Caption: Hunter Lewis with 6! Lewis scored 4 TDs on the day and had 254 yards rushing. Photo by Haley Damron, UC Multimedia & Athletic Services Student Photographer
The University of the Cumberlands (UC) Football team hosted Senior Day on Saturday November 15th as they took on the Bluefield College (BC) Rams in a Mid-South Conference (MSC) East Division showdown. After a very high scoring first half, it was the Patriots closing out their 2014 campaign with a 63-28 victory over the Rams. With the win, the Patriots finish the year with an overall record of 3-7 and 2-4 in the MSC East Division.
The Patriots began the scoring on early on their first drive as Hunter Lewis (Dunlap, TN) would take it 58 yards to the endzone. The point after attempt by Joe Rose (Lawrenceburg, KY) was good, giving UC a 7-0 lead. Bluefield would capitalize quickly with a 46 yard TD pass and PAT, tying the game at 7-7. Lewis would yet again put UC on top with a 7 yard run to the endzone on their next drive. Rose’s PAT was good, putting the Patriots on top 14-7. The Rams would yet again answer though on a 38 yard TD pass, making it 14-14 at the end of the 1st quarter.
The 2nd quarter was largely controlled by the Patriots. Lewis would find his way to the endzone again on a 29 yard TD run with another PAT by Rose, giving UC a 21-14 lead. Bluefield would answer later in the 2nd quarter with a 74 yard reverse for a TD, making it tied, 21-21. UC’s offense would explode with just less than 3 minutes to play in the half. DJ Rozier (Wrightsville, GA) would score for UC on a 52 yard run that showed plenty of poise and flash, giving UC the lead 28-21. After a Patriot interception, Randy Maynard (Pikeville, KY) would go to the air and find Zach Balusik (Greensburg, IN) from 27 yards out for another Patriot touchdown. UC would have a 35-21 lead with just over a minute to play when Juantez Hartsfield (Griffin, GA) would force a fumble that was recovered by the Patriots. There it was Lewis finding the endzone from 2 yards out to give UC a 42-21 lead at the break.
In the 3rd quarter, the Rams would hold UC to a 3 and out before marching down the field 85 yards capped off by an 18 yard TD pass. The PAT was good, cutting the UC lead to 42-28. BC then forced a fumble on UC’s next possession before Seth Brewton (Corryton, TN) would pick off a Bluefield pass, killing their drive. UC would answer on a Maynard TD pass to none other than Lewis from 30 yards out. A Rose PAT was good, extending UC’s lead 49-28 to end the 3rd quarter.
In the 4th, it was somewhat quiet before DJ Rozier would find the endzone on a 40 yard run, pushing the Patriot lead to 56-28. UC would step up big on defense as Hartsfield would force another fumble, this one recovered and returned by Cory Clark (Seymour, TN) for another Patriot touchdown, making it 63-28 which would be the final score.
BY THE NUMBERS
· Hunter Lewis was a workhorse in the backfield for the Patriots in the game, carrying the ball 32 times for254 yards and 4 touchdowns. Lewis also had 2 catches for 47 yards and a TD.
· DJ Rozier also exploded for UC carrying the ball 10 times for 132 yards and 2 TDs.
· Cole Russell (Rogersville, TN) also had 100 yards rushing on 24 carries, giving UC 3 running backs with 100+ yards for the first time in school history.
· Randy Maynard was effective through the air going 5-10 for 99 yards and 2 TDs.
· The Patriots would net 601 yards of total offense in the game, averaging 7.0 yards per play.
· Defensively, the Patriots were led by Cory Clark with 7 total tackles and 1 fumble recovery.
· Seth Brewton added 6 total tackles and an interception.
· The Patriot defense would combine for 6 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles.
