Union football opens 2023 with a 27-0 win at Cumberland (Tenn.)

Lebanon, Tenn. – The Union football team picked up an impressive 27-0 win at Cumberland on Saturday night. The Bulldogs scored two touchdowns in the first quarter en route to the victory.

"I'm ecstatic," Union head coach John Luttrell said. "One of the things we talked about before the game was validating the hard work that they'd put in since January. And I thought they did."

The Bulldogs' first defensive snap of the season resulted in an interception by senior DB Paul Maxwell off a deflection by Tramonte Gardner. Cumberland's second drive resulted in a three-and-out. Union's special teams blocked the punt, and the Bulldog offense took over at Cumberland's five-yard line.

On 2nd & goal, QB Walker Russell connected with tight end Jayden Bratcher for a five-yard touchdown.

With three minutes remaining in the opening quarter, Union faced 3rd & 4 from the Bulldogs' 40-yard line. Russell connected with wide receiver Tony Norman on a deep pass down the right sideline for a 60-yard touchdown, which gave Union a 14-0 lead with 2:59 remaining in the first quarter.

The Bulldog offense scored two touchdowns in the second half, while Union's defense continued the shut out of Cumberland's offense. Union took a 20-0 lead with 2:52 to go in the third quarter when Russell connected with senior WR Isaiah Johnson on a 3-yard TD pass.

A 17-yard touchdown pass from Russell to wide receiver Quinn Carter gave the Bulldogs a 27-0 lead with 6:14 to play in the fourth quarter. The score would remain the same as Union opened the 2023 season with a victory on the road.

The Bulldogs tallied 349 yards of offense, while holding Cumberland to 194. Through the air, Union recorded 278 passing yards as Russell went 19-of-26 for 265 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Norman was Union's leading receiver with seven catches for 116 yards and one TD. Senior WR Chris Thomas tallied four catches for 74 yards.

The Bulldogs' defense held the Pheonix to 78 passing yards off 29 attempts, while recording four sacks and three interceptions. Union recorded eight TFLs for a total of 43 yards.

Defensive lineman Kamron Smith tallied two of those four sacks, while Samuel Hawthorne and Byron Gee each registered one. Gardner led the Bulldogs in tackles with 11, while also registering a team-leading two pass breakups.

It's another away game next week for Union as the Bulldogs travel to Virginia to face Division II UVA Wise. That matchup is slated for Saturday, Sept. 2, at 7:00 p.m.