Williamsburg, KY – The Patriot Football team has concluded this year's preseason camp and now faces its 11 game schedule beginning this weekend as they travel to Lakeland, Florida to take on NAIA 11^th-ranked Southeastern University. Kickoff for Saturday's contest is set for 7 pm at Victory Field. Here are six things to watch for in this weekend's contest.

    1. Experience can play a big key in this contest.
UC returns 14 starters combined on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Southeastern only returns six players on their offense that tallied any yards last season, including just 12% of the rushing yards and 13% of their receiving yards.

    2. Season openers for both teams have been a strong point.
The Patriots are 3-1 all-time in season openers under the tutelage of Head Coach Matt Rhymer.  Southeastern is currently on a five-game winning streak at Victory Field and are 3-1 all-time in home openers. 

    3. New offensive coordinators look to make their mark early in the year.
Both teams turn to new offensive coordinators in the 2018 season. The Patriots welcome back Jay Bright, who coached quarterbacks in 2013, as their new offensive coordinator. Bright was an assistant most recently at Mississippi College before returning to Cumberlands.
 
Norman Joseph is the new OC at Southeastern and brings coaching experience that spans over five decades and both the NCAA and NAIA. Most recently, Joseph served as the quarterbacks coach at Millsaps College. Joseph has also served as head coach at Mississippi College, Louisiana College, and was the first head coach at Belhaven College.

    4. Controlling the line of scrimmage is a must have to be successful.
The Patriots starting offensive line includes two freshmen in center Jackson Norton and right tackle Logan Stephens. A nice array of experience both joins them in the starting five as well as backs them up on the depth chart to confront a four-man defensive front for the Fire that averages nearly 270 pounds.
 
Defensively, UC will churn in a number of men up front including five players who saw significant time on the field last year. This will be key in keeping the front line of defense fresh against an offensive line for Southeastern that comes in at an average of 6'5" and 340 pounds.

    5. Young rivalry between schools in Kentucky and Florida have leaned toward the Bluegrass State.
The Patriots are currently 2-0 all-time against teams from the state of Florida. Southeastern however is just 1-2 all-time against teams from the Bluegrass state, including two losses last season to Lindsey Wilson College. MSC schools from Kentucky went 9-3 last season against teams from Florida.

    6. What will year five have in store for both teams?
Head Coach Matt Rhymer enters his fifth season at the helm for the Patriots. Overall, the Patriots are 20-20 during his tenure at Cumberlands. Southeastern, led by Head Coach Keith Barefield, enters their fifth season as a varsity program in the NAIA. During their four years as a program thus far, the Fire hold a record of 29-9 overall.
 
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