COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Experienced Eads Leads Cumberland

BY TIM HAYES
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Matt Eads is in his third season as the starting quarterback for the Cumberland (Tenn.) University football team. With experience comes success.

Eads, the former Sullivan East High School star, has thrown for 1,375 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. He hopes to add to those numbers today, when Cumberland (3-3) plays host to the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. in Lebanon, Tenn.

The 5-foot-10, 176-pound junior has completed 57.5 percent of his passes (88-for-153) and also has a rushing touchdown to his credit. He has twice thrown for 300-plus yards, and he has helped the Bulldogs win two straight.

“Things have been going pretty good this year,” Eads said. “We’ve finally got a lot of our key players where they need to be, and some guys have really stepped up for us.”

Eads has already surpassed last season’s passing yardage and touchdown totals. A lot of that has been due to the fact that he’s been through the rigors of the ultra-tough Mid-South Conference before.

“That means a lot,” Cumberland coach Dewayne Alexander said. “It certainly enables you to do more offensively. … He’s been in our program three years, and I think any coach will tell you, it means a lot to have a returning quarterback.

“His performance has been outstanding,”  Alexander continued. “I think he’s one of the reasons our team has been much improved this year. Besides being an excellent football player and being able to run and throw like he does, his off-the-field contributions have been tremendous as well. ... He’s just one of those steady guys.”

Eads still keeps in close contact with his friends and family back in Bluff City. He talks to East head coach Ralph Nelson regularly and spent part of his summer working out at East’s facilities.

Eads and his teammates will be in for a tough challenge against UVa.-Wise. The Highland Cavaliers (5-1 and ranked 11th in the latest NAIA national poll) put 61 points on the board in a win over Campbellsville (Ky.) last Saturday and have the Mid-South Conference’s pre-eminent passer in Randy Hippeard.

“They’ve got a good offense, and they are going to score some points,” Eads said. “We’ve got to make some key stops on defense, and our offense needs to keep clicking. They are a Top 15 team, but I have a good feeling if we come out and play our best, we’ve got a shot.”

Meanwhile, the Cumberland QB has already shown up on Wise’s scouting report.

“He’s doing a good job and they’ve got a good football team,” UVa.-Wise coach Bruce Wasem said. “[Eads] passes the ball well, and he moves around pretty well.”

NOTES: Wasem said wide receiver Jason Lovett could be out 2-4 weeks with a strained MCL he suffered in last week’s win over Campbellsville. Lovett leads the team with 16 touchdown catches. … Hippeard needs just 18 yards to reach 10,000 passing yards for his career. He would become the first QB in the history of Wise’s program to hit that milestone. … UVa.-Wise plays at Pikeville, Ky., next weekend and at home on Nov. 1 against Union, Ky.

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