LEBANON, Tenn. – Cumberland committed three turnovers inside the red zone and also missed a field goal late in the fourth quarter, then missed a two-point conversion in overtime to fall 7-6 to Belhaven College Saturday at Lindsey Donnell Stadium.

 

The Bulldogs (3-5, 1-2 MSC) had not committed a turnover all season inside the red zone and then had two interceptions and one fumble inside the 20-yard line in the contest. CU played the game without a kicker after Nick Sasser left school this week and soccer player Yue Wang was out of town playing a match.

 

Defensive lineman Josh Smith kicked off to start the game and then missed a 27-yard field goal with 6:25 remaining. The Bulldog defense held Belhaven to 107 yards of total offense until the Blazers drove 64 yards after the missed field goal, but BC’s Justin Miller missed a 33-yarder wide right with 1:01 left to send the contest to overtime.

 

Cumberland head coach Dewayne Alexander decided before the game to go for two if the Bulldogs scored, and he did just that in overtime. CU had the ball first and scored on five plays, with Mitch McChurch running in from seven yards out. Quarterback Christian Burnett, subbing for starter Curt Bureau after an injury to the junior in the first quarter, rolled to his right, but the pass to Kenny Sallis was just not far enough, and the Bulldogs missed the two-point conversion.

 

Belhaven took advantage and scored on an 11-yard swing pass to Ricardo Bolton, catching the Bulldogs in a blitz. Miller booted the extra point through for the victory.

 

The loss put a damper on a big day rushing for redshirt freshman Ken Dixon, who carried 17 times for 115 yards. The Thomasville, Ga., native had just 96 yards rushing for the season heading into the contest.

 

The Bulldogs dominated the first half statistically, compiling 164 yards of total offense compared to just 63 yards for the Blazers. But two costly turnovers in Belhaven territory ended a pair of CU drives.

 

Cumberland put together a 14-play drive on its first possession of the game, moving 71 yards in more than six minutes before Bureau threw an interception to Belhaven’s Tramaine Brock. It was the first interception of Bureau’s career covering 138 attempts.

 

On the first play of the second quarter, tight end Mitch Reynolds caught a pass but fumbled at the Blazers 29-yard line.

 

The Bulldog defense limited Belhaven to just 63 yards in the half, including only 11 on the ground, with a pair of sacks by Ben Miller. Belhaven was also 0-for-5 on third down in the first half and the Bulldogs held onto the ball for more than 19 minutes, but the two teams went to halftime with no score.

 

Cumberland plays its final three games of the season on the road, starting next week at Shorter College in Rome, Ga., at 12:30 p.m. CT.