WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Univ. of the Cumberland used the big play both rushing and passing to rack up 551 yards of total offense, defeating 17th-ranked Cumberland Univ., 52-27, here Saturday at James H. Taylor II Stadium.

The Patriots (7-3, 5-1 MSC West) recorded six plays of 40-plus yards in the game, including a 76-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Cobb on the third play of the third quarter. UC rushed for 240 yards and passed for another 311, scoring seven touchdowns. The home team scored the most points against the Bulldogs since October 20, 2007.

Cumberland (8-3, 4-2) fell behind early, 14-0, but scored twice in the second period to make it a seven-point game. Blake Nolan’s 40-yard field goal just before the half gave the Patriots a 24-14 halftime edge.

Cobb’s 76-yard TD catch opened third quarter, but the Bulldogs came back with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Reynolds, his second TD of the game. UC backup QB Phillip Wells completed a 45-yard pass on his first play late in the third quarter and scored on a two-yard run near the end of the period.

UC added two more rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter before Curt Bureau scored the final TD for the Bulldogs on a sneak.

Bureau finished 19-of-37 for 242 yards and two touchdowns, both to Reynolds, who set career-highs with seven catches for 123 yards. For her efforts Reynolds was named the Music City Star of the Game.

Bright ended the contest 12-of-16 for 212 yards and two TDs. Five different players scored rushing touchdowns for the Patriots in the victory, which clinched the MSC West Division championship for UC.

UC’s first touchdown was set up by a 64-yard punt return from Dekeldric Felton, all the way to the Cumberland 14-yard line. Four plays later Ricky Buckler scored from three yards out, but the PAT was no good, giving the Patriots a 6-0 advantage.

An interception set up UC’s next touchdown, with Reggie Murray’s INT return for 25 yards to the CU43. After a first down completion, the Patriots rushed six straight times, with Bright faking to the fullback and following him into the end zone for a two-yard TD.

Bright is the holder on the PAT and flipped the snap to Iquan Deed, who battled his way over the goal line for a two-point conversion and a 14-0 UC lead just two plays into the second quarter.

The Bulldogs answered with a big drive, highlighted by a 59-yard completion to Reynolds. Two plays later Kwamane Howard went untouched into the end zone from a yard out, cutting the deficit to 14-7.

But UC came right back with another touchdown drive. The Bulldogs pushed them back into 3rd-and-16, but Justin Pritchett broke free for a 47-yard gain to the CU13. UC went into its bag of tricks on the next play, throwing a tackle eligible screen to Justin Norman. He rumbled into the end zone and the PAT was good for a 21-7 advantage.

The next Cumberland drive stalled, but Tyler Emmetts punted the Patriots deep, with Da’Juan Manning and Kenny Sallis downing the ball at the one. The defense forced a punt and the offense went to work.

The Bulldogs were helped by a pass interference call on third down before Bureau lofted a pass to Reynolds for a 31-yard touchdown, cutting the Patriots lead to 21-14.

UC returned the ensuing kickoff to its own 46 yard line and on first down, Bright hit Matt Smith for a 43-yard completion to the CU11. Bright tossed an eight-yard TD to Deed, but pass interference was called, backing up the Patriots. Blake Nolan booted through a 40-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining in the half, giving the Patriots a 24-14 advantage at the half.