LEBANON, Tenn. – Jared White booted a 30-yard field goal with 1:49 to play and Chris Simpson added a 63-yard interception return for touchdown a little over a minute later as 21st-ranked Cumberland came from behind to post a 22-14 victory over Shorter Univ. Saturday at Lindsey Donnell Stadium-Kirk Field.

Cumberland (5-1, 1-0 Mid-South) won its fifth straight contest overall, outgaining the Hawks, 376-222, but the Bulldogs failed to convert on five Shorter (3-3, 1-1) turnovers until Simpson’s interception return that basically put the game away. For her efforts Simpson was named the Music City Star of the Game. Cumberland's last five-game winning streak came when the Bulldogs posted five straight victories to start the 2000 campaign.

Cumberland drove 80 yards on 16 plays in the fourth quarter, with Thomas Goodloe barreling in from one yard out for the score, but Dennis Toney blocked the extra point for Shorter after a high snap.

The Bulldog defense forced a 3-and-out from the Hawks and Cumberland moved 57 yards on eight plays before stalling out at the Shorter 13. Curt Bureau to Mike Moore for 34 yards was the big play on the drive, and White booted through the 30-yard field goal for a 16-14 lead.

Shorter, who runs the option exclusively and came in averaging 30.0 yards per game passing, picked up one first down before Ben Williams overthrew his receiver and Simpson picked it off. The Nashville, Tenn., native bobbed and weaved all the way down the sideline, jumping into the end zone to drive an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Bulldogs missed the extra point, giving Shorter one last chance.

The Hawks moved to the Cumberland 43 before Williams’ Hail Mary was picked off in the end zone, again by Simpson, sealing the victory for Cumberland.

Cumberland used a short passing game and good play on third down to keep the Shorter offense off the field. The Bulldogs held the ball for over 38 minutes in the game and ran 76 plays compared to only 47 for the Hawks.

Zack Ducker caught eight passes for 81 yards for CU, both career-highs, and was named the Music City Star of the Game. Moore also had five catches for 58 yards and another 47-yarder nullified by a holding penalty.

Bureau finished 23-of-33 for 197 yards, while Lemeco Miller rushed 10 times for 71 yards and one touchdown and Kwamane Howard added 57 yards on 15 carries.

It was just another down-to-the-wire ending in the series, as Shorter booted a 45-yard field with nine seconds remaining to win 27-24 in 2008 and Christian Burnett hit Mitch Reynolds with a 15-yard TD pass with four seconds left for a 14-13 triumph for the Bulldogs last season.

Shorter took the opening drive 70 yards on 10 plays, including five carries for 38 yards from Octavious Edge. Williams sneaked in from a yard out for a quick 7-0 Hawks advantage.

But the Bulldogs answered with a 17-play, 89-yard drive, with Bureau completing 8-of-9 passes for 57 yards and Cumberland picking up three third downs. Miller finished the drive with a seven-yard score, tying the game at seven with 39 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Shorter began moving the ball again but tried to catch the Bulldogs sleeping. Williams’ pass was underthrown and picked off by Allanté McLemore at the CU30.

The Bulldogs marched back down the field, 14 plays and 69 yards, and looked to score again on a swing pass to Tim McCord, but a holding call at the one yard line wiped out the play. Beau Baker’s 28-yard field goal was wide left, leaving the score tied with six minutes to play in the half. Cumberland forced a punt and Bureau found Moore for 47 yards, but again holding nullified the play.

Cumberland was forced to punt and Shorter’s Albert Huntley ripped off a 34-yard run with a little over a minute remaining, but a halfback pass from Huntley was intercepted by Cody McCallister and CU ran out the half with the game tied at seven.

The Bulldogs missed a 46-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half but got the ball right back after a fumble from Edge on Shorter’s first play was recovered by Simpson.

Cumberland was unable to do anything with the turnover once again, with Cameron Panther batting down a pass on third down and Bureau’s pass to Miller coming up short on fourth down.

Shorter took advantage of CU’s inability to take advantage of opportunities, grinding out 14 straight rushing attempts, including two fourth down conversions. Edge finally punched in the touchdown from the one yard line, capping a 14-play, 76-yard drive that took 6:52 off the clock, giving the Hawks a 14-7 lead with 16 seconds left in the third quarter.

Cumberland answered with a 16-play, 80-yard drive that included a bit of good fortune, as Miller fumbled near the Shorter 30, but the ball bounced away from defenders and out of bounds. Eight plays later Goodloe bowled into the end zone from a yard out, but the Hawks blocked the extra point and Shorter held a 14-13 edge with 8:20 to play.

Cumberland plays at Faulkner University next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and at Bethel University on October 23 at 6:30 p.m. before returning home Octobner 30 to face Union College.