose. We are going over there to give it a great effort and try to win the ball game."

It won't be easy. Carson-Newman is 8-2, 6-0 and has already clinched its 21st South Atlantic Conference title. Plus, Carson-Newman just doesn't lose at home. The last time Tusculum won at Carson-Newman, it was 1934 and Sam Doak was head coach of the Pioneers.

"There is a bunch of tradition there. It's a hard place to play," DeBusk said. "They have a good football team there. But the way this year has gone, this very easily could be the year. It's been a crazy roller-coaster ride."

The Eagles have had somewhat of a roller-coaster ride themselves. After starting the season an unheard of 0-2, coach Ken Sparks' team has reeled off eight straight victories. Carson-Newman has blown out some conference opponents that it's traditionally been challenged by and played close games with teams it's traditionally throttled.

Carson-Newman seems to have its season right where the Eagles want it, having already locked up the conference crown and an almost assured playoff berth. DeBusk said don't expect them to let up on Saturday.

"They are still playing for a lot," he said. "The way the regional rankings are, they are still trying to keep home field advantage. They are going to give it everything they've got. They are not going to let up, I think. They never have let up, so I don't expect them to now."

What makes the Eagles so tough is their tried and true veer option offense. It's a challenge for any team to stop. The Pioneers have seen the option three times already this year against Charleston, Brevard and Lenoir-Rhyne, so DeBusk hopes that Tusculum will be better prepared than ever before.

"I am hoping, and I think this ... because Lenoir-Rhyne and Brevard are running the triple option, it is creating more people to practice it," DeBusk said. "In years past, Carson-Newman was the only one who ran the option, so you only got ready for it for one ball game. I think we played better every time we've seen it. We are not as good right now on defense as we want to be, but we are playing with a lot of emotion right now. By practicing it as the year has gone along, I hope it gives us a good chance to defend it on Saturday."

Saturday marks the final game for Tusculum's seniors. DeBusk said he has put the challenge to them to lead out the team one more time in search of victory.

"I have told our seniors they have four more quarters left," DeBusk said. "The majority of them will never put a football helmet on again. They need to play with the same emotion and attitude we have the last two weeks and let the chips fall where they may. We can't accomplish the goals that we wanted, but we can sure go have a lot of fun and create some problems for a good football team in Carson-Newman."

Game time is 1 p.m.

Elsewhere around the South Atlantic Conference; Lenoir-Rhyne closes out its year at Catawba; Mars Hill hopes to keep its playoff hopes alive at home against Wingate; and Brevard is at Newberry.