By TOMMY BRYAN
CLARKSVILLE -- Cumberland's freshman quarterback Reed Gurchiek spent Thursday night in a Montgomery County hospital after dislocating his left hip in the Bulldogs' 38-6 season-opening loss to Austin Peay.

The former all-stater from Mt. Juliet High went down after running a quarterback counter on a second and goal at the North end zone of Governor's Stadium.

Prior to the injury, Gurchiek ran 14 times for 33 yards and completed 6-of-22 passes for 43 yards and was sacked once.

"There were a lot of late whistles out there, a lot of things going on and I think that's what happened. He kind of got twisted in a pile around the five yard line," said CU head coach Dewayne Alexander.

"Reed had a couple of close plays right there at the start of the game -- passes that went off the fingertips of his receivers. He had put together a good drive, settled down a little there after halftime."

Alexander said Gurchiek was released from the hospital Friday morning and would be undergoing further tests in Lebanon today and over the weekend.

"I talked to Reed and to his dad," Alexander said, "they were told it was a clean dislocation. The hip went right back in. Now the concern in the tissue around the joint.>

Cumberland struggled against the big and speedy APSU defensive front, averaging just 2.8 yards per rushing attempt.

"This is the third time we've played a 1-AA team since I've been here and the biggest difference has been the size and speed of the fronts on both sides of the ball. Our guys put up a very good fight, but there comes a point where they just wear on you."

Austin Peay had two backs, Terrence Hold and Wesley Kitts, break the 100-yard rushing barrier. Holt ran 14 times for 127 yards and scored once while Kitts came off the bench in the second half, running 11 times for 109 yards -- including a 68 yard TD burst up the gut in the late stages of the fourth quarter.

All told, APSU run for 306 yards, averaging 7.3 per rush.

Lemeco Miller led Cumberland with 56 yards on 12 carries.

Redshirt freshman Jared White was 2-for-3 on field goal attempts, connecting from 29 and 24 yards.

Chris Simpson interecepted an AP pass and returned it 30 yards. Cody McCallister also had a pick for CU. Ben Miller led the CU defense with eight tackles. Melvin Armstrong and Stephon Ransom were in on six stops each.

BULLDOG BITES -- Senior outside LB Todd Holman went out of the game later in the third period with an apparent dislocation of his left shoulder.

Nearly 100 CU fans gathered for a catered pregame tailgate party in the Governor's Stadium parking lot.

FREE ADMISSION -- Everyone will be admitted FREE to CU's Sept. 11 home-opener vs. Campbellsville. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Lindsey Donnell Stadium. Local restaurants will be setting up tents on the practice field with free food. Also, volunteers and participants from Sherry's Run will be recognized.

LEBANON -- The Cumberland’s Football Coaches Show presented by The Music City Star with host Tommy Bryan and head coach Dewayne Alexander begins Wednesday night at 6:30 with the show broadcasting this season from the new Papa John’s in the Phillips Student Center on the CU campus.

Fans and supporters are invited to attend. The show may be heard on 98.9 FM WANT locally and at  mms://realaudio.cumberland.edu/CU  on the web.

The Papa John’s is located in the old K Room in the Phillips Student Center.

Two area high school coaches will also join the show that runs from 6:30-7:30 p.m. from September 1 through November 10 this season.  Lebanon High coach Bobby Brown and Wilson Central head man Brad Dedman will guest on Wednesday's show.

From Post staff reports
JEFFERSON CITY -- Watertown High football players are honoring the memory of their fallen teammate Tyler Russell -- who died in a June automobile accident.

The Tigers are wearing a helmet sticker with Russell’s No. 67. Russell, who would have been a senior, was killed when the car he was riding in was struck by an apparent drunken driver.

One of Russell's best friends was 2010 graduate and all-stater Nick Lennox, who’s playing at Carson Newman. Lennox asked for and was granted permission by Carson Newman coaches to wear No. 67 in honor of his longtime pal.

“He was my best friend,” Lennox said.” Lennox is working his way up the Eagle depth chart as a defensive end.

LEBANON -- Patrick Maynard rushed for 100 yards and scored three touchdowns as Lebanon shutout Rossview High 35-0 Friday at Nokes-Lasater Field. Leading 7-0, LHS exploded for 21 second quarter points. The Blue Devils (1-1) visit Hendersonville next week.

GLADEVILLE -- Wilson Central improved to 2-0 on the season with a 16-12 victory over visiting Rhea County Friday night. Darell Stewart and Hunter Cranford each scored touchdowns for the Wildcats and Jackson Redditt added a 47-yard field goal.

LAFAYETTE -- Dalton Patterson hauled in a pair of TD passes and Kyle Wood ran for 106 yards and a TD as Friendship Christian (2-0) defeated Macon County 35-27 Friday night.

MURFREESBORO -- Watertown High slipped to 0-2 on the season with a 32-0 loss at Middle Tennessee Christian Friday night.

MEMPHIS -- Mt. Juliet Christian Academy dropped a 28-7 loss at the Academy for Health Sciences Friday night in Shelby County. The Saints (0-2) managed 76 yards rushing on 19 attempts.

LEBANON -- After two weeks of two-a-days, the Cumberland University volleyball team is preparing to open the 2010 campaign as the Bulldogs will host their annual Volleydawg Classic this weekend at the Dallas Floyd Recreation Center .

Cumberland welcomes Faulkner University, Mountain State University, Pikeville College, Reinhardt University and Tennessee Temple University in the two-day classic that begins Friday afternoon (today) at 3 p.m. Action will take place on two courts with six matches on both days.

Cumberland will face Tennessee Temple in the opening time slot and will take on Mountain State at 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, play begins at 9 a.m. with CU squaring off against Pikeville before being paired with Faulkner at 11 a.m.

“The girls have really worked hard and are really excited about getting the season started,” CU head coach Dwayne Deering said. “They are really hungry to play.”

Cumberland faced all four of this weekend’s opponents last season, winning all five matches, including two over Tennessee Temple. CU will not play Reinhardt, which is coached by former Bulldog Jenny Hayes. This year’s squad, which was picked to finish fifth in the TranSouth Conference by the league’s coaches, will be a mix of familiar players, including All-Conference returners Kaysi Arnold and Jessica Gericke, as well as several new faces.

Also returning to the starting lineup for the Volleydawgs is three-year starter Taylor Denney. Freshmen Danielle Girardeau and Mackenzie Gass along with transfers Meghan Gass and Jaclyn Rodriguez are also expected to spend significant time on the court this season.

“We are still going to be a young team,” Deering said. “But that further enhances the enthusiasm that these girls have. I am pleased with how we’re doing coming out of fall camp. The new players have really been catching on quickly.”

Admission to the Volleydawg Classic, as well as all other Cumberland home matches, is free.