BLUEFIELD – To say the Bluefield College football team has a tough schedule is an understatement. For the sixth time in nine games this season the Rams took on a team in the NAIA Top 25. Saturday afternoon the No. 21 University of the Cumberlands Patriots invaded Mitchell Stadium and with a strong running game defeated the Rams 41-7.

Three-and-a-half minutes into the contest the visitors were on the board, driving 53 yards in five plays to take a 7-0 lead. With just a minute left in the period the Patriots made it 14-0. A pair of scores in the second quarter pushed Cumberlands' lead to 28-0 at the break. The final two scores for the visitors came in the third and fourth quarter, pushing the lead to 41-0.

Bluefield avoided the shutout when Marion Harris scored on a six yard run with 9:43 to play in the game. Drake Presley's extra point was good to make it 41-7.

Adrian Pope returned to limited action and led Bluefield with 76 yards rushing on 11 carries. Harris ran 14 times for 50 yards and Quincy Mock carried the ball three times for 32 yards. Bluefield finished the day with 169 yards on the ground. Cason Whitt was four-of-11 passing for the Rams for 35 yards.

Cumberlands ran for 353 yards, led by Hunter Lewis who rushed 27 times for 137 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Adam Craig ran six times for 75 yards and completed five of seven passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively Carlton Toussaint led Bluefield with 12 tackles. Frank Brooks had 11 and Harry Casseus 10.

The Rams (1-8, 0-3) will travel to Union next Saturday in their final road contest of the season. Cumberlands (7-2, 4-0) will battle its oldest rival Georgetown (Ky.) next week for the Mid-South Conference East Division title.