LAKE WALES, Fla. — (BOX SCORE) Campbellsville could not stop the rushing duo of Darius Page and Brendan DeShields, allowing 374 yards on the ground, and fell today to Webber International, 35-25.
The Warriors (2-1) picked up their first official win over Campbellsville (0-2) in three games. The Warriors beat CU 27-26 but lost due to a forfeit in 2005. It is the first time Campbellsville has allowed over 300 rushing yards since University of the Cumberlands ran for 420 on Nov. 2, 2013.
"We have to get better," said CU head coach Perry Thomas. "That is not the guy's fault. That is on me to get us better. We have to do a better job with the scout team because we are unable to get a look. We have had some student-assistants in the past that have really stepped up and scouted our opponents. We have not been able to get that good look like we have in the past. Today that was the biggest factor."
Jacob Russell threw for two touchdowns – both to Zerric Willis – for a game-high 330 yards. AJ Strong led the rushing attack for Campbellsville, running for 82 yards on 14 carries. Willis finished with a game-high 76 yards receiving and the two TD catches.
DeShields ran 28 times for 185 yards for Webber and Page added 20 rushes for 138 yards.
Fontez Hill finished with a career-high nine tackles and recovered two Warrior fumbles. Bryson Bell finished with seven tackles and Percy Minor finished with 6.5.
"It was a frustrating game overall," said Thomas. "They run the ball 68 times and are never flagged for any holding calls. There were a few unsportsmanlike penalties against us but then when Webber did the same thing, nothing was called. But that is not the reason why we lost. We just have to be smarter. It was a physical game altogether and we just didn't make enough plays."
Tied at 14 coming out of half, Hill recovered his first of two fumbles to give the Tigers a little momentum. Just two plays after Campbellsville took over possession on the Webber 22, Russell threw his third interception of the season with a jump ball in the end zone to Zerric Willis.
Hill was able to recover another fumble and the Tigers took over this time on their own 48. But Campbellsville gave the ball right back with a fumble.
Mother Nature started to creep within range of Legion Field during the second half. Webber International stole the momentum marching down the field in just under four minutes to unknot the tie, 21-14, with Page's second touchdown run.
Lightning finally hit the 10-mile radius after Webber grabbed the momentum and play was halted for one hour and 30 minutes.
"I don't think the lightning delay itself hurt us," said Thomas. "The weather started rolling in and it was lightning while we had the ball before their touchdown. They scored and had the momentum and we were unable to fire right back. After their score they called us off the field and that is what hurt us. But I do think our guys handled that situation very well."
Will Ward scored the Tigers' only three points within a 26-plus minute span from the start of the second quarter till the end of the third. His 35-yard field goal cut the Webber lead to 21-17 and was the first of the season after hitting 9-of-11 in 2014.
Pavlock threw his second touchdown pass, hitting Ryan Walter for a 10-yard touchdown reception. Just six minutes later, Page ran in from three yards out to put the Warriors ahead 35-17 for his third touchdown of the afternoon.
The Tigers brought the game within 10 points, as Jacob Russell ran a quarterback sneak for a touchdown. CU could not get the ball back after an attempted onside kick and the Webber rushing attack picked up four first downs to run the clock out.
"We had a shot at the end," said Thomas. "Our onside kick wasn't executed perfectly and then our defense was unable to stop them late and we ran out of timeouts."
The Tigers came out roaring on their opening drive for the second straight game. Russell led CU down the field with an 8-play, 67-yard drive capped off by a 28-yard touchdown pass to Willis.
It looked as if Campbellsville would go up by two scores, as the Tigers stopped Webber International on fourth and six to go on the CU 10 but turnovers wound up haunting the visitors.
Campbellsville finished with three turnovers and now have five in the first two games of the season.
The Tigers will stay on the road and travel to Union College on Sept. 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and fans can follow the action live on the Campbellsville University Sports Network, 88.7 The Tiger and WLCUFM.com.
