MCKENZIE, Tenn. –The Bethel Wildcats lost their third straight with a 41-38 loss to Cumberland University on Senior Night Thursday in Wildcat Stadium. Dalton McCann, Rodrigo Campos and Trace Pierce were honored in pregame ceremonies.
It was the 31st meeting between the two programs. The Wildcats have met CU more than any other opponent in program history.
The match-up was the sixth of a seven game season with all the games being MSC Bluegrass Division affairs.
The Wildcats dropped to 3-3 on the season while CU improved to 1-5.
Bethel's inability to stop the Phoenix running game was the deciding factor. Cumberland rushed for 403 yards on 71 carries. CU's Treylon Sheppard ran for a career high 280 yards on 47 carries. Brownsville native Kaleb Witherspoon had 85 yards on four carries. CU finished with a season high 457 total yards.
The Wildcats had trouble running the ball and finished with minus three yards on the ground. The Cats did their damage in the air with 306 yards. Quarterback Jacob Murphree was 22-of -34 in passing with four touchdowns. Four different receivers had touchdown receptions. Caleb Nelson had five catches for 92 yards and a score. J'Kobi Reddick, Tremaine Osborne and Caleb Roebuck also had touchdown receptions. Nelson also had a 90 -yard kick-off return for a score.
Bethel jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead after Campos hit a 39-yard field goal on the opening possession. Murphree capped an 80 yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass on the second possession to Reddick and the Cats appeared on their way to a big night taking an early 10-0 lead.
Sheppard scored on a 17-yard run to make it 10-6 at the 5:36 mark of the first stanza. The PAT was no good. The Phoenix stopped Bethel on the next Wildcat drive and marched 72 yards down the field but turned it over on a fumble. Bethel gave it right back to the visitors from Lebanon. Sixteen plays later Sheppard scored again and the Phoenix took a 13-10 after an Austin Nunley point after.
After Bethel couldn't get anything going and had to punt on the next possession , Witherspoon went 52 yards on the opening play and a few plays later Edmondson scored on a two-yard keeper to give the Phoenix a 20-10 margin.
Bethel's Nelson returned the ensuing kick-off 90 yards to make it 20-17 CU at the half.
The Phoenix went 58 yards to open the second half with a score. Sheppard tacked on another score on a two-yard run and CU led 27-17.
Nelson again had a big return to set up the Wildcats with great field position but the Cumberland defense made another big stop as the Wildcats tried to go for it on fourth down but failed. CU fumbled and Bethel recovered in Phoenix territory. Murphree hit Nelson with a 27 yard strike and the Cats pulled to within 27-24 at the end of three.
CU scored two plays into the final frame on an Edmondson one-yard run. The Phoenix led 34-24 with 14:34 left. The Wildcats would not go quietly into the night however as Murphree hit Roebuck for a score to make it 34-30. Campos nailed the point after and it was 34-31.
Bethel attempted an onside kick, but CU's Trevor Griffin scooped up the loose football around mid-field and ran in for a 41-31 lead.
Bethel again responded with a 6-play 62-yard drive that was capped off by a Murphree to Osborne TD pass.
The Wildcats tried for the onside kick, but Cumberland recovered and was able to run out the clock for CU's first win of the year.
Highlighting Bethel's defensive effort was freshman Brody Franks with 17 total tackles. It is the most tackles ever by a Wildcat freshman. Dontavious Brown followed with 14 tackles. Freshman Briley Gooch had 12 tackles while Xavier King was in double digits with 11 total stops.
Bethel closes out their season next week traveling to Columbia, Kentucky to face No. 3 Lindsey Wilson at 6 p.m. CST. It will be 7th meeting between the two programs with the Blue Raiders holding a 4-2 lead in the series.
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