LEBANON, Tenn. – Quincy Walden scored twice in the final 6:07, the last time with 1:28 to play to put the game away, and Bethel University overcame a 14-0 deficit to post a 42-28 victory over Cumberland on Homecoming here Saturday at Nokes-Lasater Field.

The Bulldogs (3-6, 0-3 Mid-South West) lost their third straight overall and for the second straight outing, turnovers proved costly. The Wildcats (4-5, 1-2) turned five Cumberland miscues into 21 points and also harassed CU quarterback Justin Snyder the entire game, sacking him six times and picking off four passes.

The Cumberland defense allowed just 326 total yards in the game, but short fields allowed for scoring drives of 22, 28 and 21 yards for the Wildcats as well as an interception returned for a touchdown. Two of the four interceptions by Snyder in the game came on tipped passes and another was on a long throw down the field.

Max Massengill picked off three of the throws for Bethel, returning one 40 yards for a score, and his INT with 1:36 remaining set-up Walden’s final score to seal the victory for the visitors.

Snyder finished 17-of-33 passing for 198 yards and two touchdowns while Trevon Jones led the Bulldogs on the ground with 67 yards on six carries. Michael Green caught eight passes for 123 yards and one score and also had an 88-yard kickoff return to open the game.

After a slow start, Kerry Sellers II escaped pressure from the Bulldogs and completed 13-of-22 throws for 129 and two touchdowns for Bethel. The junior signal caller also rushed 13 times for 68 yards and one TD.

Walden caught two touchdown passes among his four receptions and also rushed four times for 33 yards and two scores for the Wildcats.

The Bulldogs couldn’t have started the game better, with Green returning the opening kickoff a career-long 88 yards to the Bethel 9-yard line. Snyder rushed around right end and dove for the pylon on the first play from scrimmage for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead just 25 seconds into the contest.

The teams combined for just 103 yards of total offense in the first quarter, with the Cumberland defense holding on fourth down at the CU30 midway through the period.

The Bulldogs’ best drive of the half started late in the first quarter and covered 69 yards on 11 plays. Jones rushed around left end for 30 yards to offset one of four sacks in the half by the Wildcats and Snyder’s pass to Green for 14 yards on third down kept the drive alive.

Snyder then rushed around left end for 12 yards and two plays later hit Brandon Mallory on a screen pass to the left for a six-yard TD, with Mallory high-stepping into the end zone for a 14-0 lead with 11:47 to play before intermission.

Bethel moved 64 yards on nine plays on the ensuing possession, more offense than the squad had in the entire opening quarter. Sellers II carried for 22 yards and hit Walden and Devan Raymer, both for eight-yard completions. A facemask penalty on the Bulldogs gave BU a first down at the CU23, but Cumberland held again on fourth down, this time at its own 21.

Massengill intercepted a tipped pass three plays later to set-up the Wildcats at the CU22 and Sellers II rushed for 14 yards on the first play, though some of the yardage was negated by an illegal downfield block. Three plays later Sellers II carried eight yards over the leftside for the touchdown, cutting the Bulldog lead to 14-7.

After a short kickoff Jones rushed for 15 yards and a short completion to Moses Cornelius set-up fourth down at the BU37, but Snyder was sacked on the play, giving the Wildcats a chance to tie the game before the half and they struck quickly to do just that.

Raymer caught a swing pass for 12 yards and a facemask penalty moved the ball to the CU30. Sellers II then hit Walden for a 30-yard TD pass in the back left corner of the end zone, knotting the contest at 14 with 1:29 left before intermission.

Bethel took the lead for good on the opening drive of the third quarter after Samuel Kail returned the kickoff 42 yards and a facemask penalty put the ball at the CU28. A pass interference penalty on fourth down moved the ball to the CU20 and two plays later Walden caught a 19-yard TD pass for a 21-14 Wildcats lead.

Cumberland answered with a nice play, going 64 yards on nine plays that included a third down completion to Green and a 17-yard hook-up between Snyder and Green. Austin Chaplin rushed for nine and eight yards for the BU19, but the junior was stripped of the ball by Joshua Burns at the 11 and the Wildcats recovered.

Massengill’s 40-yard interception return for a touchdown off the hands of Green gave Bethel a 28-14 advantage with 7:06 left in the third quarter. Both teams struggled again on offense in the period, combining for just 135 yards.

Cumberland cut into the deficit early in the fourth quarter with a nine-play, 68-yard drive. Chaplin caught a 14-yard pass on third down and Snyder hit Mallory for 24 yards for the BU25. This time a facemask penalty on the Wildcats gave CU a first down and Chaplin rushed nine yards up the middle on the next play for the score, making it 28-21 with 9:09 remaining.

A big kickoff return by Macio Hicks set-up the Wildcats at the CU45 on the ensuing possession and Bethel took advantage. Blake Lea caught a seven-yard pass on third down and Walden had a 12-yard catch. Four plays later Walden scored from six yards out for a 35-21 BU lead with 6:07 to play.

The Bulldogs answered quickly, with Green catching a deep slant on the second play of the drive, planting and turning outside. He outraced three defenders to the end zone for a 62-yard score, his 10th play of 40-plus yards this season. The Wildcats partially blocked the extra point but were offsides and Josh Bates’ second try was good, making it a seven-point game again with 4:50 remaining.

The Cumberland defense forced a three-and-out and the eighth punt of the game for Bethel, getting the ball back with 2:46 to play at the CU32. Snyder rushed for four yards and midfired to Al Thompson on second down. He tired a deep throw over the middle on third down, but Massengill stepped in front and returned the pick to the 21. Walden carried to the end zone on the next play for the final score.

The Bulldogs play their home finale next Saturday against Faulkner University at Noon before ending the season at Lindsey Wilson on November 14.