Bluefield, WV – The Patriots opened their season with a 31-9 victory on the road against Bluefield University. Head Coach Shan Housekeeper remains a perfect 3-0 in season openers at UC after the come from behind performance out of the Pats today. UC struggled with penalties on Saturday, accumulating 15 for 134 yards, while the Rams had just three for 22 total yards. 
 
Cumberlands scored 31 unanswered points to move to 1-0 on the year. The offense tallied 338 yards of total offense, gaining 240 on the ground and 98 through the air. Drew Gregg made his first appearance for UC at quarterback and went 13-25 from the air while adding a pair of rushing TD's as well. JB Carlisle and Trent Davis also added a rushing TD each for UC's other two touchdowns. Carlisle compiled 179 yards on the ground on 24 attempts while Davis added 40 yards off 13 carries. Davis was also effective in the passing game with four catches for 33 yards. DK Edwards had four catches and 24 yards at wideout as well.
 
Defensively, the Pats held the Rams to 213 yards of total offense with just 38 yards coming from the run. After giving up a touchdown midway through the first quarter, UC's defense was dominant, holding the Rams to one field goal throughout the remainder of the contest and just three first-downs in the second half. Reagan Cherry tied for the team leader in tackles with seven and intercepted a pass for the Patriots only forced turnover of the game. Michael Banks-Mason added seven tackles with one for loss while Hunter Zirkle made six tackles and two sacks in his Patriot debut. Major Newman also recorded a sack for UC's third of the day.
 
"It's good to get a win," said Coach Housekeeper. "We had to overcome some self-inflicted wounds, but we regrouped at the half and came out with a better purpose and executed at a higher level."
 
Bluefield received the opening kickoff and extended their drive after a rouging the kicker penalty on the Pats. UC's defense stepped up and forced another punt but were forced back out on the field after a fumble a few plays into the offensive possession. The Rams took the ball at UC's 48-yardline and made the most of the short field, scoring the first touchdown of the game with 1:18 remaining in the quarter. BU would miss the extra point, taking a 6-0 lead into the second quarter.
 
Both teams traded possessions to start the second, before Bluefield utilized a 59-yard gain to get in field goal range and increase their lead to 9-0 with 7:35 left in the half. UC got the ball on the 25 to start the next possession. An 18-yard completion to Davis gave the Pats a first-down on third and 14 and pushed the momentum in UC's favor. Davis earned another first-down the next play with an 11-yard rush to move the ball into Rams territory. Gregg connected with Edwards before Davis picked up another fresh set of downs for the Pats. Jalavis Wilson caught a seven-yard pass before a Carlisle 32-yard run put UC in the redzone. A holding penalty made it fourth and goal from the four yard line. The Patriots made the decision to go for it, and it paid off as Gregg took the quarterback keeper into the endzone for Cumberlands first score of the day. Job Matossian jogged on and nailed the XP to make it a 9-7 ballgame into the half.
 
 
UC went three and out to open the second half, but their defense quickly forced a punt of their own. The following possession, UC took advantage of a Rams mistake as they recovered a muffed punt on BU's 19 yardline. A Cade Lamb reception made it first and goal for UC before Drew Gregg scrambled into the endzone for his second touchdown of the day to give the Pats the 14-9 lead.
 
 
The Patriots defense continued to shine as they forced back-to-back punts to end the third quarter. The offense marched into field goal range behind a steady string of Carlisle carries. Matossian capped the drive with a 35-yard field goal to extend the lead to eight with 8:41 to play.
 
A penalty on the kickoff and great coverage from the Patriots special team's unit pinned the Rams deep in their own territory. UC's defense forced yet another three and out after Zirkle batted down a pass inside the five to give the Pats the ball back with great field position. Edwards caught a six-yard pass from Gregg to start the drive before a big 24-yard gain out of Carlisle put UC in the redzone once again. This set up Trent Davis to find the endzone from 11 yards out for his first TD of the year, and increase the lead to double digits.
 
 
Bluefield's next possession lasted just 20 seconds, as three straight incompletions have the Pats the ball right back. Carlisle started the drive with a 21-yard gain, but the Pats could not pick up another first down and were forced to punt.
 
The defense continued to make plays as Reagan Cherry picked off BU's pass and returned it 16 yards to give UC the ball on the Bluefield 14. The Pats stayed perfect from the redzone as Carlisle took the first play 14 yards into the endzone. The Oxford, AL native powered through multiple tackles and got a push from his offensive line to make it 31-9 in favor of the Patriots with just under three minutes to play.
 
 
Cumberlands defense halted a late scoring effort from the Rams, and regained possession with 39 seconds on the clock. UC lined up in victory formation as the clock ran out with Cumberlands taking the 22-point season opening win.
 
The Pats will be back in the burg next Saturday the 14^th for their home opener against the University of Pikeville.
 
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