WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The University of the Cumberlands football team tried to overcome a slow start, but ultimately fell to the second-ranked Keiser University Seahawks 42-12 Saturday afternoon at James H. Taylor II Stadium. The Patriots move to 2-1 on the year, while the Seahawks remain undefeated at 3-0.
Quarterback
Drew Gregg led UC's attack with 173 passing yards and a touchdown on 24-of-39 attempts, while also rushing for a one-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Michael Petty provided a spark downfield with three catches for 66 yards, including a 36-yard grab, while
Maddux McKinney added 47 yards on three receptions.
Juan Bullard Jr. rushed for 29 yards and added a nine-yard touchdown catch late in the first half.
The Patriot defense battled hard making multiple big stops, beginning in the second quarter when
Jeremy Hamilton picked off a pass and returned it 30 yards to set up UC's first touchdown.
Hunter Zirkle and
Ethan Jackson each notched six tackles, while
Jalen Yearby dropped a Keiser runner three yards behind the line and
Justin Mitchell added a tackle for loss as well. Zirkle also blocked a Seahawk field goal attempt midway through the third quarter, his second straight week with a blocked kick. The block came after Keiser had driven to UC's 4-yard line and kept the Patriots within two scores at the time.
Keiser jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead, but Cumberlands responded with stops on three straight possessions in the second quarter. That stretch included a third-down hurry by
Will Page and a fourth-down pressure from
Kantrel Smith that forced a throwaway. UC's offense then pieced together a 69-yard drive downfield, highlighted by a 31-yard strike to Petty and a nine-yard Bullard Jr. rush to get to the four yardline. However, UC's offense could not capitalize, falling on fourth down. Just a few plays later, Hamilton jumped the Kesier pass for his second interception of the year and took it back to the five. Three plays later Gregg connected with Bullard Jr. on a nine-yard score to cut the deficit to 21-6 at halftime.
Cumberlands carried that momentum into the third quarter, opening the half with a promising drive that reached Keiser territory before ending in a punt. After the blocked field goal from Zirkles kept UC's deficit at 15, UC again crossed midfield but came up empty.
The Patriots' best drive of the day came in the fourth quarter, a 12-play, 80-yard possession capped by Gregg's one-yard quarterback keeper. McKinney,
Cade Lamb, and J.B. Carlisle all made key grabs on the drive, including a 25-yard fourth-down conversion from Gregg to McKinney to set up first-and-goal. That score made it 28-12 with 10:53 remaining.
Despite forcing three punts, an interception, and a blocked field goal, the Patriots spent much of the second half on defense, as Keiser controlled the ball for majority of the half. The Seahawks used back-to-back touchdown drives in the final six minutes to put the game away and secure the 42-12 final.
The Patriots will now look ahead to next week where they will fly down to the Sunshine State to take on the Royals of Warner University. Gametime is set for 3 PM ET at Lakeland Christian School in Lakeland, FL.
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