The University of the Cumberlands (6-1, 2-1), ranked #6 in the NAIA, last lost in the Mid-South Conference on October 27, 2007, when it fell to Georgetown 27-10. As history would have it almost two years to the date, it would be the Tigers who would knock off the perfect 6-0 Patriots again as they handed them their first loss of the ’09 season on Saturday, October 18, 2009, 20-23.

The Tigers (5-2, 2-1) held Cumberlands to 202 total yards, 83 on the ground and 119 through the air. Far below the Patriots #1 rushing offense average per game of 325.

“I don’t feel like it was a lack of team effort,” said University of the Cumberlands Head Coach John Bland. “We just came up on the short end of the stick today. We couldn’t convert when we had the field position and Georgetown did. Their offense was able to move the ball and our defense had a hard time getting off the field.”

At the end of the first drive of the game, Georgetown fumbled a punt that was picked up by Desrick Jones (Monticello, FL), who took it six yards for the touchdown to put Cumberlands on top early with the PAT, 7-0.

But the Tigers would answer on the very next drive when a 1-yard run capped off an 11 play, 65 yard drive, to begin a Georgetown controlled-possession game. With the game tied at 7 all, Georgetown would take the lead, 10-7, on a 42 yard field goal, their longest of the season, after traveling 62 yards in 13 plays.

The Patriots fought back with a score of their own as a 35-yard hook up between quarterback Jay Bright (Fayetteville, GA) and Willie Gibson (Abbeville, GA) set up a Justin Pritchett (Dayton, TN) two yard TD to put the Patriots on top 13-10 after a missed extra point.

On the next Tiger possession, on a big fourth and two, Tiger QB Lewis kept the ball and ran it in for a 16-yard touchdown as Georgetown added the extra point and took control of the lead once again, 17-13.

The second half started with both teams picking off each other’s passes before Georgetown would take the pick from the Patriots end zone and turn it into a 40 yard field goal to extend their lead 20-13.

A quick Patriots' possession with just 12 seconds left in the third tied the game up for the second time (20-20) this time on a 45-yard scoring pass from Bright to Gibson in the end zone.

Georgetown took the lead and the win off the foot of Alex Kreimer on a 29 yard field goal with 7:07 remaining as the Patriots were unable to capitalize on their next possession.

With the 20-23 loss, the Patriots 15 game Mid-South Conference winning streak came to an end as did their undefeated regular season campaign. The loss could also drop the Patriots out of the NAIA Top 10 for the first time this season. In addition, the loss shakes things up in the Mid-South Conference East Division Standings. UVA-Wise now leads 3-1, with Cumberlands, Georgetown, and Campbellsville all tied at 2-1.

The Patriots were led offensively by Justin Pritchett who had 13 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown. Willie Gibson came up big for the receiving unit hauling in 3 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. QB Jay Bright was 7-14 through the air for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, PJ Hughes (Macon, GA) was all over the field mopping up 18 tackles while Desrick Jones came up big on special teams scooping up the bad snap and scoring the Patriots first TD of the game. Brian Abshire (St. Cloud, FL) recorded his first pick of the season, the ninth Patriot to tally one.

“This was a tough game,” said Bland. “The players and coaches all poured their heart out and now we have to find a way to get back up and on the right track. West Virginia Tech University started off the season strong and has played some tough teams and some tight games; we have a challenge ahead of us. I told the team that their destiny is still in their own hands.”

Cumberlands will entertain West Virginia Tech University in the College Fanz NAIA Game of the Week on Saturday, October 24, 2009. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:30 PM at Taylor, II Stadium in Williamsburg, KY. In addition, the Patriots are also recognizing all local elementary football and basketball teams at the game with free admission.