CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – A fourth quarter comeback looked promising for the Campbellsville University Fighting Tigers, but Bethel University was too much for the maroon and gray Saturday on Family Weekend, walking away with a 33-24 victory at Finley Stadium and Citizens Bank Field.

The loss drops to the Tigers to 0-3 for the first time since 2008 and sixth time in program history.

 

"I thought our guys fought hard and left it on the field, but we continue to give up points," said CU head coach Perry Thomas. "The opening kickoff was little league football. You cover the ball, and we didn't do it. The interceptions were huge. I thought our offense got into a rhythm tonight though, and the kicking game, for the most part, was solid. Our returns were huge. Defensively, I thought we played pretty well. We had a couple of miscues. We have to overcome those, but our guys battled. We just have to keep working."

Bethel scored on the opening kickoff for a quick 7-0 lead. The unusual score came not from a kick return but from a recovered loose ball in the end zone by the Wildcats. The kickoff bounced over the head of Seth McFerrin and past Jarrod Harrington into the end zone untouched. Forgetting that the ball was live, the Tigers assumed the touchback, while Bethel's players swarmed to the ball for the score.

Campbellsville marched down field on its third possession of the game, covering 70 yards in 11 plays to reach the Bethel 10. Senior tight end and quarterback Will Warf was instrumental on the drive, first catching a third-and-7 pass for a first down to move CU across midfield for the first time in the game. Warf was big again on third down, this time under center. Coming in on third-and-2, Warf pulled up for a 19-yard pass to Steph'Von Haynes for another Tiger first down. The drive was put to an abrupt end though on the following third down play when Jocquel Skinner intercepted Robert Hill's pass in the end zone and returned it to the 34.

That Tiger drive was the closest either offense came to scoring in the first quarter.

Campbellsville started the second quarter with another long drive, moving 87 yards on 12 plays. Hill followed a 17-yard pass to Demetryus Gipson with a 16-yard touchdown run in front of the Tiger Marching Band and CU baseball team in the east end zone.  Casey Clarke nailed the extra point attempt for his first collegiate football point to even the score, 7-7.

Bethel didn't waste any time to answer. Cordarious Mann found a seam for a 69-yard touchdown run to regain the lead, 14-7, after a Robby Phillips PAT.

Clarke, a former CU soccer All-MSC performer, put more points on the board on CU's ensuing drive with a 43-yard field goal. The kick capped a string of 17 points between the two teams over a three-minute span.

A late Tiger turnover allowed Bethel to extend its lead before the half, as Terentez Vestal intercepted Hill at the Bethel 45 and returned it for a touchdown. The Wildcats threatened again with a minute left, but TeyVaughn Wynn picked off a Wilson Masoud pass in the end zone for CU to secure a 20-10 halftime deficit.

In the second half, Bethel capped its first drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Masoud to Justin Brandy. The Wildcats extended their lead, 30-10, with a 23-yard field goal by Robby Phillips.

Rico Dickerson gave the Tigers good field position with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter when he caught a muffed punt as it bounced off Vestal to give the Tigers the ball at the Bethel 32. CU was unable to find any momentum on offense though until its next series.

Chris Cook sparked the drive with a 19-yard carry on first down to the Bethel 21. Parnes followed four plays later with a 14-yard touchdown run. CU's rally was officially underway.

With 11 minutes remaining, Bobby Kelly was forced out of bounds but came back in to catch a 21-yard pass by Parnes to the Bethel 1. Cook punched the ball in but the touchdown was waved for an illegal motion call against Gipson. The sophomore wide out made up for the penalty with a 6-yard touchdown reception to the right corner, pulling the Tigers within seven, 30-24, with 10:32 remaining.

Gipson finished the night with 95 yards receiving on nine catches.

CU's defense held the Cats three-and-out in less than 40 seconds. Parnes and the Tiger offense took over at the Tiger 32 with 9:43 remaining, looking to even the score. CU extended its drive with a holding call against Bethel's Jarvis Allen, but Allen responded by picking off Parnes' next pass at midfield with 8:37 to play. It was the Tigers' fourth and final turnover of the game.

Bethel looked to lock up the win with a touchdown, but Darius Skinner sacked Masoud for an 8-yard loss to hold the Cats to a 28-yard field goal by Phillips. CU was four-and-out to end the game.

Skinner went on to lead all players with 11 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks. Blake Young also had 11 tackles, including a game-high seven solo stops. He also blocked an extra point in the second quarter and came close to blocking numerous kicks in the game.

Bethel had three players combine for 384 of its 410 yards of offense. Masoud completed 15-of-24 his passes for 141 yards, while Raquis Hale and Mann ran for 122 and 121 yards, respectively. Robert Hill was 14-of-30 for 142 yards passing for Campbellsville, while Parnes was 5-of-16 for 50 yards. They ran the ball for 29 and 28 yards, respectively.

Campbellsville (0-3) will travel to Belhaven University in Jackson, Tenn., next Saturday for the first time since escaping with a 21-20 road win in October 2009. The game will be broadcast live on WLCU 88.7 FM and wlcufm.com. To keep up with the Tigers all season long, visit CampbellsvilleTigers.com.

NOTES
- During halftime of the game, CU inducted the late Coach Ron Finley and members of the 1987 and 1988 football teams into its Athletic Hall of Fame
- Campbellsville is now 1-6 when playing a game with an 0-2 record.
- Bethel now takes the series lead for games played in Campbellsville at 3-2.
- The loss is the first to Bethel in the month of September (5-1).
- CU is now 3-4 in night games at Finley Stadium.
- CU is 0-3 for the first time since 1998.
- The loss is the first in program history on Sept. 15.
- Demetryeus Gipson's 95 yards and 11 catches are both career highs.
- Darius Skinner's 11 tackles and two sacks are both career highs.
- Blake Young's seven solo tackles is a career high. His 11 total tackles ties his career high from Oct. 1, 2011.
- Casey Clarke's 43-yard field goal was the longest by a CU kicker since Donnie Johnson kicked a 45-yarder on Oct. 23, 2004.