LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland's defense bowed their neck in the final stages and forced four turnovers while the offense ran for 343 yards to get a big win at Nokes-Lasater, 47-35 over Florida Memorial. The Phoenix start the year 4-0 for the first time since 2017. 

The Phoenix offense showed up for a big outing against a tough team. The offense was sparked by quarterback Luke Holloway's play. Holloway completed 11-of-12 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. He also had a career-game running the football for 161 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns. Freshman Jacob Cornejo iced the game with a 57-yard touchdown rush late in the game as he went for 102 yards on eight carries. 

The team ran for a season-high 343 yards. The passing game saw seven different receivers catch the rock. Isaiah O'Neal hauled in two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. Jarrius Rogers caught two passes for 30 yards and Nate Stephens caught three passes. 

The defense had their hands full with the up-tempo offense of the Lions, but played well forcing Florida Memorial into four turnovers including three interceptions. Kane Burnley had a momentum turning pick six in the second quarter while DeAndre Caldwell picked off a pass in the end zone to stop a score. Cannon Johnson intercepted a heave down field to end the half. 

Boston Follis was all over the field making 12 tackles. Defensive lineman Joey Samples picked up nine tackles and Eli Denton added seven. 

The Lions had starting quarterback Cedquan Smith go down in the first quarter. Backup quarterback Devin Buggs stepped in and started slow with the three picks in the first half, but finished the day 18-for-31 for 251 yards and a touchdown. 

Running back Walter Wilbon was tough to deal with carrying the ball 24 times for 178 yards and three touchdowns. David Studstill had a day as well catching the football going for 10 receptions, 156 yards and a score. 

Florida Memorial started the game with the football and Wilbon quickly made himself known. After a couple of rushes, he broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown rush for an early 7-0 lead for the Lions. 

Cumberland quickly answered back as Jarrius Rogers took the opening kick off back 38 yards near midfield. The Phoenix dinked and dunked before a 3rd and long situation saw Holloway scramble for 25-yards inside the 10-yard line. Two plays later, Holloway punched in a four yard rush to tie the game at 7-7 with 10 minutes left in the first. 

The next Florida Memorial drive, the Lions showed off quarterback Cedquan Smith as he completed pass after pass before capping an 11-play drive with a nine yard touchdown pass to David Studstill for a 14-7 Lions lead. 

Cumberland again answered, taking a long drive that leaked into the second quarter. Tim Pannell capped it off with a three-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game again at 14-14. 

Cedquan Smith went down on the ensuing drive and that really slowed the momentum of the Lions as they settled for their first punt of the game. Fortunately for the Lions, the Phoenix's drive stalled out in plus territory before having to take their first punt of the game as well. 

Three plays into the next Lions possession, Buggs heaved up a pass that Kane Burnley read perfectly. Burnley picked it off and took it 44-yards back to the house for Cumberland's first lead of the evening, 21-14 with 6:44 left in the half. 

The Lions looked to answer and drove the ball all the way to inside the Cumberland five yard line, but Buggs tossed his second interception to DeAndre Caldwell for a huge stop on the defensive end. 

With all the momentum, Cumberland went 80-yards on seven plays in less than two minutes to tack on more score before the half. Holloway scampered for his second touchdown rush this time from 18-yards out and 28-14 lead at the break. 

Both teams had short possessions to start the second half. The Lions were set to punt on fourth down, but the punter Oliver Robbins dropped the snap allowing Peyon Hardway to make a tackle and set up Cumberland with great field position. Eight plays later, Holloway threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to O'Neal. The play was challenged and reviewed, but stood, giving the Phoenix a 34-14 lead with 7:17 left in the third. 
 
The Lions responded by feeding Wilbon. Wilbon carried the ball five times on the five drive and found the endzone on the last rush for 14-yards to cut the deficit to 34-21 with 3:48 left in the third. 

After the Phoenix picked up a first down on the ensuing drive, Holloway busted through the middle of the field for a 64-yard touchdown rush to extend the lead back to 20 at 41-21 heading into the fourth. 

Florida Memorial made the game interesting in the fourth scoring two touchdowns, one on a 10-yard rush from Wilbon and the second on Buggs pass to Markell Lee to cut it down to a six point game with 5:56 to play at 41-35, but Jacob Cornejo got the momentum back for Cumberland exploding through for a 57-yard touchdown up the middle.

The Lions drove down the field quickly and got in a down and goal situation, but the defense stepped up and got a fourth down stop to seal the deal and get a hard-fought 47-35 win over Florida Memorial.

The Phoenix are off next week and will use the time to recover and prepare for RV Campbellsville on the road on October 5th. Kick-off is slated for 6:00 p.m. central time in Campbellsville.