MCKENZIE, Tenn.—Cumberland gave No. 10 Bethel all they wanted in the first half, but the Wildcats scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to escape and get the win, 24-7, on their homecoming.
The Phoenix (3-4, 1-3 MSC) did everything right in the first 30 minutes, dominating the time of possession and forcing two turnovers to take a 7-0 lead at the break. Unfortunately, Bethel made some adjustments and flipped the script in the second half to pull away.
Cumberland defense held the second-best scoring offense in the country to just 24 points. The Wildcats did put up 383 yards offense with 247 in the air and 136 on the ground.
Quarterback Joaquin Collazo III completed 26-of-31 for 247 passing yards, two touchdowns and a pick. JD Dixon caught nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. Former Phoenix Jaylen Taylor caught six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Cumberland running back Treylon Sheppard surpasses 3,000 career rushing yards on the season running for 77 yards in the game. He is the only Cumberland player since the program restarted in 1990 to eclipse 3,000 yards.
Luke Holloway completed 6-of-12 passes for 75 yards with one interception finding four different receivers in the game.
Defensively, Aaron Davis led Cumberland in tackles with nine while Derek Taylor added eight. Joey Samples and Jalen Brown each picked up a sack.
Cumberland held Bethel to just three possessions in the first half. Cumberland chewed up the clock playing keep away from Bethel. Holding onto the ball for over 20 minutes in the first half.
The Wildcats opened up with the ball and moved the chains through the air a couple of times before moving into Cumberland territory. Bethel went for it on fourth and threw it away for a turnover.
Cumberland took their opening possession and drove 58 yards on 18 plays to get on the board first. Sheppard capped the drive with a five yard touchdown rush. The Phoenix converted a couple fourth down plays to keep the ball taking over 10 minutes of play clock with just a minute left in the first, 7-0.
Bethel was driving in the second quarter, but Brown forced a strip sack on Collazo III to get the turnover. Trevor Griffin scooped it up and returned it 40 yards all the way to the Bethel 35. The Phoenix again chewed up six minutes of clock driving to inside the five-yard line, but missed an opportunity to score as Jack Kantner missed a 24-yard field goal.
The next drive, the Wildcats moved the chains twice on a big 28-yard run into Cumberland territory from Collazo, but on third and long he hucked it up and Griffin intercepted it for Cumberland's second takeaway.
The Phoenix took up the rest of the half taking a timeout with one second remaining. The Phoenix threw up a desperation heave towards the endzone on the final play of the half that was intercepted to keep the score at 7-0 at the break.
The script was flipped in the second half as it was Cumberland that dominated the first half. No. 10 Bethel finally got the wheels in motion scoring 24 unanswered points.
The Wildcats' opening possession of the second half ended in points. Bethel drove 80-yards converting on three third down plays to keep the drive alive. Collazo found former Phoenix Taylor for a 22-yard score to tie the game with 6:53 left in the third.
After a three-and-out and a short punt Bethel took over at the CU 40. The Wildcats drove inside the 10 as the third quarter expired with a 7-7 score.
On the second play of the fourth, Bethel took their first lead of the game on a two-yard touchdown rush after a CU penalty on third and goal to extend the drive. 14-7 Wildcats with 14:54 left in the game.
CU moved the chains once on the ensuing drive as Holloway found tight end Devin Williams to drive into Bethel territory, but three stops forced another punt with 6:20 to play.
Bethel capitalized with another score. This time Collazo found leading Bethel receiver JD Dixon on a 23-yard touchdown.
The Wildcats weren't done there as they got the ball one more time and added a 33-yard field goal from Andrew Welch for the 24-7 final.
Cumberland will be on the road next week as they take on St. Andrews in their final non-conference game of the season.
