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Cumberland University

Jordan Cason
35
Winner Lindsey Wilson LINDSEY 7-2 , 2-1
14
Cumberland (TN) CU 5-4 , 1-3
Winner
Lindsey Wilson LINDSEY
7-2 , 2-1
35
Final
14
Cumberland (TN) CU
5-4 , 1-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
LINDSEY Lindsey Wilson 14 7 7 7 35
CU Cumberland (TN) 0 0 7 7 14

Next Game:

at Faulkner University (Ala.)

11/7/2026 | 1:00 PM

WANT FM 98.9/WCOR AM 1490

Next Game

Full Schedule
Nov. 07 (Sat) / 1:00 PM
at Faulkner University (Ala.)
History

Game Recap: Football |

Early Deficit Sinks Phoenix Against Lindsey Wilson

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland scored twice in the second half but could not overcome an early deficit, falling to Lindsey Wilson 35-14 Saturday afternoon at Nokes-Lasater Field in Mid-South Conference football action.

The Phoenix (5-4, 1-3 MSC) finished with 230 yards of total offense, rushing for 146 yards and passing for 84. Cumberland collected 14 first downs, converted 7-of-18 third-down opportunities and went 3-for-4 on fourth down. Four turnovers hampered the Phoenix, who held possession for 25:04.

Jordan Cason led Cumberland's ground game with 69 yards on 18 carries, while Luke Parker added 51 yards on 12 attempts. Parker completed 9-of-21 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Isaiah O'Neal paced the receivers with four catches for 43 yards, while Jarrius Rogers and Kaiden Hatchett each hauled in a touchdown pass.

Daniel Doegan and Eli Denton led the Phoenix defense with eight tackles apiece. Doegan added four pass breakups and a tackle for loss, while Denton also recorded a tackle for loss. Cannon Johnson finished with six stops, and Josh Jones added five. Troy Stevenson recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass, while Tavarius Pitts forced a fumble.

Lindsey Wilson (7-2, 2-1 MSC) totaled 384 yards of offense, including 226 through the air and 158 on the ground. The Blue Raiders registered 21 first downs, converted 7-of-14 third downs and controlled possession for 34:56.

Tate Rice completed 24-of-37 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Davontaye Saunders rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, adding six receptions for 40 yards and another score. Stevin Mack contributed 79 rushing yards on five attempts. Max Gainey led the receiving corps with seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, while Patrick Kelly also caught a touchdown pass. 

Kelson McKinney paced the defense with 10 tackles, Kevin Wilson added nine and Rashad Orr II intercepted two passes.

Lindsey Wilson opened the scoring with an 11-play, 65-yard drive capped by Saunders' 14-yard touchdown run at the 8:57 mark of the first quarter. Cumberland fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the Blue Raiders possession at the Phoenix nine-yard line. Three plays later, Rice connected with Kelly for a six-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0 with 7:24 remaining.

The Blue Raiders pushed the margin to 21-0 early in the second quarter. Mack broke free for a 34-yard run during the possession before Rice found Saunders for a 21-yard touchdown with 12:24 left in the half. Cumberland's defense forced punts on Lindsey Wilson's final two possessions of the half, but the Phoenix remained scoreless heading into the break.

Nolan Gottlied pinned Lindsey Wilson at its own one-yard line with a 60-yard punt early in the third quarter, but the Blue Raiders responded with a seven-play, 99-yard scoring drive. Rice capped the march with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Gainey for a 28-0 advantage with 9:19 remaining.

Cumberland answered with a 10-play, 64-yard touchdown drive. Cason provided the spark with a 26-yard run on fourth-and-three, and Parker connected with Rogers for a 20-yard touchdown on third-and-10. Jack Kantner's extra point cut the deficit to 28-7 with 4:22 left in the quarter. Pitts forced a fumble on Lindsey Wilson's next possession, and Stevenson recovered at the Cumberland 25-yard line.

The Phoenix moved into Blue Raider territory following the takeaway but turned the ball over on downs early in the fourth quarter. Cumberland later stopped Lindsey Wilson on fourth down, but a Phoenix fumble gave possession back to the visitors near midfield. Saunders scored on a 39-yard run two plays later to make it 35-7 with 7:15 remaining.

Stevenson's interception at the Lindsey Wilson 27-yard line set up Cumberland's final touchdown. The Phoenix covered 26 yards in six plays, with Parker finding Hatchett for a five-yard score on fourth-and-goal with 1:54 remaining. Lindsey Wilson recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to secure the victory.

The Phoenix will go on the road for the final time next week as CU travels to Faulkner on Saturday. 
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Players Mentioned

Eli Denton

#41 Eli Denton

LB
6' 1"
Senior
Daniel Doegan

#4 Daniel Doegan

DB
5' 11"
Graduate Student
Nolan Gottlied

#88 Nolan Gottlied

P
6' 2"
Senior
Kaiden Hatchett

#3 Kaiden Hatchett

WR
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Cannon Johnson

#8 Cannon Johnson

DB
5' 9"
Senior
Josh Jones

#96 Josh Jones

DL
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Jack Kantner

#17 Jack Kantner

K
6' 0"
Senior
Isaiah O

#13 Isaiah O'Neal

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Luke Parker

#10 Luke Parker

QB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Tavarius Pitts

#40 Tavarius Pitts

DL
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Eli Denton

#41 Eli Denton

6' 1"
Senior
LB
Daniel Doegan

#4 Daniel Doegan

5' 11"
Graduate Student
DB
Nolan Gottlied

#88 Nolan Gottlied

6' 2"
Senior
P
Kaiden Hatchett

#3 Kaiden Hatchett

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Cannon Johnson

#8 Cannon Johnson

5' 9"
Senior
DB
Josh Jones

#96 Josh Jones

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
DL
Jack Kantner

#17 Jack Kantner

6' 0"
Senior
K
Isaiah O

#13 Isaiah O'Neal

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Luke Parker

#10 Luke Parker

6' 1"
Sophomore
QB
Tavarius Pitts

#40 Tavarius Pitts

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
DL