Cats Win Third in a Row with Victory at Cumberland
LEBANON, Tenn. - The No. 24 Bethel Wildcats and Cumberland University Phoenix met in another key MSC Bluegrass Division match-up Saturday in Lebanon. It was the 33rd meeting between the two programs. Both teams entered the game with two game winning streaks. In the end, Bethel played spoiler in CU's Homecoming with a 43-24 victory. The Wildcats cut into the 20-12-1 advantage the Phoenix holds in the series.
The Cats moved to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the league. Cumberland dropped to 3-4 and 2-2.
After forcing the Phoenix to punt on their first possession the Wildcats moved down the field and scored on a Luis Morale 24-yard field goal.
The Wildcat defense stopped the Phoenix inside their own 40-yard line on the next series and forced a CU punt. Nolan Chowbay topped off an impressive 14 play 73-yard drive by hitting James Dixon on a 13-yard pass with 1:27 left in the first. The Morales point after was no good.
The Phoenix got on the board at the 10:27 mark of the second on a Dylan Carpenter two-yard scamper. Hunter Mathis hit the PAT to make it 9-7.
Less than two minutes later, Chowbay struck again on a 19-yard touchdown toss to De'Ontay Tate. The two-point conversion failed but the Cats upped their lead to 15-7.
Vonte Bates picked off his second pass of the year to stymie another CU drive. The Wildcats took advantage of the turnover and added to their lead as Chowbay hit Dixon again. The 58-yard scoring pass gave the Cats a 22-7 margin at the half.
With 6:28 left in the third, Chowbay and Dixon made it the hat trick, teaming up on an eight-yard scoring play to make it 29-7. Morales hit the point after.
Less than a minute into the fourth, CU's Brandon Edmondson rushed in from the one-yard line and CU cut Bethel's margin to 29-14.
The Phoenix would not go quietly as they scored again on a Mathis 25-yard field goal. With 10:15 left in the game, Bethel's lead was trimmed to 29-17.
It was an opportune time for Bethel to get their 1st kick-off return for a score on the year. Brandon Moore returned the ensuing kick for 88 yards and after the Morales point after, the Cats took a 36-17 lead.
Four minutes later, CU's Edmondson rushed in on a one-yard play to keep the Phoenix in the game at 36-24. The score finished a 10 play 72-yard drive.
Less than a minute later the Cats answered on a Tate 36-yard touchdown. The Cats led 43-24.
Bethel had a 206 -176 advantage in passing yards. CU outrushed the Cats, 173-141. Tate rushed for 122 yards on 20 carries. He now has 3, 213 career rushing yards which is 4th all-time in program history. Chowbay finished 10-of-25 for the 206 yards and four touchdowns. Dixon caught five passes for 125 yards.
Along with Bates, Mike Malone had an interception. Brody Franks let the Wildcat defense with 15 total tackles. Jakobe Griffin followed with 14 total stops. Bates had 12 total tackles. The Wildcats had 11 TFL's.
Coach Michael Jasper expressed how proud he was of his squad. "I am really proud of how our guys showed up and got after it today. Nokes-Lasater is not an easy place to get a win and it will be nice to come home with a victory. We have a few guys banged up and a big week of preparation ahead of us, but we will enjoy this tonight."
Bethel returns home next week hosting No. 1 Lindsey Wilson at 1:30 p.m. It will be the 8th meeting between the two with the Blue Raiders holding a 5-2 advantage in the series. LWC won back in the spring abbreviated season 49-7 in Columbia.
It will be Pink Out Day at Wildcat Stadium.
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