Skip To Main Content

Cumberland University

Jake Parker
31
Winner Cumberland (TN) CU 1-1
10
Ave Maria (FL) AVE 0-2
Winner
Cumberland (TN) CU
1-1
31
Final
10
Ave Maria (FL) AVE
0-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CU Cumberland (TN) 0 21 3 7 31
AVE Ave Maria (FL) 0 0 7 3 10

Next Game:

University of Pikeville

9/19/2026 | 6:00 PM

WANT FM 98.9/WCOR AM 1490

Next Game

Full Schedule
Sep. 19 (Sat) / 6:00 PM
 University of Pikeville
History

Game Recap: Football |

Phoenix Run Past Ave Maria for First Win of Season

AVE MARIA, Fla.--Cumberland used a dominant rushing performance and a 21-point second quarter to pull away from Ave Maria for a 31-10 road victory Saturday night at Gyrene Field.

The Phoenix improved to 1-1 after compiling 411 yards of offense, including 266 yards on the ground. Cumberland controlled possession for more than 36 minutes and limited the Gyrenes to 205 total yards and just 19 rushing yards.

Quarterback Jake Parker led the ground attack with 101 yards on 11 carries while completing 14-of-24 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylen Abston and Jordan Cason each rushed for 66 yards and a score, while Kaiden Hatchett caught five passes for 39 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Cumberland held Ave Maria to 205 total yards and just 19 yards rushing on 22 attempts. The Phoenix recorded 10 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries and forced two turnovers. Knox Watson led the unit with nine tackles, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Tristan Bohannon recovered a fumble, while Daniel Doegan added an interception in the fourth quarter. 

After a scoreless opening quarter, Cumberland broke through early in the second. Cason capped a five-play, 38-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown run, giving the Phoenix a 7-0 lead with 13:07 remaining in the half.

Cumberland added to the lead with a methodical 11-play, 59-yard march that took more than six minutes off the clock. Parker finished the possession with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Hatchett with 5:11 left in the quarter.

The Phoenix defense created another scoring opportunity on Ave Maria's ensuing possession. The Gyrenes lost 13 yards on the drive before Joseph Thole fumbled, and Tristan Bohannon recovered the ball at the Ave Maria 18-yard line.

Two plays later, Parker connected with Hatchett for a 10-yard touchdown, sending Cumberland into halftime with a 21-0 advantage.

Ave Maria struck quickly after the break when Thole found Logan Howard for a 78-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-7 just 47 seconds into the third quarter.

Cumberland answered with another long possession late in the period. The Phoenix drove 60 yards across 14 plays and drained nearly seven minutes before Jack Kantner connected on a 37-yard field goal, extending the lead to 24-7 with 44 seconds remaining in the third.

The Gyrenes mounted their best sustained drive early in the fourth quarter, moving 52 yards in 12 plays. Cumberland's defense held after Ave Maria reached the one-yard line, forcing the Gyrenes to settle for a 28-yard field goal that made it 24-10 with 9:12 to play.

Daniel Doegan ended Ave Maria's next possession by intercepting Ty Keller at the Cumberland 26-yard line. Parker followed with a 43-yard run, and Abston finished the six-play, 74-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown to put the game away with 2:32 remaining.

Cumberland finished with 22 first downs and converted 7-of-17 third downs and 2-of-4 fourth downs. The Phoenix did not commit a turnover and finished plus-two in turnover margin.

Jordan Parker led the receiving corps with three catches for 61 yards, highlighted by a 32-yard reception. Hatchett added 29 rushing yards to finish with 68 yards from scrimmage and two scores.

Thole completed 12-of-25 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown for Ave Maria. Howard accounted for the majority of the Gyrenes' offense with five catches for 114 yards and a score. Ave Maria averaged just 0.9 yards per rushing attempt and finished with only two rushing first downs.

Cumberland returns home next week to take on Pikeville at Nokes-Lasater Field with kick-off slated for 6:00 p.m. central time. 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Jaylen Abston

#1 Jaylen Abston

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Kaiden Hatchett

#3 Kaiden Hatchett

WR
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Jack Kantner

#17 Jack Kantner

K
5' 11"
Junior
Knox Watson

#35 Knox Watson

LB
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jordan Parker

#8 Jordan Parker

QB
6' 0"
Freshman
Jake Parker

#12 Jake Parker

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Daniel Doegan

#28 Daniel Doegan

DB
5' 11"
Senior
Jordan Cason

#28 Jordan Cason

RB
5' 8"
Graduate Student
Tristan Bohannon

#30 Tristan Bohannon

LB
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Jaylen Abston

#1 Jaylen Abston

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Kaiden Hatchett

#3 Kaiden Hatchett

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Jack Kantner

#17 Jack Kantner

5' 11"
Junior
K
Knox Watson

#35 Knox Watson

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
LB
Jordan Parker

#8 Jordan Parker

6' 0"
Freshman
QB
Jake Parker

#12 Jake Parker

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
QB
Daniel Doegan

#28 Daniel Doegan

5' 11"
Senior
DB
Jordan Cason

#28 Jordan Cason

5' 8"
Graduate Student
RB
Tristan Bohannon

#30 Tristan Bohannon

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
LB