LEBANON, Tenn. –A Top 25 upset was Campbellsville University's for the taking Saturday but three late Tiger turnovers inside Bulldog territory allowed No. 25 Cumberland University to hold on for a 28-23 win in its second night game in program history.

The win preserves Cumberland's share of second-place in the Mid-South Conference West Division after a Faulkner University loss earlier today.

Campbellsville posted its most offensive of the season with 377 yards, including a career-high 259 yards passing by quarterback Bryan Parnes. The offensive production kept Campbellsville in the hunt and one point, nearly in control of the game. However, the Tigers were unable to overcome to get that final strike after pulling within five points.

The Tigers turned the ball over on downs at the Cumberland 9, lost a fumble at the 45 and threw an interception at the 41 on the final three drives of the game.

"I thought we played well against a very good team. It's one of those things. That black cloud has hung over us all year where things that can go wrong do. You can't fault our guys' effort. They continue to fight really hard and really believe and come to work every day," said Perry Thomas, CU head coach.

"It's easy for our guys to give up on this year, and they haven't done that. One of the reasons is they are a good group of young men, but the other reason is we've been so close."

The loss is the third this season by seven points or less for the Tigers (2-6, 1-3 MSC West).

Both teams combined for 140 yards on 10 plays to each scored a touchdown in the first five minutes of play. With 9:53 to play in the opening quarter, all was even, 7-7, after a 25-yard touchdown run by Cumberland's Lemeco Miller and a 31-yard touchdown pass from Parnes to Demytreys Gipson.

Campbellsville was in scoring range next, but senior kicker Casey Clarke had his 46-yard field goal attempt partially blocked by Devin Guthrie. Cumberland used the block as momentum, driving down field for a score. Tank Baker punched his way to the end zone, where the Tigers forced a fumble, but BJ Stewart fell on the ball to cap the 70-yard drive with a touchdown, 14-7.

After the Tigers were held three-and-out, Eric Krivitsky pinned the Bulldogs deep with Rico Dickerson downing the ball at the Cumberland 3. A penalty pushed the Bulldogs back further, leaving Tyler Emmetts to punt from under the goalpost at the back of the end zone. A high snap bounced off the cross bar for a Tiger safety, 14-9.

Darius Skinner returned the free kick 52 yards to the Cumberland 20 to set up another scoring opportunity for the Tigers. Parnes and Chris Cook carried the Tigers to the 1 to set up a second and goal sneak for Will Warf. Warf was ruled down at the goal line. Cumberland escaped a lead-changing play as Parnes and Cook fumbled the exchange and Cumberland recovered at the 3.

Seven plays later, Reed Gurchiek found Miller for a 14-yard Bulldog touchdown and a 21-9 lead.

The Tigers posted a red zone stop to force a turnover on downs just before halftime to stay within 12 points.

Campbellsville outscored the Bulldogs, 14-7, in the second half starting with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Parnes to Steph'Von Haynes for Haynes' first score of his CU career. It was the first of three consecutive scoring drives in the quarter, as Cumberland immediately answered though with a 44-yard scamper by Gurchiek, 28-16.

Campbellsville didn't waste time either, marching 61 yards in six plays for a 28-touchdown pass from Parnes to Demetric Ray with 10 seconds left in the third quarter.

With 9:17 remaining, freshman Precy Minor picked off a pass and returned it to the Bulldogs' 31 for his first career interception and third forced turnover in two weeks. Parnes withstood pressure and found Harrington at the 18 for his sixth catch of the night to move into the red zone. Chris Cook tried to pick up a first down at the nine of fourth-and-1, but was stopped just short, turning the ball over on downs just shy of first-and-goal.

Campbellsville held Cumberland twice more, moving to the Bulldog 45 with 2:38 to play before a fumble by Seth McFerrin was recovered by Williams. Parnes was then picked off at the Cumberland 41 with 19 seconds to play to seal the Bulldogs' win.

Campbellsville (2-6, 1-3 MSC West) will travel to No. 11 University of the Cumberlands for a Mid-South Conference cross-divisional game Saturday, Oct. 27 in Williamsburg, Ky.

"We'll regroup and find some healthy guys next week and come back and go charge at Cumberlands," Thomas said.

NOTES & MILESTONES
- Bryan Parnes posted a season-high 259 yards passing and 287 yards total offense.
- Darius Skinner became the fourth Tiger all-time to collect more than 500 yards in a season and 1,000 in a career on kickoff returns.
- Eric Krivitsky passed the 2,000-yard mark for punting this season, becoming only the fourth Tiger to have more than 2,000 yards in a season punting.