2005 Football Season Wrap-up

The University of the Cumberlands (formerly Cumberland College) football Patriots finished the 2005 campaign 8-3 overall, 3-2 in the Mid-South Conference Eastern Division and ranked #21 nationally. The Patriots tied or broke seven individual game or season records, placed 12 players on the All Mid-South Conference teams, and had two players recognized as NAIA All Americans.

The Patriots played a tough non-conference schedule including two games against NCAA Division II schools and a match-up with Mid-States Football Association member Malone College. The MSFA is arguably the best NAIA football conference as it sent five member schools to the NAIA National Championship Playoffs this season. The season began with a 21-13 victory over North Greenville College. This marked the second consecutive season the Patriots opened the year with a victory over an NCAA Division II opponent. The Patriots then made the trip to Canton, OH, where they defeated Malone College 28-21 in Fawcett Stadium, home of the annual NFL Hall of Fame Game. The Patriots wrapped up the non-conference schedule with a trip to NCAA Division II Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, NC. The Patriots led 10-6 at halftime, but were shutout in the second half and suffered a 33-10 loss.

On October 24, the Patriots had just defeated then #7 Pikeville College 25-24 at Pikeville, for their seventh win of the season against only one loss. The victory catapulted the Patriots to a national ranking of #5, the highest in school history. The Patriots remained there following a 40-17 victory over the University of Virginia’s College at Wise on October 29. The Patriots then fell in the polls following disappointing home losses to Union College and Georgetown College to finish out the season.

The 2005 season marked the third consecutive 8-win season for the Patriots. Prior to the beginning of the streak in 2003, only once had a Cumberlands football team won as many as eight games in a season. The 24 wins over this period ties for the most wins over any three year period in school history (1987-1989, 1988-1990).

The Patriots finished the season as the top rushing team in the nation for the second consecutive year averaging 303.5 yards per game. They also finished third nationally in total offense at 465.8 yards per game and fourteenth in scoring offense averaging 31.4 points per game.

The season also saw some excellent individual performances. Senior quarterback Larry Hay ( Henderson, KY), senior wide receiver Jeremy Vaught ( Danville, KY), and sophomore running back Moses Cochran ( Thomasville, GA) led the Patriot offense from their respective positions. Hay finished the season 93-of-165 passing for 1527 yards, 15 touchdown passes and only three interceptions, ranking third nationally in pass efficiency at 160.5. The passing yardage and touchdowns are both, single season school records. He also rushed for 309 yards and 11 touchdowns. Vaught caught 37 passes for 856 yards and a school record tying eight touchdowns. His 85.6 receiving yards per game average ranked 12 th nationally. Cochran had 196 carries for 1415 yards and eight touchdowns. His 183 all purpose yards per game led the nation and 128.6 rushing yards per game ranked 10 th nationally.

Hay completed his Cumberlands career as the program’s most accurate passer (130-of-248, .524). He also ranks fifth in passing yardage (2017), fourth in rushing touchdowns (23) and third in passing touchdowns (19). Hay is also the only player to have at least 1,000 career rushing yards and 2,000 career passing yards. This season he twice tied the school record for consecutive pass completions (9, vs. Bethel 10/8 and vs. UVA Wise 10/29), tied the record for most touchdowns thrown in a game (3, vs. Bethel 10/8), and set the record for completion percentage in a single game (10-of-12 .833, vs. UVA Wise 10/29).

Earning All Conference honors were Donny Atha (Frankfort, KY), Cochran, Kavoris Daniels (Barwick, GA), Hay, Lemuel Holifield (Johnson City, TN), Brandon Lucas (Big Spring, KY), Lawrence McGee (Quitman, GA), John Patton (Lexington, KY), Gary Russell (Dayton, OH), Kyle Singleton (Richmond, KY), Ricky Walker (Thomasville, GA), and Ben White (Danville, KY). Holifield was also named NAIA All American Honorable Mention. He led the team in total tackles (76), tackles for loss (13.0), and sacks (5.5), adding four pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Cochran was named 4 th Team All American by NAIAFOOTBALL.NET and 2 nd Team NAIA All American. Cochran rushed for the third highest single season total, has the highest career yards per carry average, and ranks fourth in career rushing yards in school history.

The Patriots are looking ahead to the 2006 season as they plan to make a strong run at the NAIA playoffs and a Mid-South Conference East Division title. The season will begin with the “ Battle for the Brass Lantern” against MSC East Division foe Union College on September 2, in Corbin.

2004 Season Wrap-Up