Williamsburg, KY – Coming off the largest come-from-behind win since at least 2004, the UC football team looks to carry that momentum on the road as they face their toughest test yet when they travel up I75 to take on 16^th-ranked Georgetown Saturday afternoon with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.  The Patriots are 6-2 on the season and have won the last meeting at Toyota Stadium 14-7 in 2009.  This will be the 35^th meeting between these two schools with Georgetown holding a 28-6 edge in the series with a 23-7 advantage in conference games.  The last two years the games between these two schools have been decided by one score.

Georgetown enters the game 6-2 overall and 3-2 in conference games and ranked #16 in the NAIA after defeating Campbellsville 42-3 last Saturday.  The Tigers are 3-0 at home with wins over Thomas More (27-17), Pikeville (52-14), and Ave Maria (42-10).  Georgetown is strong defensively limiting opponents to 18.0 points per game, while holding the opposition to 65.4 yards on the ground, which ranks third in the NAIA.  The Tigers have a balance offense that puts up 359.3 yards per game and could keep the Patriots defense off balance.

"Georgetown has a great tradition and is always a rivalry game. Both of these teams take a lot of pride in their football program and that results in some great match-ups," said Head Coach Matt Rhymer. 

Build off the Second Half

The Patriots had a forgettable first half last week against Pikeville and found themselves trailing 38-14 at halftime.  However, the last 30 minutes of football was unforgettable as the Patriots rallied of 27 points, shutout the Bears offense and tallied two timely interceptions that helped flip the field and lead to scores.  A major part of the comeback was the return of Martize Smith and Nate Hancock. Smith finished with a season-high 185 yards on 27 carries and two scores, while Hancock notched the Patriots first interception in the contest.  Their presence on the field provided the spark that the team needed to aide in the comeback.  Now UC has another tough test in front of them and they'll continue to turn to Smith and Hancock to lead their respective sides of the ball.  

"Martize and Nate made huge play to turn the tide last week.  Those guys went out there made big plays and made things start to go our way," said Coach Rhymer.  He added "Martize elevates everyone around him and they play harder when he's out there."

Another bright spot for the Patriots last week was Jakob Greer, who threw for four scores in his first career start.  Greer shared the wealth as four different receivers each notched a touchdown in the game.  Alonzo Russell tallied 73 yards on three catches last week as he is one of five Patriots receivers with over 100 yards on the season. 

"Jakob has brought in and made some big time plays and there were a lot of bright spots to take away from," said Coach Rhymer.  

Win in the Trenches

Georgetown is big and physical on both sides of the ball and likes to control the pace of the game.  The Tigers are ranked third in the NAIA in run defense limiting opponents to 65.4 yards per game, to go along with 32 sacks, which is second most in the country.  It's imperative that the Patriots offensive line steps up to the challenge creating holes for UC's run game, while providing Greer with time to throw.  If Cumberlands is able to win the battle in the trenches it'll create opportunities for UC to convert a big strike with the weapons on the outside. 

On the flip side, UC has continued to create havoc for opposing offenses with 22 sacks, which is second most in the Bluegrass Division. 15 different Patriot have gotten to the quarterback this season led by Kendal Adams-Young, who has tallied a team-high 5.0 sacks. Kumi Sarpong  Jr. has made 4.5 sacks and ranks fourth all-time in program history. This duo along with the rest of the Patriot front seven need to continue to pressure the quarterback while shutting down running lanes to neutralize the Tigers offense.  Expect big games from linebackers Adam Caudle and Adam Chaney in the middle of the field as the look to neutralize Georgetown's rushing attack, while continuing to be a force in the pass defense.

Win the Turnover Battle

The Patriots comes into Saturday holing a +4 advantage in the turnover game as they forced a pair of turnovers last Saturday.  UC now has 14 interceptions on the season, which ranks eighth in the NAIA as those turnovers have flipped the field to put their offense in prime position to score.  Jamar Roberts and Hancock tallied pick last week to become two of the eight Patriots to record an interception this season.  UC has forced multiple interceptions in each of their six wins this season and if they're able to do it on Saturday and win the turnover battle, Cumberlands will have the opportunity to return to the Burg with a three game win-streak. 

"We have to continue to play with confidence and make sure we are tighten the coverage and compete for every ball. It's also a game where we are going to need to win the one-on-one matchups," said Coach Rhymer.

Special Teams Needs to Continue to be Special

One of the most consistent aspect for the Patriots have been their special teams.  The trio of Harlin  Brown, Trip Holloway, and Anthony Velasquez continue to make the most of their opportunities.  Brown is averaging 39.96 yards per punt, while Velasquez is averaging 57.2 yards per kickoff as they both continue to pin opposing offensive deep.  Holloway is 3-5 on field goals and 43-46 on extra points.  This could be one of the main difference makers on Saturday especially if it's a tight game late in the second half.
 
Gameday Information

Fans can purchase tickets for the game at a cost of $15 per ticket for adult and $5 for students.  Fans can tune into the game on the Georgetown Sports Network for live video here. In addition, The Country Giant 104.3 will be broadcasting to their local markets or the Country Giant App, while live stats of the game will be available here.

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