Williamsburg, KY – UC Football would go back to work at home on a cool, late-October night Saturday at James H. Taylor, II Stadium as they hosted the Rams of Bluefield for Homecoming. Cumberlands would score double-digits in each quarter of the contest on their way to a 50-17 victory over the Rams. The victory gives UC an 8-1 record overall and 3-1 now in MSC Appalachian Division play.
 
After both teams traded punts on their opening drives, UC would open up the scoring. After taking over on Bluefield's 48-yard line to start the drive, Milton Shelton would break off runs of 29 and 15 yards to give UC a first and goal from the four yard line. It would take four runs of a yard each, but Austin Hatfield would punch it in from a yard out to give the Patriots the early lead. The extra point by Devon McMillin was good, making it 7-0 Pats.
 
After UC lost possession on a fumble, the defense would go to work. Holding Bluefield to a three-and-out, Brad Montgomery would bust through the line on the punt and block it through the back of the endzone for a safety, making it 9-0 Patriots. The ensuing free kick would go out of bounds at the 50 yard line and Cumberlands would make short work of the drive. After a 19 yard run by Shelton, quarterback John Owens would find Nyre Holden on a 36 yard TD strike to widen the gap. The point after from McMillin was good, pushing the score to 16-0 after the first.
 
On the first possession of the second quarter, UC began the drive on their own 31 yard line. After 13 plays and working the ball to the Bluefield 20 yard line, McMillin was called upon for a 37 yard field goal which he would split through the uprights, making it 19-0 Patriots. Later in the quarter, the defense would come up big again. On another 4^th and long from their own 31 yards line, Bluefield's punt was blocked again, this time by Demarius Smith. Jeremiah Baker would come up to scoop the ball and take it 21 yards to the endzone for another Patriot touchdown. The PAT was good by McMillin, giving UC a 26-0 lead at halftime.
 
In the third, Cumberlands would put together an eight play drive on their first possession covering 56 yards capped by an eight yard TD run from Zalon Reynolds. The extra point by McMillin was good, extending the lead to 33-0. Bluefield would find the scoreboard for the first time on a nine yard scamper from quarterback Cason Whitt to wipe away the shutout opportunity on the Rams' ensuing drive. The PAT from Tanner Griffith was good, making it 33-7 Patriots. After a 50 yard kick return from Reynolds giving UC excellent field position, they were unable to really get the offense moving. McMillin was brought in for another field goal opportunity. His 41 yard attempt would bang off the left upright and through for three more for UC, making it 36-7. Bluefield's Griffith would get his first opportunity at a field goal as he would bury a 35 yard attempt through to cut into UC's lead at 36-10 entering the final 15 minutes of play.
 
As their drive carried over into the fourth, Reynolds would take the first play of the fourth 35 yards to pay dirt for his second rushing touchdown of the evening. The extra point from McMillin was good as UC continued to try and pull away at 43-10. The Rams' next drive was their final scoring drive of the night as they would put together a ten play drive of their own capped by a 17-yard TD pass from Whitt to Charles Black. Griffith's point after was good to make it 43-17 Patriots. Cumberlands would break away for one more score, this one a 49 yard TD strike from Owens to Brandon Stuckey. McMillin's extra point was good, giving UC the 50-17 win.
 
UC had 451 yards of offense in the game with 243 coming on the ground. Owens would come in to relieve starter Railond Garrett at quarterback and did well, going 11-21 for 198 yards and a pair of scores. Milton Shelton led the way on the ground with 23 carries for 128 yards. Reynolds finished with ten carries for 91 yards and two TDs. Seven different Patriots would record a catch on the night with four catching multiple passes. Austin Ysidro hauled in two for 67 yards while Nyre Holden had three for 37 yards and a score. Joronnie Hinton snagged two passes for 22 yards while Carter Nelson added two for 13 yards. Stuckey's lone reception was a TD.
 
As a unit defensively, UC tallied three sacks, eight tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two blocked punts. Tyler Pendleton led all tacklers with eight total (two solo). Baker tallied six stops (one solo) with a solo sack, a tackle for loss, and a 21 yard scoop-and-score on the blocked punt. Cameron Baxley, Robbie Garvin, Adam Johnson, Demarius Smith, and Brad Montgomery each chipped in five total tackles in the win.
 
UC now turns to Senior Day on October 27^th as they will host St. Andrews University for another MSC Appalachian Division matchup. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 pm with Senior Day festivities to be held before the game. Last season in the first meeting of the schools, UC defeated the Knights in Laurinburg, North Carolina by a score of 21-14. Live video of the contest can be seen here on the UC Sports Network.
 
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