Williamsburg, KY – UC football outscored the Phoenix of Cumberland University 23-14 in the second half, but were stopped on a late two-point conversion attempt as they were defeated on Saturday night at James H. Taylor, II Stadium 42-40 in Williamsburg. The game, sponsored by Senture, was a battle of non-conference foes as both teams were looking to start their season off at 2-0. The loss moves the Patriots to 1-1 overall on the year, the fourth straight year UC has began the season as such.
 
UC would open the game with possession, but would have to punt it away. The Phoenix would take over on their 20 yard line and pick up a first down on a Patriots' offsides penalty. Two plays later, CU's Dezmon Huntley would target Ladarius Rodgers, but was picked off by Jay Woods who returned it back to the CU 15 yard line, giving the Patriots a possession starting inside the Phoenix' red zone. Three plays later, it was Josiah Robbins calling his own number and taking it to the end zone from five yards out for a UC touchdown. The point after by Joe Rose was good, sending the Patriots ahead 7-0. Both teams would then trade possessions before CU would find a rhythm. With 35 seconds left in the 1^st quarter, CU's Joseph Rushin would find the end zone for the first time on the night, capping off a 10 play, 92 yard drive. The extra point by Pablo Dongarro Travecedo was good, tying the game at 7-7 entering the 2^nd quarter.
 
UC's drive to start the second quarter would stall on a fourth and one as the Phoenix' defense would come up big with a stop, sending the momentum to their sideline. CU would march down the field on a six play drive covering 62 yards before Rushin would hit paydirt again from a yard out for his second score of the night. Travecedo's PAT was converted, giving the Phoenix a 14-7 lead. UC would answer on their next drive after a 33 yard kick return by Shon Jones, giving the Patriots the ball at their 42 yard line. On third and seven, Robbins would go to the air and find a streaking Jalen Smith down the sideline for a 55 yard touchdown pass. Rose's point after was good, notching the game back up at 14-14 with just over 10 minutes left in the half.
 
Another UC penalty would give the Phoenix good starting field position on the following drive as Huntley would find Denarius Toliver down the field for a big 49 yard pickup, making it first and goal from the nine yard line. There, Huntley would keep it on the next play and take it to the endzone for a CU score. The extra point was good, pushing the Phoenix back on top 21-14. On the ensuing kickoff, Jones would break free down the sideline for 82 yards, giving the Patriots unbelievable field position starting the drive on the CU 12 yard line. After picking up a first down at the two yard line, two big plays for negative yardage would push the Patriots back to the 18 yard line on fourth and goal. Rose would come in and convert a 35 yard field goal to cut the CU lead down to 21-17. After punts by both teams on their next possessions, CU would add to their lead on a nine play drive on a third score by Rushin from one yard out and a Travecedo PAT, pushing the lead to 28-17 entering half.
 
Cumberland's first drive of the second half would stall deep in their own territory as they would have to punt from their own two yard line. The altered punt by Matthew Alter would only net six yards, giving UC the ball extraordinary starting field position at the CU eight yard line. It would take four plays, but Kevin Claussen would punch it into pay dirt on fourth and one for the UC touchdown. The PAT by Rose was good, cutting the Phoenix lead to 28-24. The teams would trade three-and-outs on their next possessions, but the punt by UC's Devon McMillin was muffed by Shedrick Kirk and recovered by UC's Austin Ysidro on the CU 26 yard line. The Patriots' drive would stall out, but this time Rose would come up with a 37 yard field goal, making it a one point game at 28-27 CU.
 
After trading possessions again, the Phoenix would find their way into the endzone at the start of the fourth quarter on another one yard carry by Rushin, his fourth rushing TD of the game. The point after was good, giving CU a 35-27 lead with just over 13 minutes left. The ensuing kickoff by Travecedo was then fumbled away by the Patriots as David Emanuel would recover for CU, giving them excellent starting field position at the UC 15 yard line. Huntley would then call his own number on back-to-back plays, finding the end zone from eight yards out for his second score of the night. The PAT was converted, making it 42-27 Phoenix.
 
After a 47 yard kick return by Hunter Miniard on the following kickoff, UC would charge down the field. Coby Jones would come in at quarterback for the Patriots and lead his team as five different players would carry the ball on the 10 play, 47 yard drive capped off by a 1 yard TD run by Austin Hatfield. The extra point by Rose was good, making it 42-34 CU. After the Phoenix were held to three-and-out, the Patriots would start their next possession on the CU 40 yard line after the 29 yard punt was returned for 19 yards by Robbie Repasz.
 
UC would then nickel and dime their way back down the field again with five minutes to play. After picking up two first downs on the drive, Jones on second and 10 would target his man down the field but would be picked off by the Phoenix. A pass interference penalty though would negate the interception and give UC a first and goal from the CU nine yard line. On third and three, Hatfield would have his number called again as he found his way into the end zone for the second time on the night, making it 42-40 Phoenix with a 1:33 to play. After a UC timeout, the Patriots would come out looking to convert on the two-point conversion. The jet sweep to Shon Jones was snuffed out though as he was stopped short of the end zone, leaving the game at 42-40. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by CU's Kris Parker. After three quarterback kneeldowns, the Phoenix would come away with the win, their first win in Williamsburg since 2001. It is also the first time CU has won back-to-back games against the Patriots since 2001-2002.
 
Robbins would end the night 9-21 through the air for 100 yards and a TD. Seph Burke would lead the way on the ground for UC with 70 yards on 15 carries. Jalen Smith was the top target for receivers with two catches for 61 yards and a TD. UC would end the night with just 227 yards of total offense compared to the Phoenix' 423 yards. Defensively, UC's Adam Johnson led the way with 13 total tackles (5 solo) with a half sack. Jeremiah Baker, Jay Woods, and Cole Genders would all pitch in with nine total tackles each.
 
The Patriots return to action next Saturday, September 9^th as they hit the road for the first time this season. UC will take on the Wildcats of Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 pm eastern time.

The 2017 Patriot Football season is brought to you by Holston Gases, the official presenting corporate partner for UC Football.
 
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