Cumberland’s trip to North Kingstown ultimately ended in a 35–21 loss, but the final score doesn’t tell the entire story.
The Clippers showed legitimate explosiveness on offense, competency in the passing game and plenty of resilience against the Skippers. Cumberland repeatedly answered adversity and remained within striking distance well into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, several breakdowns in the secondary and a handful of missed opportunities proved too difficult to overcome.
North Kingstown struck first on a touchdown run by No. 1 Nick Stafford, but Cumberland wasted little time responding.
Quarterback Brady Smith connected with Nathan Goodrich to move the chains before delivering the Clippers’ first explosive play of the night. Smith took the snap and shoveled the ball inside to Jayden “Rabbit” Rabbitt on a jet-motion concept. Rabbitt found daylight, accelerated through the defense and took it 65 yards for a touchdown.
The play provided an early glimpse of what Cumberland’s offense can become when its athletes are put in space.
North Kingstown regained control through its vertical passing game. The Skippers scored on a deep skinny post to No. 11 and later connected on another 39-yard touchdown down the seam. Those explosive passes became the defining problem for Cumberland’s defense, with North Kingstown’s receivers repeatedly finding room behind the secondary.
Cumberland’s offense continued to show promise through the air.
Smith placed a beautiful ball down the sideline to Ethan Delgado-Rolland, who elevated over tight coverage for a 20-yard reception. On fourth-and-four, Smith found Izik Supple for five yards to keep the drive alive. He later connected with Supple again for more than 20 yards on another well-placed throw.
The Clippers were moving the ball effectively, but a breakdown in pass protection resulted in a third-down sack that left Smith with little chance to make a play. Cumberland’s ensuing field-goal attempt was unsuccessful, ending a promising drive without points.
The Clippers came out of halftime needing a spark—and Manny Reyes provided one.
With North Kingstown attempting a rollout pass, Reyes read the play from his middle linebacker position and intercepted the quarterback at point-blank range near the edge of the defensive line. Reyes turned up the sideline and returned it approximately 40 yards for a Cumberland touchdown with 9:45 remaining in the third quarter.
It was a tremendous individual play and exactly the type of response Cumberland needed.
North Kingstown answered with another long touchdown pass, but the Clippers refused to go away.
Beginning at their own 20-yard line, Cumberland put together one of its strongest offensive possessions of the game. Rabbitt ran for a first down, and a Smith interception was erased by a roughing-the-passer penalty. Smith then took another deep shot intended for Delgado-Rolland before connecting with Rabbitt on a well-designed chip screen up the middle.
Rabbitt caught the pass behind the defensive front and turned it into approximately 30 yards after the catch.
Reyes followed with a seven-yard run, and a North Kingstown penalty moved the ball inside the 10-yard line. After Reyes powered ahead for four yards, Rabbitt took a pitch toward the edge, made a sharp zone-read cut into open space and fought through contact for a six-yard touchdown.
The extra point was good, pulling Cumberland back within one score at 28–21.
The Clippers’ defense forced a punt on North Kingstown’s next possession after the Skippers hurt themselves with a holding penalty and consecutive false starts. Cumberland then opened its passing game further, and the offense began finding space throughout the North Kingstown defense.
Smith rolled out on play action and threw back across his body to hit a dragging Supple for a 10-yard gain and a first down. Facing third-and-eight later in the drive, Smith connected with Delgado-Rolland for 11 yards, advancing the ball to the North Kingstown 18-yard line.
Rabbitt ran for eight yards on first down and added another yard on second down, leaving Cumberland facing third-and-short near the goal line. Trailing 35–21 with 7:12 remaining, the Clippers were three yards away from a fresh set of downs and still had an opportunity to make it a one-score game.
Cumberland attempted another chip-screen concept to Rabbitt, but North Kingstown anticipated it and stopped the play for a one-yard loss. The Clippers turned the ball over on downs at the 11-yard line.
