LAURINBURG, NC- No. 25 Cumberland was able to outlast St Andrews University with a late touchdown pass and an onside recovery with less than one minute remaining to move to 3-0 on the season.

Joseph Rushin carried the ball 12 times for 11 yards and one touchdown as well as going 7-11 for 59 yards and one touchdown passing the ball. Cumberland had eight different players get carries to spread out the work load. Telvin Rucker carried the ball 10 times for 41 yards and one touchdown. Kendall Johnson had six touches for 40 yards and posted two receptions for eight yards. Chris Gatewood picked up six touches for 29 yards while Ian Hafner recorded one catch for 17 yards and one touchdown. The Phoenix offense was able to rush for 203 yards and had 262 yards of total offense.

Both offenses were able to hold onto the ball as neither team had a turnover, but the Cumberland defense was able to play well enough to hold off the Knights. The Cumberland defense held the St Andrews' offense to 3-11 on third down and collected four sacks as a team. Jace Capps had two big sacks on third downs to force the Knights into a punting a situation. Tyler Tate recorded 10 total tackles along with one sack.

St Andrews (0-2) used two quarterbacks throughout the game. Dashaun Fergeson was the offensive catalyst for the Knights as he finished 7-16 with 86 yards passing and ran for 106 yards. Andrew Fowlder was 2-3 for 73 yards and one touchdown passing the ball. Jermaine Trotman Jr. reeled in four catches for 82 yards. Defensively, Andy Austin recorded niine total tackles and Anthony Brooks posted nine total tackles.  

St Andrews opened up the scoring on the opening drive on a 3 yard rush by quarterback Dashaun Ferguson. Knights kicker Jordan Vitale missed the PAT.

The next drive the Phoenix went for it on 4th and got by a nose to continue the drive. The Phoenix were able to push the ball toward the goalline where the went for it on 4th and goal, allowing Rushin to sneak in the touchdown to take the lead early in the game.

Rushin opened up their second drive with back to back passes a pick up of 7 by Johnson and a 21 yard pass to Spence. Rucker picked up a big rush to put us inside the 8 yard line. After an offside penalty, Rucker was able to put in a two yard touchdown run.

Ferguson throws for a 33 yard completion after a penalty and completes a 17 yard pass on the next play. Vitale was able to recollect himself after the early PAT miss and  hit a 41 yard field to cut the Phoenix lead to 17-9.

St Andrews' Ferguson rushed for 32 yards to get the Knights inside the Cumberland 10 yard line on a busted play. The Phoenix help St Andrews out with a pass interference on a long 3rd and goal to give the Knights a first and goal from the 2 yard line. The next play Trevor McNeil pushed in a two yard touchdown. St Andrews went for two to try and tie the game, but the Cumberland defense was able to hold them. 

In the fourth quarter, the Cumberland offense put together a 86 yard drive that ended with Rushin throwing a beautoful fade to Hafner for a 17 yard touchdown to extend the lead with less than five minutes on the clock.

The final drive for St Andrews was lead by Fowlder. He completed a 42 yard pass to Trotman Jr on 3rd and 15 before finding Kashard Cohens in the endzone with 52 seconds left. The Knights went for the onside kick that Cumberland's Jimmy Turner got his hands on and hit the ground. The Phoenix came out and took three kneels to hold on for the 24-22 victory.

Cumberland is back at home next Saturday vs Keiser University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Nokes Lasater Field.