LEBANON -- Moments after Reed Gurchiek's overtime TD, Cumberland's defense held on to defeat Belhaven University 36-30 in overtime on Saturday at Nokes-Lasater Field.

The back-and-forth contest featured nearly 800 yards of offense between the two teams, several long, clock-eating drives as well as turnovers that the opponents turned into touchdowns.

Belhaven scored with 21 seconds remaining in the game to force overtime, completing an 11-play, 82-yard drive, but that answered a 13-play, 75-yard march by the Bulldogs that gave CU the lead.

After the worst game of his career last week against the University of the Cumberlands, Gurchiek turned in perhaps the best performance of his career, rushing 19 times for a game-high 149 yards and the one touchdown.

He also threw two scores, both to tightend BJ Stewart, including a four-yard strike in the back of the end zone with 4:36 remaining to put the Bulldogs ahead, 30-23.

In overtime the Bulldogs lost the toss and took five plays to score, with Gurchiek rushing on three, including the last one from four yards away.

After making three field goals and three extra points in the game, Jared White pulled the PAT wide left, giving the Blazers a chance to win the game with a touchdown and the extra point.

But the Bulldog defense stiffened after a first down by the Blazers. Jarred Williams pulled down BU’s Kadero Edley for a five-yard loss and Tim McKee yanked Cotton to the ground on second down before pass knockdowns by Grant Jones and Josh Walker in the end zone ended the contest.

Cumberland plays its next two games on the road – next week at UVA-Wise at 5 p.m. CT and September 29 at the University of Pikeville – before returning home October 6 for Homecoming against Union College.