Football 8/26/2026 3:04:00 PM

RV Cumberland Opens 2026 Season Against No. 16 St. Thomas in NAIA Featured Game of the Week

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland begins the 2026 football season with a nationally featured matchup Thursday night as the Phoenix welcome No. 16 St. Thomas University to Nokes-Lasater Field for the NAIA Featured Game of the Week.

The season opener matches two programs coming off seven-win campaigns. Cumberland finished 7-4 last season. St. Thomas also went 7-4 and made its third consecutive appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Cumberland enters the season receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, while the Bobcats begin the year ranked No. 16.

The Phoenix are coming off back-to-back seven-win seasons after averaging 32.1 points and 400.5 yards per game in 2025. Cumberland leaned heavily on its rushing attack, finishing fourth in the NAIA at 253.7 yards per game, while completing an unbeaten 5-0 season at Nokes-Lasater Field.

Cumberland returns several of the key pieces from that offense, including quarterbacks Jake Parker. Parker completed 103-of-174 passes for 1,536 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 532 yards and eight scores on the ground.

The Phoenix have always relied on a strong ground game, but with the tailbacks all gone, Cumberland will turn to new faces to move the ball. Jordan Cason will be expected to be a feature back in this year's group while Rashod Daniel, Ronnie Sanders, and Pierce Meachem will each get carries throughout the year.

The Phoenix also bring back an experienced group of receivers. Jarrius Rogers led Cumberland with 601 yards and six touchdowns on 26 receptions last season, averaging 23.1 yards per catch. Kaiden Hatchett recorded a team-high 30 receptions for 413 yards and three touchdowns, while Isaiah O'Neal added 415 yards and four scores.

Cumberland will face one of the nation's most experienced defensive units Thursday. St. Thomas returns 10 starters from a defense that forced 16 interceptions last season, tied for 13th in the NAIA.

Linebacker Zach Marino leads the group after collecting 78 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on his way to Second Team All-SUN Conference honors.

The Bobcats also return a veteran secondary featuring First Team All-SUN selection Keyon Martin. Martin recorded two interceptions and 14 pass breakups last season. Tyquan Hunter added two interceptions and seven breakups, while Jeremiah Noel finished with 38 tackles.

St. Thomas is in their second-year under head coach Drew Davis, the second head coach in program history. Davis spent the previous four seasons as an assistant with the Bobcats before replacing Bill Rychel, who moved into the role of Senior Vice President for Athletics.

Davis was named to the AFCA's 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute in 2025. Before arriving at St. Thomas, he spent five seasons at Florida International coaching tight ends under his father, longtime college and NFL head coach Butch Davis.

The Bobcats also have new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Offensive coordinator Matt Holecek brings experience from Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Mississippi State, while defensive coordinator Mickey O'Rourke arrives after helping Keiser reach each of the past four NAIA national championship games.

St. Thomas averaged 40.6 points and 401 yards per game last season, finishing 12th nationally in scoring. The Bobcats threw for 264 yards per game while averaging 137 yards on the ground.

Running back Isaiah Lopez returns after leading the team with 592 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 112 carries. He finished the season particularly strong, scoring seven rushing touchdowns over the Bobcats' final four games.

Second Team All-SUN receiver Jaden Fox-Harrington headlines the passing attack after catching 45 passes for 672 yards and eight touchdowns.

Containing the Bobcats' special teams will also be a priority for Cumberland. St. Thomas ranked fifth in the NAIA with 25.4 yards per kickoff return and sixth with 17.2 yards per punt return last season.

The Bobcats reached the postseason for the fourth time in their first seven seasons as a program in 2025. St. Thomas scored at least 50 points five times before falling to Carroll College, 42-35, in the opening round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.

Thursday will be the second meeting between the programs. St. Thomas won the inaugural matchup, 34-6, at Nokes-Lasater Field on Sept. 11, 2021.

The current forecast calls for showers in the morning with a high near 90 degrees Thursday with scattered afternoon showers. Temperatures should remain in the mid-to-upper 80s around the 6 p.m. kickoff, with humid conditions and a chance of rain continuing into the evening.

The game will be carried live on the Urban Edge Network as the NAIA Featured Game of the Week. Radio coverage will be available on WANT FM 98.9 and WCOR AM 1490.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Kaiden Hatchett: WR; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#13 Isaiah O'Neal: WR; 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior

#82 Jarrius Rogers: WR; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#26 Rashod Daniel: RB; 5' 10"; Freshman

#12 Jake Parker: QB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#28 Jordan Cason: RB; 5' 8"; Graduate Student

Ronnie Sanders: RB; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#3 Kaiden Hatchett
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#13 Isaiah O'Neal
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#82 Jarrius Rogers
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: WR

#26 Rashod Daniel
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: RB

#12 Jake Parker
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: QB

#28 Jordan Cason
: 5' 8"; Graduate Student
: RB

Ronnie Sanders
: 5' 10"; Junior
: RB