Skyhawks drop season opener to Cumberland, 34-7
LEBANON, Tenn. (Aug. 27, 2022) – The Point University football team opened its 2022 season on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Cumberland University and falling to the Phoenix 34-7.
It was a scoreless first quarter, with both teams having several opportunities to score but coming up short on both ends. Point started the game strong, gaining 33 yards on their first drive but was unable to produce a scoring opportunity. The Skyhawks' defense limited the Phoenix to only eight yards the next drive before Point got the ball back and gained 20 yards but was once again unsuccessful at getting on the board. Cumberland got the ball back and moved the ball 35 yards, but Point's defense again held firm.
It was a slow second quarter until the final 3:23, as the Phoenix closed out the first half with four touchdowns. Cumberland's first touchdown came from a 26-yard pass to Phoenix wide receiver Elijah Gaskin. The next touchdown started with an interception returned on the next play for a touchdown. On their next two possessions, Cumberland scored on the first play of each drive, making the score 28-0 at halftime.
The Skyhawks earned their way onto the scoreboard with 8:36 left in the third quarter. On the opening play of Point's second drive of the quarter, Mitchell Gossett connected with Jacquez Bartley for 33 yards, and Bartley went on to score Point's first touchdown of the season. This was Gossett's first touchdown pass of his collegiate career. Giovanni Martinez's kick attempt for the Skyhawks was good to help cut Point's deficit down to 21 (28-7).
Cumberland answered with two field goals to extend its lead out 34-7 entering the final frame. Both teams were unable to extend their score in the final quarter.
In the box
The Phoenix out-converted the Skyhawks 20 to 13 on first down attempts. The Skyhawks had more first down completions on pass attempts than Cumberland (10 to 8), but the Phoenix had nine rushing first down completions while Point only had two. The Skyhawks were more efficient on third-down completions (4-of-20) and fourth-down completions (1-of-6), while Cumberland was 13% at third-down completions and was unsuccessful on their two fourth-down attempts.
Cumberland had 317 total yards on offense, and the Skyhawks had 294. The Skyhawks accumulated more passing yards (215 to 210) and had more return yards (106 to 79). The Phoenix outrushed Point 107 to 79.
Gossett received the most snaps for Point, going 7-for-17 and throwing for 72 yards. His longest throw was 33 yards and resulted in a touchdown.
Payton Allen was 6-for-17 and threw for 101 yards, his longest being 38 yards. Brenton White was 4-for-12 and threw for 42 yards.
Sensir Carnes led the Skyhawks on the ground with 29 rushing yards off eight attempts. His longest rush attempt was 10 yards. Adam Sanders followed, rushing for 27 yards off 13 attempts. Nadir Mitchell rushed for 20 yards on two attempts, his longest being 23 yards.
In the air, Emery Bryant received four passes for 63 yards, Bartley received three passes for 52 yards, and one scored the Skyhawks' lone touchdown, and Davion Thomas received five passes for 50 yards.
Aaron Anderson led Point's defense with seven tackles (six solo). Shakwan Bickley followed with five, and Quan Neal, San Juan Warner, and Roman Jones had four tackles each. Neal had a tackle for loss (five yards), and BJ Finley recorded the only sack of the night for a loss of seven yards.
Up next
Point will look to bounce back next Saturday, Sept. 3, as they host No. 24 Faulkner University inside Ram Stadium at 12 p.m. ET.
