NAIA Top 25 Poll

Kansas City, MO – Coming off of a 47-15 win over (RV) Bethel last Saturday, the University of the Cumberlands football team has leaped into the NAIA Top-25 Coaches' Poll for the first time this season, NAIA officials announced Monday.  The Patriots earned 102 points to be ranked 21^st in the poll.

It marks the fourth consecutive season that UC has cracked the top-25 after they were receiving votes the past three weeks.  Cumberlands is 4-0 on the season defeating their opponents by an average of 44.0 points per game.

The Patriots have been strong in all facets of the game this season with both their offense and defense ranked in the top-ten of the NAIA.  UC is averaging 56.0 points per game, which ranks second in the country, while their defense is ranked sixth limiting opponents to 12.0 points per game.  UC's special teams has earned a pair of conference accolades so far this season as well.

Cumberlands has been led by their offense, which is averaging 450.8 yards per game.  UC is seventh in the NAIA with 240.0 rushing yards per game and has produced 210.75 passing yards per game.  Ben Nixon leads the offense throwing for 638 yards and adding 214 yards on the ground.  The sophomore quarterback has accounted for 16 touchdowns on the year, while posting a 62.0% completion rate. Martize Smith leads UC's rushing attack with 265 yards, while Brandon Stuckey has notched 312 receiving yards to go along with six total touchdowns.

The Patriots defense has been on fire, forcing at least three turnovers in each of their first four games.  UC is ranked second in the NAIA with ten interceptions on the year, with three Patriots notching multiple interceptions.  In addition to Cumberlands secondary, the Patriots front seven have combined for 16 sacks for 109 yards.  Kumi Sarpong Jr. leads the way with 4.5 sacks, while Kendall-Adams Young has already tallied a career-high four sacks.  Tae Hammond and Walker Dunn leads the team with 18 and 17 tackles, respectfully.

The trio of Harlin Brown, Tripp Holloway, and Anthony Velasquez have been fantastic for the Patriots this season.  Brown is averaging 41.64 yards per punt, which ranks seventh in the NAIA, while Holloway has converted a pair of field goals to go along with 29 extra points. Velasquez has taken 30 kickoffs this season, recording eight touchbacks, and averaging 59.9 yards per kickoff.

Cumberlands was one of four new teams in the poll this week.  Lindsey Wilson is still atop the poll with 18 first place votes and a 4-0 record, while MSC foe Georgetown is ranked eighth. 

The Patriots will face their first test since getting into the top-25 on Saturday when they travel to Lebanon, TN to face Cumberland.  Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. EST with live video available here.

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