LEBANON, Tenn. – Brandon Byrd and Trevon Jones each scored for Cumberland, but eighth-ranked Reinhardt University rushed for 405 yards and scored 24 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 52-18 victory over Cumberland here Saturday at Nokes-Lasater Field.

The Bulldogs (3-4, 0-1 Mid-South West) held the nation’s top rushing team in check at times and CU trailed 28-18 after an eight-yard TD pass to Trevon Jones just 28 seconds into the fourth quarter, but Nick Johnson picked off the two-point try and returned it 100 yards for a 30-18 Eagles lead.

Reinhardt scored on a 12-yard TD pass to Tyler Bradley on its next possession and after Cumberland turned the ball over on downs at the RU8, the Eagles went 92 yards on nine plays with an L.J. Stegall seven-yard TD pushing the advantage to 44-18.

Juice Arnold then intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 24 yards for the score for the visitors. Anthony Leonard blocked the extra point for the Bulldogs, but Lenard Robinson picked up the loose ball and was essentially pushed into the end zone for two points and the final score of the contest.

Cumberland won the time of possession battle, holding the ball for 33:03, but the Bulldogs were unable to come away with points on two long drives, one right before the half and the other in the fourth quarter.

Austin Chaplin led CU on the ground with 87 yards on 22 carries while Byrd added 62 yards on 14 attempts with a 17-yard TD run on the opening drive of the third quarter. Justin Snyder finished 14-of-30 passing for 196 yards with one TD and one interception. He was also sacked twice and fumbled on one of those that set-up the first score of the game.

Stegall paced the rushing attack for the Eagles with 111 yards on 12 carries and one TD. Sam Jones added 98 yards on 10 rushes and Niagel Curtis carried 13 times for 74 yards. Ryan Thompson completed 10-of-15 passes for 161 yards and one score as well for Reinhardt.

The Bulldog defense stopped the Eagles on their first drive of the game, with Justus Dauscha and Cayman Russell tackling Curtis on 4th-and-1 at the CU23, but the Reinhardt defense came up with a big play to set-up RU’s first touchdown.

Javier Dyer sacked Snyder, forcing a fumble, and Devante Wynn returned the fumble to the CU1. Deonte Dennis carried the final yard for the score on the first play for a quick 7-0 advantage for the visitors.

Cumberland put together its best drive of the game late in the period thanks to a tremendous over-the-shoulder catch by Michael Green that covered 69 yards to the RU24. Green drew a pass interference penalty on fourth down, pushing the ball to the RU5, and Snyder broke a pair of tackles, stretching the ball over the goal line for a five-yard TD run. CU missed the PAT and it was 7-6 with 2:58 left in the first quarter.

Reinhardt fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Tyler Stewart recovered for the Bulldogs at the RU21, but two incompletions and one of four false starts in the half for Cumberland pushed the ball back. CU tried a fake field goal, but Matthew Alter was tackled for a loss to end the drive.

The Eagles answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive highlighted by 16 and 25-yard runs from Jones. Two plays later Jones rushed five yards for the score and a 14-6 lead at the end of the opening period.

Cumberland was unable to maintain drives in the half, going 5-for-12 on third down. CU punted three times in the half, including on the opening drive of the second quarter.

Curtis broke a run up the middle for 51 yards on Reinhardt’s next possession and carried the final two yards for the score and a 21-6 advantage.

After another punt by the Bulldogs, the Eagles put together a 12-play, 78-yard drive that included a pair of third down conversions and one on fourth down as well. Thompson hit Jones for 27 yards down the middle on third down and found Dennis for 13 yards on the next third down. Curtis was stopped on third down but Dennis gained two yards on fourth down to the CU16.

Stegall rushed 14 yards around left end before Dennis’ second TD of the game from two yards out and a 28-6 Eagles lead.

Cumberland moved 67 yards on 11 plays covering more than six minutes just before the half. Byrd rushed four straight plays for 22 yards and Chaplin carried for 16 to midfield. Defensive holding on the Eagles put the ball at the RU24 and Snyder’s completion to Green made it 1st-and-goal at the four.

Byrd was stopped for a loss of two, Snyder’s pass to Al Thompson was knocked away by Nick Johnson and a swing pass to Byrd went for a loss of five, setting up fourth down on the final play of the half. Snyder was sacked by Tyler Pineda, sending the Bulldogs to the locker room trailing, 28-6.

Cumberland responded on the opening possession of the third quarter, marching 67 yards on seven plays. Green’s catch for 18 yards moved the ball to the RU37 and 12 carried for 12 yards to the 20 before his 17-yard scoring run cut the deficit to 28-12.

Freshman Jeremy Williams forced a fumble that was recovered by Nathan Jernigan at the CU11 to end the Eagles next drive and Reinhardt missed a 41-yard field goal later in the third period.

The Bulldogs moved 76 yards on 14 plays late in the quarter, with Brandon Mallory catching a 19-yard pass and Chaplin and Byrd eating up yards on the ground. Byrd’s third down catch for 15 yards set-up the eight-yard pass to Jones, cutting the Reinhardt lead to 28-18, but Johnson’s INT and return for two points swung the momentum back to the Eagles, who scored three times in the fourth period to pull away.

Cumberland returns to action next week at Campbellsville University at 6 p.m. Central Time.