BLUEFIELD, VA – The University of the Cumberlands football team used an explosive offensive performance and a strong second half to defeat Bluefield 50-27 Saturday afternoon at Mitchell Stadium. The Patriots improve to 2-0 on the season and secure their fourth straight victory over the Rams. UC piled up 576 yards of total offense, averaging 10.9 yards per play, while producing 372 yards through the air and 204 on the ground.
Drew Gregg led the passing attack, completing 12-of-17 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, while
Tanner Marsh went 3-of-4 for 90 yards and another score.
Michael Petty hauled in six passes for 146 yards and a touchdown, while
Cade Lamb turned four receptions into 113 yards and two scores. Lamb added an 11-yard rushing touchdown to finish with three total scores.
Jayden Clayton led UC on the ground with 77 yards and a touchdown, while
Juan Bullard Jr. added 67 yards and a score.
Defensively,
Ritt Tankersley paced the Patriots with 12 tackles, while
JD DeRoche added 10 and
Israel Hurd finished with six.
Jaquon Hall and
Kantrel Smith each recorded two tackles for loss and a sack, with Smith also forcing and recovering a fumble. Cumberlands finished with nine tackles for loss and two sacks while holding Bluefield to 357 yards of total offense.
Bluefield opened the scoring on its first possession, putting together a 65-yard touchdown drive to take a 6-0 lead. The Patriots needed just four plays to respond. After Gregg connected with Petty for seven yards to midfield, Bullard broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run, and
Khalil Arman's extra point gave UC a 7-6 advantage with 10:04 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Cumberlands defense forced a punt on the Rams' next possession, and the offense struck again. Gregg found
Maddux McKinney for a 38-yard gain before connecting with Lamb for a 55-yard touchdown, extending the Patriots' lead to 13-6 with 4:59 left in the first.
Bluefield answered with a touchdown early in the second quarter to even the score at 13-13, but Arman helped UC regain control. The kicker connected from 45 yards out to put Cumberlands ahead 16-13 before drilling a 47-yard field goal on the Patriots' next possession. The 47-yarder tied the program record for the longest field goal in Cumberlands history and extended the lead to 19-13.
The Rams responded with a touchdown to move back in front 20-19, but the Patriots closed the half with 10 unanswered points. UC marched 74 yards on eight plays, with Clayton and Bullard helping move the chains before Lamb scored on an 11-yard run with 25 seconds remaining.
Cumberlands then created a final scoring opportunity before the break. Smith recovered a Bluefield fumble at the Rams' 33-yard line with 11 seconds remaining. Gregg immediately connected with Petty for 11 yards before Arman converted a 40-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Patriots into halftime with a 29-20 advantage. Arman finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points.
After both teams exchanged punts to open the third quarter, UC's offense needed just one play to add to the lead. Gregg found Lamb for a 50-yard touchdown, giving the duo its second scoring connection of the afternoon and extending the advantage to 36-20.
The defense forced another Bluefield punt on the ensuing possession, and Cumberlands quickly went 96 yards for another touchdown. Clayton broke loose for a 22-yard run to move the Patriots out from near their own goal line, and Marsh followed by connecting with Petty for a 55-yard touchdown. The score pushed UC's lead to 43-20 with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter.
Bluefield threatened to answer later in the quarter, advancing to the Cumberlands three-yard line. The Patriot defense held firm, forcing back-to-back incompletions on third and fourth down to turn the Rams away without points.
The Rams eventually cut the deficit to 43-27 with a touchdown early in the fourth, but UC immediately answered with a seven-play, 63-yard scoring drive. Clayton recorded runs of 11 and 16 yards before Gregg connected with Petty for 12 more. Clayton finished the possession with a two-yard touchdown run, giving the Patriots a 50-27 advantage with 7:03 remaining.
Cumberlands defense forced a punt on Bluefield's next possession, and the Patriots controlled the ball for the final 5:10 to close out the victory. Marsh converted a fourth-and-three with a seven-yard completion to McKinney as UC ran out the remaining clock and secured its fourth consecutive win over the Rams.
Cumberlands returns home on Saturday, September 12th when the Patriots host Warner University at James H. Taylor, II Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 PM.
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