Box Score Campbellsville University made its final regular season game interesting for those listening abroad, battling off the Pikeville College Bears in the red zone and taking a 31-17 victory for the Tigers' seventh victory of the season. It's the first season with seven or more wins since 2003.
"It's another growing step in our program," said CU head coach
Perry Thomas, who has had a number of growing moments this year. "I'm proud of the guys. I'm proud of the school and the community for their support."
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Campbellsville struck first, scoring on the opening drive of the game.
David Mason found the end zone from 21 yards out, but the score was called back due to penalty. Facing a fourth-and-28 a few moments later, Mason struck again, catching a 28-yard pass from
Nathan Cooper to the Pikeville 3. He finished the drive by punching in a 3-yard touchdown.
Pikeville tied it late in the first quarter with an 80-yard touchdown run by freshman Jeremy Mobley. The extra point kick by Kyle Chilton tied the game, 7-7, and also made him the all-time Pikeville leading scorer. Campbellsville answered with a field goal by
David Hon to take a 10-7 lead into the second quarter.
Both teams were scoreless most of the second quarter. Pikeville put together a late drive with an attempt to tie or take the lead late in to the half. However,
Calvin Hicks picked off
Pikeville quarterback Don Wideman in the end zone to end the drive and set up the Tigers' next score. Cooper capped the Tigers' 80-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Hon, who was 4-of-4 on extra points, hit the point after kick to extend the lead to 17-7 at the half.
The Tigers silenced another drive with an interception in the end zone by
Calvin Bini with 8:03 to play in the third quarter. It was the third stop of the Bears in the red zone to that point in the game - the first being a big goal line-stand early.
"We've played pretty good red zone defense this year. We've either held them without out points or held them to a field goal," Thomas said.
Pikeville later slipped the score tied, 17-17, on a 28-yard field goal by Chilton. The Tigers answered with a 55-yard touchdown catch by
Harold Small to regain the lead with 12:24 to play in the game.
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Karl Charles picked off a third pass by Wideman and returned it for the Tigers' final touchdown.
Campbellsville (7-4) waits to see where it will finish in the final NAIA Coaches Poll and if it will have an outside shot at the NAIA playoffs, which will be selected Sunday.
"Regardless if we make it or not, it's been a tremendous year," Thomas said. "We're going to go into this off season, if we don't get in, and we're going to get ready to come back next year and win the national title."
Campbellsville University made its final regular season game interesting for those listening abroad, battling off the Pikeville College Bears in the red zone and taking a 31-17 victory for the Tigers' seventh victory of the season. It's the first season with seven or more wins since 2003.
"It's another growing step in our program," said CU head coach
Perry Thomas, who has had a number of growing moments this year. "I'm proud of the guys. I'm proud of the school and the community for their support."
