Tigers second half surge helps in win

Turnovers and bad bounces marred the first half, while solid line play and great rushing erased a deficit to keep Georgetown College football's postseason hopes alive.

The Tigers (8-2, 5-2) trailed by three at the break only to cruise in the second half to a 28-10 victory on Senior Day. Jalen Lumpkin's 16-yard rushing touchdown put the home team up for good.

Zach Babb followed with a nine-yard scamper, dragging defenders at the end for a 21-10 edge. Brandon Burgess found Aaron Maggard for the final nail in the coffin against Cumberland University.

The Phoenix (3-7, 2-5) broke open a scoreless first quarter, forcing an errant throw from Burgess that was returned 79 yards and an early 7-0 lead.

Burgess connected with Maggard midway through the second quarter to tie the game. Then just before halftime, CU's punt touched a Tiger and resulted into an extended possession for the visitors. Cumberland did not waste the chance, kicking a field goal with 11 seconds left and 10-7 lead.

Georgetown chewed up 206 yards on the ground. Lumpkin had 98 of those on nine carries. Xavier Abernathy came in late for six carries and 35 yards. Isaiah Cobb and Darius Barbour were just shy of 30 yards each.

The Tigers now wait for Sunday's football selection show to find out if what they did is solid enough to get an at large bid for postseason. GC currently sits at 17 in the country, 16 make the playoffs. Conferences and divisions have automatic bids, but in order to accept one of those the team must be ranked in the Top 19. Everything else is filled in by those inside the Top 25 with at large nods. NAIA will air the brackets on its Facebook page 7 pm ET Sunday evening.