September 13, 2025 – Cumberland University crushed Ave Maria 55-7 at Nokes-Lasater Field in Lebanon, Tennessee, improving to 3-1 on the season while Ave Maria fell to 0-3.
The Phoenix controlled the game from start to finish, accumulating 550 total yards compared to Ave Maria’s 166. Cumberland scored on their opening drive when Zach Holtzclaw connected with Ryan Edmiston for a 16-yard touchdown.
Quarterback Performance
| Quarterback | Completions | Attempts | Yards | TDs | INTs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach Holtzclaw | 6 | 9 | 94 | 1 | 0 |
| Jaylen Abston | 3 | 5 | 74 | 1 | 0 |
Cumberland led 28-7 at halftime after Jacob Cornejo scored two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter. The Phoenix outscored Ave Maria 20-0 in the third quarter to put the game away.
Ground Attack
| Running Back | Attempts | Yards | Average | TDs | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Abston | 7 | 120 | 17.1 | 0 | 61 |
| Jacob Cornejo | 21 | 105 | 5.0 | 2 | 12 |
| Rod Payne | 10 | 89 | 8.9 | 2 | 55 |
| Lamar Childress | 12 | 51 | 4.3 | 1 | 12 |
Cumberland’s rushing attack totaled 382 yards on 59 carries while scoring six touchdowns on the ground. Rod Payne highlighted the third quarter with a 55-yard touchdown run, and Jarrius Rogers added a 59-yard touchdown reception from Abston.
The Phoenix defense forced three turnovers and recorded four sacks while holding Ave Maria to 3.3 yards per play. Cumberland was perfect in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on all six trips inside the 20-yard line.
Ave Maria’s only touchdown came on a seven-yard run by Reggie McBride in the second quarter.
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