Box Score Thirty minutes of football wasn't enough for the Campbellsville University football team in a Mid-South Conference cross divisional game Saturday, as they came up short at University of the Cumberlands, 34-28.

After trailing the entire game and being shut out in the first half, 19-0, Campbellsville responded with 14 points in both the third and fourth quarters to be in position to win with 49 seconds left to play.

Campbellsville battled through game clock issues in the final minute at Taylor Stadium and moved the ball within striking distance, but came up short on three incomplete passes from the Patriot 39 in the final 18 seconds.

While the second half charge was nearly the same result as the one on the road at Belhaven University last Oct. 17 (Campbellsville 21-20), just being close enough and having effort wasn't enough for CU head coach Perry Thomas and his team.

"People are happy because our program has improved. People are excited about Campbellsville football right now. I'm disappointed," Thomas said. "It's time for our guys to grow up. If this program is going to get to the next level we need to start growing up in the championship games against the championship teams. It's not effort, because the guys play hard, it's a mentality. We didn't sign on to be 7-4 every year. We want one of these titles too."

The Tigers had their hands tied in the first half, collecting only 88 yards of offense on 31 plays. All of that was on the ground, as quarterback Robert Hill led the rushing attack with 37 yards, Mark Terry had 33 and Harold Small picked up 18 on a reverse.

The first three series of the game resulted in punts, and the fourth series appeared to be the same, as the Tigers dropped back to receive a punt from Cumberlands. However, the Patriots faked the kick and Iquan Deed picked up 19 yards for a first down at the Tiger 22. On the next play, Jay Bright found Ricky Buckler for the Pats first touchdown. Justin Dyer's point after kick was no good, as Cumberlands took an early 6-0 lead.

Campbellsville attempted a 43-yard field goal on the ensuing drive, but Jordan Benton's kick missed wide.

Cumberlands was ready to strike again, but Calvin Bini picked off Bright in the end zone for the Tigers' first takeaway of the game. However, the drive stalled for the Tigers.

Campbellsville missed another field goal early in the second quarter, this time a 33-yard try by David Hon. It was the last offensive threat by the Tigers in the first half, as Cumberlands followed with 13 points in the quarter. Justin Prichett and Terrance Cobb each scored touchdowns to give UC a 19-0 halftime lead on runs of 54 and 2 yards, respectively.

"When you get a chance to kick field goals, or touchdowns you have to find a way to get the points, because they haunt you," Thomas said.

The Patriots opened the second half by scoring on the first series with a 79-yard pass from Bright to Deed. It was the first time six games the Tiger defense allowed a score on an opening series of the second half.

Campbellsville was forced to punt again, but Detrick Briggs recovered a fumble on the muffed punt to set up the Tigers' offense at the Cumberlands 13. Three players later, Terry put the Tigers on the board, 26-7 with a 5-yard touchdown run, followed by a PAT by Hon.

Both teams followed with big play touchdowns. Cumberlands answered the Tigers' first score with a 54-yard run by Cobb but missed the PAT. Hill struck back with a 66-yard strike to Warrenhuffman, only the second completed pass for CU in the game.

Campbellsville held the Patriots again, but Cumberlands strengthened its lead, 34-14, with two more points after pinning the Tigers on their own goal line with a punt and picking up a safety on a bad snap. The Patriots wouldn't score again.

"The big plays at the beginning of the second half hurt us obviously. I thought we played good defense the second half, and decent in the first half," Thomas said.

In the fourth quarter, Campbellsville added two more scores on a 5-yard pass to Harold Small and a short run by Terry, but ran out of time to even the score late.

Campbellsville (4-3, 3-1 MSC East) returns home Saturday, Oct. 23 to host Faulkner University (4-2, 2-1 MSC West) on homecoming. Faulkner defeated No. 21 Cumberland University on Saturday, 20-17 in overtime. Saturday's kickoff is 2 p.m.

The game will be televised state-wide by the Wazoo Sports Network and in Campbellsville on Comcast Channel 10. Live audio can be heard on K-Country 105.7 FM in Central Kentucky and online at KCountry1057.com.

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