Union falls short against Cumberland (Tenn.)

Barbourville, Ky. – The Union Commonwealth University football team hosted Cumberland (Tenn.) on Saturday in the Bulldogs' 2024 season opener. The Bulldogs fell 38-14.

UCU's first touchdown of the game was scored with 14:18 to play in the second quarter when DeMarco Hopkins tallied a six-yard TD run to tie the game 7-7.

Union's second TD of the matchup came in the third quarter when Keke McMurry registered a 76-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to trim the deficit to 31-14.

The Bulldogs totaled 10 first downs, while Cumberland recorded 24. UCU registered 172 yards of total offense, while allowing 407.

Starting QB Kolton Chapman registered 92 passing yards, while going 8-of-16 through the air. Wide receiver Tony Norman recorded seven catches for 47 yards, which led UCU in each category.

Four players were tied for the most total tackles in the matchup, which included Union's Kam Bradshaw, Ty Ellis, and Zayne Hammack. Samuel Hawthorne, Isaiah Osborne, Byron Gee, and Jason Burley each registered seven total tackles. Jamarious McClellan had six total tackles, while Antonio Hopkins had five.

The Bulldogs fell to 0-1 on the season, while Cumberland advanced to 2-0. Up next for UCU is a home game against Campbellsville on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 1:00 p.m.