Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots are set to take on the 13th ranked Tigers of Georgetown College on Saturday, looking for a huge win to get back over .500 in Mid-South Conference play. UC enter the game 7-30 all-time against the Tigers but have won two out of their last three when playing on the road at Toyota Stadium.
Handling Adversity
UC are coming off a devastating loss at home to Cumberland University and look to bounce back with a great performance on Saturday. The Pats gave up 49 points on Saturday, their highest of the season, but Coach Shan Housekeeper and his team have responded with a good week of practice in preparation for the upcoming showdown with GC.
"I thought we practiced well this week," said Coach Housekeeper. "We continued to have the desire to improve and work to get better … It defines who we are as a program, and our guys have handled the adversity well."
Stay Disciplined
"The more disciplined team that commits fewer mistakes will likely determine the outcome of the game when you get into these close matchups," said Housekeeper when asked about preparing to face his alma-mater. Last Saturday UC committed four turnovers, throwing two picks and fumbling twice, giving the Phoenix multiple short field situations which, they took advantage of.
The Tigers enter the weekend ranked seventh in the NAIA, committing just 33 penalties through seven games for an average of less than 4.5 per contest. UC has seen some struggles in this area, committing just over seven penalties per game for over 570 yards total on the season. Coach Housekeeper emphasized discipline to his team this week saying, "When we have discipline, we function and succeed at a high level."
Explosive Plays
Cumberlands has shown glimpses of explosiveness on both sides of the football this year. They rank in the top-12 in the country in sacks and interceptions which represent momentum shifting plays in tight games. On the offensive side of the ball, UC's longest play from scrimmage is a 43-yard completion from Drew Gregg to DK Edwards. The Pats have also seen explosive kick returns as Jahmal Hutsell has a long of 71 on the season while Adam Foulk recorded a 57-yard return just last weekend for his longest of the year.
"We have to create big plays, break a few tackles, and throw the ball down the field at a high rate," said Housekeeper."
The Tigers have shown the ability to stop the big play on defense this season. They have not given up a rush over 40 yards this season and have allowed two passes over 50-yards through seven games. Offensively, the Tigers have one of the most talented running backs in the MSC, averaging over 120 yards rushing per game. He shows the ability to create big plays, which the Patriots defense has prepared to minimize this weekend.
Kickoff is slated for 1:30 PM ET at Toyota Stadium in Georgetown, KY on Saturday. Find live video here with live stats here.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, YouTube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
