Williamsburg, KY – For just the fourth time in historic rivalry, the Brass Lantern will be contested in the season opener as the Cumberlands Patriots are set to host Union Saturday at 7 p.m. at James H. Taylor, II Stadium.  While it's the 42^nd overall meeting and 26^th time that these two schools will meet with the Brass Lantern on the line, the Patriots have their sights set on ushering in a new era of Patriots Football.

Shan Housekeeper, introduced in January as the sixth head coach in Patriots history, controls the sidelines focusing on getting this era off on the right foot. 

"We have seen tremendous growth from all the players since the start of spring ball," said Coach Housekeeper.  "Everyone is excited to get this season underway, especially since we have a chance to compete for the Brass Lantern."

Football is Back in the Burg:

Cumberlands will kick off in front of a home crowd for the third consecutive season.  The Patriots have planned this as a "Red Out" for fans to pack Taylor Stadium under the lights.  UC is looking for their second straight and seventh season-opening win in the last eight seasons. The Patriots are 27-10 all-time in season and home openers in the program history.

"Our goal is to produce a program that everyone can joy and be a part of," said Coach Houskeeper.  "We have a great game day environment from the administration to the coaches to the fans and we will play hard, and represent our institution."

Tickets for the game can be purchased at the gate for $8 for an adult, $5 for students, and all UC students, faculty, and staff get in for free.

Tenacious Defense to Lead the Way:

The Patriots have returned seven of their eight leading tacklers from a year ago and have found a mix of returners and newcomers that will make an impact on the field throughout the season.  Last season, Cumberlands' intense pass rush pressured opponents recording 25 sacks and 15 interceptions.  Adam Caudle led the Patriots with 74 tackles, while Walker Dunn and Chandler Kaylor finished with 46 and 44 tackles, respectfully.  Dunn is transitioning to linebacker this season, and the coaching staff could see him have a breakout season this year.  Kendall Adams-Young, Kumi Sarpong Jr., and Myles Simon return  for the Patriots defensive line, while Jacobie Elkins and Damon Byrnes-Mitchell highlight returners for the UC secondary.  The Patriots are looking at these players to continue to build on their strong seasons in 2021 and have an impact this year, while several newcomers will look to start their Patriot career on a high note.

"Our entire defense has been practicing at a high level and executing well," said Coach Housekeeper.  "Kendall and Walker were impact players a year and could have an even bigger impact in different ways this year."

Get the Offense Off to a Quick Start:

In 2021, the Patriots averaged 56.0 points per game over the first four weeks of the season, in part to stellar play across the board.  This year with a new scheme and coaching staff, Cumberlands will look to mirror that fast start from a season ago.  Leading the Patriots offense is Ben Nixon, who enters his second season as the starting quarterback after tallying 15 touchdown passes and 1,091 yards in 2021.  Additionally, UC rushed for 1,965 yards. With a plethora of quality running backs led by Martize Smith, Phillip Garner, and Devin Jones, Cumberlands could have one of the deepest backfields in both the Mid-South Conference and the NAIA.

"The offensive unit has been improving daily and we are excited for things to come this season," said Coach Housekeeper.

Brass Lantern is on the Line:

This is the first time these two schools have met since the 2019 season, and Cumberlands is looking for its fourth consecutive Brass Lantern victory, which would be the third longest win streak in the history of the rivalry.  Cumberlands holds the overall series lead 29-12 and has taken home the Brass Lantern 17 times.  UC has won the last six meetings in Williamsburg, and this marks the first time since the 2009-2010 season that the Patriots have hosted the game in consecutive meetings.

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