Patriots top ‘Dawgs

It was a first for the Union-University of Cumberlands series. A game played under the lights at Corbin’s Campbell Field. It was big-time football at its finest.
But, it was turnovers that proved fatal to Union College as No. 18 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) turned four turnovers into 14 points en route a 21-9 victory on Saturday to reclaim the Brass Lantern.
Union was the first to cash in a turnover. After a scoreless first half, Cumberlands started the second half with the ball on its 24-yard line. On second and five from the 29, Ricky Walker fumbled and Union’s Josh Littleton picked it up at the 29 and returned it to the Patriot 11.
The Bulldogs, however, were unable to punch the ball into the end zone and had to settle for a Chad Wilson 25-yard field goal, making it 3-0 with 13:11 remaining in the third.
Cumberlands immediately had an answer as it drove 65 yards in 11 plays to grab a 7-3 lead. Moses Cochran capped the drive with a 23-yard scamper with 8:14 on the clock.
It remained 7-3 until the fourth quarter when Brandon Goss picked off Bulldog quarterback Kyle Callahan to give the Patriots the ball on the Bulldog 44. Two plays later, Kyle King hit Jordan Jeffers on a short, dump pass, and Jeffers broke free to score on a 35-yard play. After Andrew Carr’s PAT, the Patriots led 14-3 with 12:08 to play.
Union fought back, cutting the margin to 14-9 on a Terence Pollock 1-yard dive. The score was set up by a 62-yard pass to Stephen Hunter from Callahan. The Bulldogs went for two on the PAT, but Callahan was sacked on the play, leaving it a five-point contest with 10:10 to play.
Pinned deep in its own territory, Union attempted to mount a comeback. However, Djuan Smith (Salem, Va.) fumbled, and Patriot Eric Tisdol recovered at the Union 15 and returned it for a touchdown to make it 21-9 with 4:47 remaining.
Defense proved to be the difference for the Patriots according to first year coach John Bland. “There’s no doubt about it. They played the game as good as I’ve ever been around.”
“We gave them opportunities but our defense stepped up every time,” said Bland.”The only thing they did wrong was give up a few big plays.”
The Bulldogs still had some fight in them. On the ensuing drive, Callahan hit Ryan Chambers for a 53-yard pass to put Union on the Cumberlands 28. Union eventually moved the ball down to the Patriot 15, but got no closer.
After Union turned the ball over on downs, the Patriots ran out the clock in claiming the 21-9 victory and the Brass Lantern, the traveling trophy for the Union-Cumberlands series.
Since the Brass Lantern was introduced to the series in 1995, this marks the first time that either team failed to keep the Lantern for at least two years. Union had won it in 1995 and 1996 with Cumberlands taking ownership from 1997-99. The Bulldogs won it back in 2000-01 before the Patriots kept it from 2002-04. Union won 35-34 in 2005. Cumberlands owns the overall series lead at 19-9.
Not only was this a rivalry game, but it was also a Mid-South Conference East game. With the win, Cumberlands got a leg up on the rest of the MSC East as it goes to 1-0 overall and in league play.
“This win means everything,” said Bland. “Football is a unique sport where you don’t play a lot of ballgames because it is so physical and when you have 10-11 ballgames in a season every game is important. People adjust early on, coming on strong at the end is more important, but every game is important and I’m just glad we came out with the victory.”
Cumberlands outgained Union 289-228 in total offense. The Patriots rushed for 220 yards with Cochran leading the way with 132 yards on 24 carries to go along with his touchdown. King completed 3-of-6 passes for 69 yards and a score.
“The boys played offense but we struggled as offenses will do early in the season,” said Bland. “They stepped up and made plays as well and made enough to win the game. I knew that was going to happen after that first half. You could tell it was going to be a defensive battle and our guys continued to step up to the challenge.”
Callahan completed just 12-of-28 passes for 215 yards and was intercepted three times – twice by Goss. Hunter caught three passes for 81 yards, Shawn Kelly (Cold Spring, Ky.) pulled down three passes for 36 yards, and David Fairbanks (Cincinnati, Ohio) hauled in three for 26 yards. For Fairbanks, he now has 83 career receptions to rank eighth all-time in program history.
Defensively, Patrick O’Neal (Lula, Ga.) led Union with 15 tackles (five solos), while Marekus Smith (Lithonia, Ga.) had 10 total tackles (four solos) with 1.5 for a loss of three yards and one fumble recovery, which he returned 21 yards.
For Cumberlands, Marcus Wesley and Matthew Rhymer each had eight total tackles, while Goss had seven total to go with his two picks.
Union (0-1 overall, 0-1 MSC East) returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 9, when it pays NCAA Division II Chowan (N.C.) University a visit. Game time is set for 12 p.m.