LEBANON, Tenn. (September 3, 2022) - The Webber International University football team would suffer its first defeat of the season to Cumberland University on the road, 25-24. The Warriors would hold the lead for the majority of the game but would fall just short after allowing 15 unanswered points in the second half.

The Warriors (1-1 overall) would end the game with 405 yards of total offense, compared to the 306 yards of Cumberland (2-0 overall). Webber would hold the Phoenix to just 79 yards of passing but would allow 227 yards on the ground.

With less than a minute and a half left in the first quarter, Webber would be pushed inside their own 10-yard line. A fumble by the Warriors on the five-yard line would be recovered by Cumberland and returned for the first points of the game. After a successful extra-point attempt, the Phoenix would lead 7-0. The Warriors would quickly make up for the mistake on their next possession, with a 70-yard touchdown pass from Cody Braden to Jacob Moss on the second play of the drive. The point-after-attempt from Riley Robbins would be good and the game would be all tied at seven apiece heading into the second quarter.

The Warriors would force Cumberland to punt on its next offensive possession and Webber would start its next drive from its own 22-yard line. After an eight-yard rush by Terry Weems Jr. and an incomplete pass from Braden, the Warriors would be faced with a third-and-two. A handoff to Weems Jr. looking for the first down would turn into a 70-yard sprint to the endzone for another touchdown. After two big 70-yard plays on back-to-back drives, one in the air and one on the ground, the Warriors would lead 14-7.

On their next drive, the Phoenix would make it onto the Warriors half of the field but would ultimately be stopped and forced to punt. A good punt would start Webber's next drive at its own six-yard line. The Warriors would work their way to their own 46-yard line before Braden would complete a 41-yard pass to Jordon Taylor on second-and-nine to bring them down to the 13-yard line. Cumberland's goal-line defense would hold strong and Webber would have to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Robbins to extend the lead to 17-7, which it would hold until halftime.

With just under nine minutes to go in the third quarter, Cumberland would convert a field goal of its own to reduce the lead back to just seven. Webber would respond on its very next offensive possession after driving 74-yards on 12 plays and ending with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Braden to Frederick Curry Jr. Curry Jr. would lead the drive with two catches for 34 yards. The Phoenix would regain possession and cap off a 75-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown rush. The ensuing extra-point attempt would be no good and the Warriors would hold a 24-16 lead heading into the final quarter.

Webber would move the ball into Cumberland territory, down to the 22-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-two situation, the Warriors would go for it but come up a yard short, resulting in a turnover on downs. The Phoenix would move the ball all the way down to the Webber 19-yard line where they would be faced with a third-and-four. A rush on third down would turn into a 19-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to just two at 24-22. Cumberland would go for two but an incomplete pass would see the conversion attempt fail.

Cumberland would then force the Warriors into a three-and-out. Webber's punt attempt would be blocked and recovered by the opposition on their own 14-yard line. The Warriors' defense would hold strong but the 24-yard field goal attempt by the Phoenix would be good, earning them a one-point lead. Webber would be stopped on its next drive and be unable to get the ball back before time would expire.

Braden would end the game with 197 yards passing and two touchdowns with a 56.6 completion percentage. Moss led the team in receiving yards with 74 while Curry Jr. led the team in receptions with six. Both Moss and Curry Jr. had a receiving touchdown to their credit. Weems Jr. would lead the ground game, rushing for 101 yards on seven carries, good for an average of 14.4 yards per carry. He would be followed by Tremon Bright who ended with 74 yards on 24 touches.

Defensively, the Warriors were led by senior Rocky O'Rourke with 10 total tackles including a sack. He was followed by Devonte Harris and Parker Snead who each had seven while Trent Peacock ended with six.

The Warriors will now return home for a scrimmage against Atlantis University on Saturday, September 10th, at 1:30 p.m. on the Warrior Turf Field. Webber then has a bye week before hosting the University of Fort Lauderdale Eagles on Saturday, September 24th.