Williamsburg, KY – The University of the Cumberlands football team returns home for the final time this season, hosting No. 21 Georgetown for Senior Day on Saturday at James H. Taylor II Stadium. The Patriots enter the matchup at 4-5 overall, while the Tigers come in at 5-3. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET. UC have defeated the Tigers just one time int he last five years, in a 24-23 road victory back in 2022.
 
Cumberlands is receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll after another strong performance in last week's overtime loss at Cumberland University. The Patriots rallied from a three-score deficit in the final 10 minutes to tie the game and force overtime before falling 40-37.
 
"I think it shows the true grit and resolve of our players," said Head Coach Shan Housekeeper. "Their passion for the program and the university and everything that goes into that. We get down three scores, 10 minutes to go in the game for the second time this year, and we battle back and tie it up. We just have to close the deal in overtime. I was proud of how our guys continue to compete. A lot of programs in that situation would just ride it out to the end. Our guys do not do that. They're going to fight to the end."
 
Senior Sendoff
Saturday will mark the final home game for a senior class that has been instrumental in the program's development under Housekeeper's leadership. Among them is quarterback Drew Gregg, who has thrown for 2,170 yards and 25 touchdowns this season, ranking among the national leaders in passing.
 
"The number one objective is to send these seniors out on a high note and show them how much we care about them," Housekeeper said. "This senior class includes a lot of the first recruiting class that we really had, and they've shown real strength and resolve. There are some impactful players in that group. Drew is not only a great leader, but a great player and a great man. We want to do right by them and show how much we appreciate their effort and sacrifice."
 
UC will recognize, Jackson Ray, Michael West, JB Carlisle, Jonathan Heralus, Adam Foulk, Jahmal Hutsell, Kantrel Smith, and Gregg alongside manager Zoie Brown for all their hard work and dedication to the Patriots Football Program.
 
Execution and Efficiency
Cumberlands continues to rank among the Mid-South's most productive offenses, averaging over 425 yards and nearly 34 points per game. The Patriots are averaging 249 passing yards and 176 rushing yards per contest.
 
"Execution is the difference for us all season long," Housekeeper said. "The higher level we can execute, the more success we have. There are times we've executed at a very high level and produced well, and times when execution lags and production does too. Getting our kids to understand that direct correlation is a big part of our development."
 
UC has also excelled at finishing drives, converting 84 percent of its red-zone opportunities this season. Kicker Job Matossian has added stability, converting five field goals over the last two weeks.
 
"When you get into the red zone, you want to finish with seven, not three," Housekeeper said. "That's always the objective. However, points are at a premium in a conference this competitive, so we have to make sure we put some on the board when we are in that situation."
 
Third-Down Battle
Cumberlands has been solid in key down situations, converting on 41 percent of its third-down attempts this season while holding opponents to under 29 percent. That success has allowed the Patriots to extend drives offensively and force critical stops on defense in recent weeks.
 
Georgetown, on the other hand, has struggled in this area, converting just 34 percent of its third-down attempts while allowing opponents to move the chains 43 percent of the time. With both teams evenly matched statistically, third-down efficiency could play a deciding role in Saturday's contest.
 
Defensive Focus
On defense, the Patriots have continued to create pressure up front and limit opponents on third down. Georgetown brings one of the conference's most balanced attacks into Saturday's matchup, averaging 354 yards and 29 points per game, led by quarterback Gehrig Slunaker and running back Guy Bailey, who has 688 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
 
"It all comes down to consistency," Housekeeper said. "Consistency in our execution, consistency in our technique, and consistency in our eye discipline. Those are the things that we've got to continue to work on and show the importance of. If we can execute with discipline, good things happen."
 
Team Culture
With the season coming to a close after Saturday, Housekeeper reflects on what he has seen from his team from within throughout the whole season, and that is the relationships and lessons being built every day.
 
"I think people don't understand how much these kids care about each other," he said. "Before team meetings, guys are just in there talking and laughing. The connections they've built are special. One of our top values as a program is relationships, and I think our kids understand the value of that. We're developing men to be proud of, and I'm proud of these guys. They're learning in a compressed season what it means to handle adversity, to stay connected, and to care for one another."
 
Looking Ahead
As the Patriots close the regular season, Housekeeper said Saturday is about more than just the final score — it's about setting the tone for what's next.
 
"I feel like regardless of Saturday's outcome, our guys have continuously improved," he said. "We're playing a lot of young players who are making huge impacts, and they're only going to get better. If we go out and win, it gives us a boost of energy and momentum. We've been right on the cusp all year, and how we perform on Saturday can really affect what the future looks like moving forward."
 
Kickoff
Cumberlands and No. 21 Georgetown are set to kick off at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at James H. Taylor II Stadium in Williamsburg, KY. Senior Day recognition will begin around 1 PM. Fans can follow live video here and stats here.
 
 
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