Montgomery, AL – The UC football team jumped out to a 17-3 lead over the three quarters but it wasn't enough as the Patriots fell to Faulkner 23-20 in overtime Saturday afternoon at Billy Hilyer Stadium.  With the win the Eagles improve to 2-2 on the year, while the Patriots move to 2-2.

AP Parham led the way for UC with 12 receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.  Parham ties the Patriots single-game record for receptions tying Joe Daniel, who had 12 catches against Campbellsville on nearly 22 years ago.  Ben Nixon finished the day 24-35 for 167 yards and one touchdown, while Phillip Garner completed his lone pass for a 32-yard strike to Elijah Howard.  Martize Smith rushed for a game-high 51 yards.

Chandler Kayler led Cumberlands with ten tackles in the game, while Damon Byrnes Mitchell chipped in seven.  The Patriots totaled six sacks, which is the most since there win over Florida Memorial on September 11, 2021.  Cortez Brown recorded 2.5 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss resulting in 33 yards.  Dylan Preston added 1.5 sacs as Trenton Tuttle and Myles Simon each collected a sack. 

Kicker Job Matossian was perfect on the day converting a 47 yard and a 34 yard field goal, while going 2-2 on PATS.  The 47-yarder tied the school record for the longest made field as Matossian was the first player to hit from that distance since Mike Donnelly did it against Bethel on September 9, 2000.

Both teams traded three-and-outs to start the game and on UC's second possession they started to move the ball as Smith rushed for five yards.  Nixon then found Parham and Javarie White for 20 yards moving the ball into Faulkner territory.  After Garner rushed for a first down, UC's drive was halted and the Patriots were forced to punt.  The two teams traded possession to close out the quarter as the game remained scoreless.

Faulkner got on the board first in the second quarter with a 45-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead. Later in the period Cumberlands responded with a six play 58-yard drive.  Parham caught a pir of passes for 23-yards, before Smith rushes twice for a combined 14 yards bring the ball to Faulkner's 21.  Nixon then fired a laser 12-yard pass to Romeo McKnight to bring the ball to the nine.  On the next play, Nixon connected with Parham for the score putting UC in front 7-3.  Brown led the UC defense with a 14-yard sack to help force an Eagles three-and-out.  Cumberlands got the ball back and worked their way up the field setting up a Matossian 47-yard field goal as time expired to give the Patriots a 10-3 lead at the break.

The defense continued to pressure the Eagles quarterback in the third quarter as Preston and Simon combined for a seven-yard sack to force a Faulkner punt on the opening drive.  On the ensuing possession Smith rushed three times for 14 yards before Nixon connected with Parham for five yards.  On second and five, Nixon pitched the ball to Garner, who then threw it downfield for Elijah Howard for a 32-yard touchdown extending the lead to 17-3 with 10:56 left.  Faulkner missed a field goal on their next drive and the Patriots took the final 6:05 off the clock to take a 17-3 lead into the fourth period.

Faulkner added two scores in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 17-17 with 4:53 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Nixon completed three straight passes to pick up a first down at the Cumberlands 40.  The drive came to a halt after UC lost a fumble, however the Patriots defense came up with a stop on third and ten as Preston sacked the quarterback and Byrnes-Mitchell deflected a pass to force a turnover on downs.  UC wasn't able to score before time expired forcing overtime.

Cumberlands started with the ball first in overtime and Matossian converted a 34-yard field goal to give UC a 20-17 lead.  On Faulkner's possession the Eagles picked up one first down before Ben Anderson found Jaiveyon Tucker for the game-winning touchdown and the 23-20 final. 

The Patriots will return to action next Saturday, October 1, when they host Cumberland to cap off homecoming week.  The game is set for 7 p.m. with live video available here.

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