Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots football special teams lived up to their name highlighted by three blocks on the day, while the defense held the Phoenix to six points to earn a 10-6 win over Cumberland Saturday night at James H. Taylor, II Stadium.  With the win, Cumberlands improves to 3-2 on the year, including a 1-2 mark in conference play, while the Phoenix move to 2-3 overall and 0-3 in MSC play.

Cam Jones led the way for the Patriots with two blocks, one extra point and a field goal, while Damon Byrnes-Mitchell blocked a punt and made five tackles in the win.  Chandler Kaylor notched 12 tackles, including seven solo, as Adam Caudle and Jacobie Elkins finished with 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.  Myles Simon led the Patriots with 2.5 sacks as Kumi Sarpong Jr. had three tackles for loss and two sacks to finish with eight tackles.

Cumberland opened the game with an onside kick, which the Phoenix recovered.  On that possession, the Phoenix marched the ball up the field down to the two-yard line.  On third and goal Kendall Adams-Young made the stop, while Kaylor tackled Luke Holloway for a loss of one-yard to force the turnover on downs.  On the next Patriots defensive possession, UC held the Phoenix in check to force a punt.   On the punt Byrnes-Mitchell came unblocked off the right side and stretch out to block the punt.  The ball was batted down to the Phoenix 12 yard line, before it was recovered by Adam Foulk, who ran in it for a touchdown putting the Patriots ahead 7-0 with 2:53 remaining.  Neither team was able to score again on their next possession as UC held a 7-0 lead after the first quarter.


After driving the ball 39 yards up field, the Phoenix looked to get on the board with a 37-yard field goal, however Jones came around the end to block the kick and recovery the ball for the Patriots.  A Patriots three-and-out gave the ball back to Cumberland near midfield.  Two plays later Holloway found Joe Johnson for a 46-yard touchdown to make the score 7-6.  On the extra point, Jones came off the edge for his second block of the day to keep the Patriots in front 7-6 with 12:07 remaining.


Later in the quarter the Phoenix were driving near midfield again.  This time on a third and seven, Sarpong Jr. made the first of his two sacks in the game for a seven-yard loss and to force a punt.  UC looked to extend their lead as Ben Nixon passed for 29-yards to move the ball into Phoenix territory before the drive stalled. Cumberland looked to take the lead right before the half but their field goal attempt went wide left sending the game into halftime with the Patriots leading 7-6.

Both defense came out of halftime with strong performances in the third half as neither team was able to score.  Simon recorded 1.5 sacks in the period to help keep the Phoenix offense at-bay.  Cumberland opened the fourth quarter driving into their redzone.  The drive stalled as the Patriots defense made open field tackles to force a field goal, which ultimately went wide left keeping the score 7-6 with 12:15 remaining.  The two teams traded possession and then Nixon led a Patriots eight play, 56 yard drive.  He opened the drive with a 15-yard run to move the ball into Cumberland territory. UC continued to move the ball down to the five-yard line before Job Matossian converted a 23-yard field goal to extend Cumberlands lead to 10-6 with 3:10 remaining. 

The two teams traded possession and now the Phoenix regained the ball with 1:46 left.  After Cumberland earned a first down, Sarpong Jr. recorded his second sack of the game for a one-yard loss. That was Sarpong Jr. 21^st sack of his career which moves him into a tie with Brad Evans for second all-time in program history.  The Phoenix added one more first down before Simon recorded a sack on third down to close out the game. 


Cumberlands will return to the field Saturdsay, October 8, when they travel to McKenzie, TN to face #13 Bethel. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. EST with live video available here.

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