LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland football kept its postseason hopes alive in dramatic fashion Saturday afternoon, outlasting the University of the Cumberlands in a 40-37 overtime thriller at Nokes-Lasater Field. The Phoenix jumped out to a commanding lead and survived a furious 21-point comeback by the Patriots, and sealed the win with an overtime touchdown from Isaiah O'Neal to remain in the playoff hunt.
Cumberland (6-3, 2-2 MSC) posted 477 yards of total offense, averaging an impressive 8.5 yards per play. The Phoenix pounded out 256 yards on the ground and threw for 221 more, finding the end zone five times. Jacob Cornejo led the rushing attack with 187 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while Jake Parker was efficient under center, going 8-for-13 for 221 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground finishing 71 yards rushing. Jarrius Rogers turned in a huge day through the air, hauling in three passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including an 59-yard strike and an 80-yard strike in the third quarter. Jack Kantner continued his clutch kicking, hitting both of his field goal attempts from 37 and 36 yards and going 4-for-4 on PATs
The Phoenix defense made key plays when it mattered most. Chazz Hunter led all tacklers with 12 stops and an interception, while Cannon Johnson and Josh Jones each registered a sack. Shaikyi Hannah also grabbed an interception to stall a Cumberlands drive in the second half, and Guershan Suffra added six tackles.
Cumberlands (4-5, 1-3 MSC) totaled 408 yards of offense on 82 plays and rallied from a 34-13 third-quarter deficit to tie the game at 34 late in the fourth. Quarterback Drew Gregg threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns on 32 completions, while Ronye Watson caught 10 passes for 106 yards and a score. DK Edwards added four receptions for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Kicker Job Matossian went 3-for-4 on field goals, including a 34-yarder in overtime to briefly give the Patriots their only lead of the day
Cumberland came out firing in the first quarter, scoring twice on the ground as Cornejo broke free for a 14-yard touchdown and Parker sprinted 58 yards to make it 14-0. The Patriots answered early in the second quarter, but Parker found Rogers for a 59-yard score to extend the lead. A big kickoff return after the Cumberlands knocked in a field goal and a 40-yard rush from Cornejo set up a time-expiring 37-yard field goal by Kantner sent the Phoenix into halftime ahead 24-10.
The third quarter saw both teams trade field goals before Parker and Rogers connected again, this time on an 80-yard bomb, to stretch the lead to 34-13. But the Patriots wouldn't go away in the fourth quarter.
The Cumberlands rattled off three straight touchdowns in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 34 with 1:40 remaining. Gregg got hot through the air, throwing two touchdowns to Edwards before the one that tied it to Ronye Watson with 1:40 left. Cumberland had huge plays to answer and try to win the game before regulation ended. Parker found tight end Devin Williams for 21-yards to start the drive and then Cornejo went to work. Cornejo found an opening and had a chance to walk into the endzone with less than a minute on the clock, but lost the ball as he was going on which wound up being a touchback to give the Pats the ball back.
In overtime, the defense held tough holding the Patriots offense that had all the momentum. Matossian gave Cumberlands a 37-34 edge with a 34-yard field goal.
Cumberlands held CU to a third and long situation, Parker dropped back and hit O'Neal on a 24-yard strike for the walk-off touchdown, igniting the crowd and securing Cumberland's sixth win of the season.
Cumberland returns to action next Saturday, traveling to face MSC rival and ninth-ranked Lindsey Wilson in Columbia, Ky. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. CT.
