Crestview Hills, KY – The UC football team had two blocked punts that yielded ten points however it wasn't enough as the Patriots fell in their season finale 43-10 to Thomas More Saturday afternoon. Cumberlands closes out the season with a 5-5 record including a 3-8 mark in conference play.
Martize Smith led the offense with 64 yards on the ground, while the Patriots had five players finish with at least five tackles in the game.
Kumi Sarpong Jr. led the way with seven tackles, one tackle for loss and six solo tackles, while
Walker Dunn and
Kendall Adams-Young notched six tackles each. Adams-Young and
Myles Simon combined for a pair of sacks in the game.
Jonathan Heralus and
Deion King each recorded a block as
Trip Holloway averaged 40.2 yards over nine punts, including a 59-yarder.
Midway through the opening quarter the Saints took advantage of a Patriots turnover and scored a touchdown to go ahead 6-0. Thomas More added a safety, before scoring on their next possession to take a 15-0 lead. Two possessions later, Dunn recorded a tackle for loss to help force a punt. During that punt Heralus charged and blocked the punt, which was recovered by
Jakobie Hughes, who ran it back 30-yards for the score. It was the Patriots third blocked punt for a touchdown this season and cut the deficit to 15-7. The Saints added another score to extend their lead to 22-7 after the first quarter.
UC's special teams was at it again in the second quarter this time
Deion King got his hand on the ball to block the kick which was recovered at the 19-yard line. The Patriots took advantage of the short field as
Job Matossian converted a 29 yard field goal to cut the deficit to 22-10. For Matossian it was his ninth field goal of the season which puts him fifth all-time for made field goals in a season. Thomas More added a score making it 29-10 and the Saints looked to score again in the closing seconds of the half however Adams-Young sacked Blaine Espinosa on the final play of the half. That sack was Cumberlands 43 sack of the season, which is the second most in program history trailing only the 1987 team who had 44 sacks.
Thomas More outscored the Patriots 14-0 in the second half for the 43-10 final.
Cumberlands concluded the season with eight blocks kicked, blocking four punts, three field goals, and an extra point.
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