CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — The last time the Fighting Tigers played in Williamsburg, Ky., Campbellsville came away with a 58-12 win over University of the Cumberlands. On Thursday night, the two teams are meeting once again for just the second time while playing in August.
 
The 2016 season opener is set for 7 p.m. ET with the Tiger Tailgate Show starting at 6:30 p.m. The Tiger Tailgate Show and the game can be heard live on the Campbellsville University Sports Network, 88.7 The Tiger and wlcufm.com. Also live video is being provided by the University of the Cumberlands – www.portal.stretchinternet.com/cumberlands/ 
 
Veteran play-by-play announcer Jim Freeman returns for his ninth consecutive season as the "Voice of the Fighting Tigers." Matt Payton will return as color analyst, which will mark his fourth season in the booth alongside Freeman.
 
Series Facts:

• Campbellsville and Cumberlands are meeting for the 29th time.
• The Patriots lead the series, 16-12.
• From 1991 to 2002, the Tigers won 11-of-12 games but lost 11-straight to Cumberlands until breaking that streak in Williamsburg in 2014.
• The 2014 win in Williamsburg was the first victory for a CU head coach not named Ron Finley.
• In the series, Cumberlands has the slight edge over the Tigers, scoring 23.5 points a game compared to Campbellsville's 21.5.
• In CU's 12 wins, the Tigers' average 28.6 points and hold Cumberlands to 11.6.

 
Tiger Clawz

• Campbellsville is 67-85 while playing on the road.
• Coach Perry Thomas' away record is 20-24. Coach Thomas is 3-5 in season openers.
• After breaking over 20 records in their careers, Jacob Russell and Jarrod Harrington both graduated and underclassmen are looking to fill big shoes.
• QB Hunter Brown is expected to take over the offense, while single-season TD record holder, Tyus Alcorn returns for his senior year. CU also has Zerric Willis, Keanu Young, Kendon Young and Conor Dunn expecting to be impact players.
• The Tigers bring back their entire offensive line from 2015.
• CU lost its top seven tacklers from last season. Khalil Baker finished with 40 takedowns and is the run-stopper at the linebacker position but will not be available for the season opener. Sylan-Drake Mayes is the lone senior on defense and is going to be looked on for leadership.

 
Previous Matchup – Aug. 27, 2015 – UC 27, CU 24 – Recap Link

• Campbellsville came up just short in forcing overtime against Cumberlands in last years season opener, as the Tigers fell to the Patriots, 27-24. Will Ward missed a field goal wide left with time expiring.
• CU stopped UC on the Tigers' 35-yard line with 46 seconds left and trailing by three points. Senior All-American QB Jacob Russell marched the offense down the field, giving the Tigers a chance.
• Russell hit Zerric Willis for a 10-yard gain and a first down, then three plays later hit Jarrod Harrington for 14 more yards to put the Tigers on the UC 40-yard line with 20 seconds to go.
• Russell then found Tyus Alcorn across the middle putting Campbellsville on the Cumberlands' 20 with 1.1 seconds remaining and the clock stopped.
• CU's special teams squad hurried onto the field and was able to get the play off in time but Ward's kicked was pulled to the left.
• Russell finished throwing for 393 yards and two touchdowns but fell victim to two interceptions – one at a key part in the game with 3:20 left in the fourth quarter and Campbellsville down by three.
• Campbellsville outgained the Patriots in a big way, 449 to 290 total yards and also ran 15 more plays than UC. The biggest stat that bit CU was the two interceptions
• Tyus Alcorn, who was wearing No. 23 in honor of a teammate, hauled in both of Russell's touchdown tosses – his second and third of his career - en route to a single-season record of 17 TDs.