COOKEVILLE — Tennessee Tech controlled all phases of the game last Saturday, rolling past Cumberland 65-0 at Tucker Stadium in the season opener for both teams.
The FCS Golden Eagles piled up 570 yards of total offense, balancing 286 yards on the ground with 284 through the air. Tech averaged nearly 10 yards per play and scored on five of six trips inside the red zone.
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NAIA Cumberland was limited to just 94 total yards, managing 40 passing and 54 rushing while converting only one of 14 third-down attempts. The Phoenix recorded nine first downs and held the ball for just under 30 minutes, but could not find the scoreboard.
Tech’s defense forced one turnover and notched nine tackles for loss while Cumberland’s defense came up with a sack and an interception that led to its lone scoring opportunity.
Quarterback Kekoa Visperas set the tone through the air, completing 17 of 26 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Backup Jace Wilson added a perfect 2-for-2 outing for 34 yards to cap a 284-yard passing performance with no interceptions.
The Golden Eagles spread the ball around to 11 different receivers, led by Noah Robinson with 58 yards, while Tre’ Holloway and Torin Baker hauled in touchdown grabs. Aidan Littles also added a scoring catch from 11 yards out.
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On the ground, Tech pounded out 286 rushing yards on 31 carries, averaging over nine yards per attempt. Maurice Sims led the way with 92 yards and a 78-yard touchdown burst, while Q’Daryius Jennings chipped in 80 yards and two scores. Quincy Quinn and quarterback Wilson also found the end zone to round out five rushing touchdowns.
Tennessee Tech opened up the scoring early and often. After holding CU on the opening drive, quarterback Visperas went to work. He connected on four passes, including a 25-yard touchdown pass Torin Baker, for a 7-0 lead.
Cumberland’s second drive saw the Golden Eagles push the drive three different times with penalties. However, CU’s drive stalled out on fourth down in plus territory. The Golden Eagles took just six plays to get back in the end zone capped by a 4-yard rush from Quintero Quinn for a 14-0 lead.
Tennessee Tech scored one more time in the first as Visperas threw an 11-yard strike to Aiden Littles.
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The Golden Eagles tacked on 24 points in the second quarter. A 19-yard touchdown rush from Q’Darryius Jennings was followed by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Visperas to Tre’ Holloway. Then Holloway followed with a 53-yard touchdown on a punt return and the period capped off with a 42-yard field goal at the end of the half for a 45-0 lead.
The offense slowed down for Tech in the second half. The Golden Eagles scored a touchdown in the third quarter and added two scores in the fourth to get the 65-0 final.
The Phoenix return home this Saturday against NAIA competition set to take on Reinhardt at 6 p.m. at Nokes-Lasater Field.
Tennessee Tech 65, Cumberland 0
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Cumberland|0|0|0|0—0
Tennessee Tech|21|24|7|13—65
First quarter
Tennessee Tech—Torin Baker 25 pass from Kekoa Visperas (Dom LeBlanc kick) 9:55.
Tennessee Tech—Quintell Quinn 4 run (LeBlanc kick), 2:31.
Tennessee Tech—Aidan Littles 11 pass from Visperas (LeBlanc kick), :42.
Second quarter
Tennessee Tech—Q’Darryius Jennings 19 run (LeBlanc kick), 12:52.
Tennessee Tech—Tre Holloway 3 pass from Visperas (LeBlanc kick), 4:06
Tennessee Tech—Holloway 53 punt return (LeBlanc kick), 2:14.
Tennessee Tech—LeBlanc 43 FG, 0:00.
Third quarter
Tennessee Tech—Jennings 25 run (Gavin Wilson kick), 5:31.
Fourth quarter
Tennessee Tech—Jace Wilson 4 run (kick failed), 9:55.
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Tennessee Tech—Maurice Sims 78 run (Gavin Wilson kick), 1:05.
Team statistics
|CU|TTU
First downs|9|24
-Rush|2|11
-Pass|2|12
-Penalty|5|1
Rushes-yards|39-64|31|286
Passing yards|40|284
-Comp.-Att.-Int.|7-16-1|19-28-0
Fumbles-lost|2-0|1-0
Penalties-yards|5-39|7-90
Punts-avg.|9-36.1|0-0
Individual statistics
RUSHING—Cumberland: Jaylen Abston 10-29, Jacob Cornejo 7-27, Jarrius Rogers 2-12, Rod Payne 6-7, Lamar Childress 3-0, Kaiden Hatchett 2-(-1), Zach Holtzclaw 9-(-10). Tennessee Tech: Maurice Sims 5-92, Q’Darryius Jennings 6-80, Quintell Quinn 10-44, Kekoa Visperas 3-26, Jace Wilson 3-22, Aidan Littles 1-15, Tremel Jones 2-8, Team 1-(-1).
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PASSING—Cumberland: Zach Holtzclaw 6-15-1—34, Jaylen Abston 1-1-0—6. Tennessee Tech: Kekoa Visperas 17-26-0—250, Jace Wilson 2-2-0—34.
RECEIVING—Cumberland: Kaiden Hatchett 4-23, Jarrius Rogers 1-9, Isaac Finch 1-4, Devin Williams 1-4. Tennessee Tech: Noah Robinson 3-58, Tre Holloway 3-45, Tremel Jones 1-41, Maury Sullivan 3-32, Steve Brown 1-26, Torin Baker 1-25, Q’Darryius Jennings 1-15, Brian Courtney 2-12, Aidan Littles 1-11, Tyler Nix 2-11, Luke Shields 1-8.
