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Cumberland University

Senior Day
3
Faulkner (AL) FAULKNER 2-8 , 0-6
10
Winner Cumberland (TN) CU 5-5 , 2-4
Faulkner (AL) FAULKNER
2-8 , 0-6
3
Final
10
Cumberland (TN) CU
5-5 , 2-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
FAULKNER Faulkner (AL) 0 3 0 0 3
CU Cumberland (TN) 0 7 0 3 10

Game Recap: Football |

Defense Shines as Phoenix Send Off Seniors With 10-7 Win Over Faulkner

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland honored their seniors with a 10-3 win in a defensive slugfest to end the 2023 season with a win at Nokes-Lasater. 

After spending the last month of the season on the road, Cumberland was finally able to come home and honor 10 seniors before the game for their final game in a CU uniform: Shaw Niblett, Lennon Harris, Bryaden Sanders, Alex Valdez, Trevor Griffin, Treylon Sheppard, Bret Robinson, Joseph Moore, and Jonathan Garner. 

The defense shined in this game holding Faulkner to 30 yards of total offense. Cumberland racked up eight sacks on three different Eagles quarterbacks. Aaron Davis led the charge picking up 2.5 sacks and a team-high seven tackles. Dez Wallace had 1.5 sacks and Jalen Brown, Joey Samples, Jonathan Garner, and Jeremiah Mathews each added one. Derek Taylor posted an interception in the fourth quarter.

The Cumberland offense totaled 252 yards with 230 coming from the running game. Quarterback Luke Holloway ran for 124 yards on 18 carries and senior Treylon Sheppard packed on 97 on 32 touches and a touchdown. 

Faulkner had a couple of opportunities, but just could not move the ball to capitalize. The defense forced two turnovers with interceptions from Jerrell Williamson and Kordell King. Williamson also finished with a game-high 10 tackles. 

On Cumberland's first drive, the Phoenix offense stalled out early forcing a punt. The Eagles were able to get to it for the block and returned it to the 12-yard line, but the Phoenix defense bowed back and stopped Faulkner. They settled for a field goal try, but Faulkner's Cade Davis pulled the 31-yard try left leaving with no points. 

Driving early in the second quarter, Cumberland nickel and dimed the field using Sheppard as the premium back. Sheppard was rewarded with the touchdown, punching in a five yard rush to cap a 13-play drive. 

Faulkner started the next drive with a 29-yard pass and then a roughing the passer call tacked on 15 more giving the Eagles the ball at Cumberland's 27-yard line. The Eagles moved the chains one more time before Cade Davis hit a 39-yard field goal to cut the score to 7-3 where it stood at half. 

Faulkner was set up for another drive after a low snap forced Cumberland punter Nolan Gottlied to cough it up and give Faulkner the ball at Cumberland's 28-yard line. This time, Cumberland forced them to go three-and-out and try a field goal from 40 yards out. This one was no good as well to keep the score at 7-3. 

Cumberland took the next drive and chewed up the rest of the clock in third. They drove all the way to the goalline. On third and goal, Faulkner flushed Holloway out of the pocket and he threw it up. Williamson intercepted it giving life back to Faulkner. Again, the defense stood strong though and forced a quick punt to get the ball back. 

After the Phoenix punted and Cumberland held Faulkner inside their own 20. Faulkner was set to punt, but the Eagles had a low snap that hit the grass forcing Davis to try to get a punt away. He hit a low-liner right into Lamar Childress for a zero yard punt and Cumberland with the football at the 11-yard line. 

Jack Kantner would add three points for Cumberland on a 23-yard field goal to extend the score to 10-3 with 2:33 left. 

Faulkner tried some desperation plays in the final drive, heaving one down field that Derek Taylor picked off for his fourth interception of the season and sealing the win for Cumberland. 

With the win, the Phoenix finish the season with a 5-5 record and 2-4 in the Mid-South Conference. 



 
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Players Mentioned

Jalen Brown

#22 Jalen Brown

DL
6' 1"
Junior
Lamar Childress

#5 Lamar Childress

RB
5' 9"
Junior
Aaron Davis

#45 Aaron Davis

LB
6' 0"
Freshman
Jonathan Garner

#90 Jonathan Garner

DL
6' 2"
Junior
Nolan Gottlied

#88 Nolan Gottlied

P
6' 2"
Freshman
Trevor Griffin

#21 Trevor Griffin

DB
6' 2"
Junior
Lennon Harris

#2 Lennon Harris

DB
5' 6"
Graduate Student
Luke Holloway

#3 Luke Holloway

QB
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jack Kantner

#17 Jack Kantner

K
5' 11"
Freshman
Jeremiah Mathews

#99 Jeremiah Mathews

DL
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jalen Brown

#22 Jalen Brown

6' 1"
Junior
DL
Lamar Childress

#5 Lamar Childress

5' 9"
Junior
RB
Aaron Davis

#45 Aaron Davis

6' 0"
Freshman
LB
Jonathan Garner

#90 Jonathan Garner

6' 2"
Junior
DL
Nolan Gottlied

#88 Nolan Gottlied

6' 2"
Freshman
P
Trevor Griffin

#21 Trevor Griffin

6' 2"
Junior
DB
Lennon Harris

#2 Lennon Harris

5' 6"
Graduate Student
DB
Luke Holloway

#3 Luke Holloway

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Jack Kantner

#17 Jack Kantner

5' 11"
Freshman
K
Jeremiah Mathews

#99 Jeremiah Mathews

6' 0"
Junior
DL