CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville football team picked up its first season opening win since 2011 with a 28-14 win against University of Pikeville on Thursday night at Finley Stadium on Citizens Bank Field.
 
The Tiger defense sparked Campbellsville (1-0) to the victory with three key stops in the fourth quarter, while not allowing the Bears (0-1) to score in the first and fourth quarter of the game. BJ Pelt forced the lone turnover of the game for the Tigers with an interception in the fourth quarter, while Justin Manning and Darius Moore led the defense with 10 tackles each.
 
DyRon Williams recorded 1.5 sacks in the game as he led the front line to four total sacks, while Pikeville generated just one sack in the game.
 
Hunter Brown threw the ball 53 times in the game – which is tied for eighth most in a game in program history. He completed 37 passes for 383 yards and threw for three touchdowns. Kendon Young caught three passes, which were all for touchdowns, and he finished the game with 49 total receiving yards. Young's three touchdown receptions set a new career-high after finishing with just five touchdown catches last season. Chantz Goodman led the Tigers with eight receptions for 71 yards along with 14 rushes for 62 yards.
 
The Campbellsville offense got off to a strong start with a 14-play opening drive. The Tigers could not cash in on the long drive as Pikeville collected a Hunter Brown fumble to end the Campbellsville inside the red zone.
 
To start the game, both defenses controlled the pace for the early portion of the contest with the three of the first four drives of the game ending in at least six plays and the offenses could not keep the ball for more than two minutes. Campbellsville had the ball first and went 47 yards in 14 plays, but its five-minute drive came to an end after the Bears recover a Tiger fumble inside red zone.
 
Campbellsville got the scoring started with a quick four-play, 38-yard drive to grab a 7-0 lead with 3:36 to play in the first quarter. Chantz Goodman started the drive with a 16-yard rush and two plays later Hunter Brown hit Zerric Willis for a 19-yard pass to put the Tigers at the Pikeville three-yard line. Wade Holtsclaw capped off the drive on the next play rushing through the right side of the offensive line to start the scoring and give the Tigers a seven-point edge.
 
With Campbellsville leading 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, Pikeville tied the game at the start of the second quarter with a nine-play, 71-yard drive. Following a Campbellsville penalty on the third down to keep the Bears drive alive, Xondre Willis rushed past the Tiger defense to score from 34 yards out and tie the game, 7-7, with 10:44 to play in the opening half.
 
Campbellsville started to click on offense and it put together back-to-back long drives. The Tigers first went 59 yards on eight plays and then drove 69 yards on 11 plays. However, Campbellsville was only able to get seven points on those two drives. The Tigers missed a field goal from 35 yards out to put a halt to the first drive, but Brown found Young to cap off the second drive and pushed Campbellsville ahead, 14-7, with 1:45 left in the first half.
 
The Tiger defense continued to hold strong as it forced a quick three-and-out to give the Campbellsville offense one more shot to increase its lead before halftime. Brown tried to the throw the ball deep, but Nathan Pray intercepted his pass for Brown's second turnover of the half. The Bears ran out the clock to end the first half, as the Tigers held a 14-7 advantage at halftime.
 
To start the second half, Campbellsville continued to control the game with the defense forcing a three-and-out o the first drive of the third quarter and the offense followed with a 10-play, 91-yard touchdown drive. Brown and Young connected for their second touchdown connection of the game from 33 yards out.
 
After Campbellsville went ahead 21-7, the Tiger offense scored on its next drive after Brown found Young in the end zone for the third time on the night. The 10-yard touchdown pass ended a seven-play, 62-yard drive to give Campbellsville a 28-7 lead.
 
On the ensuing Pikeville possession, the Bears went 70 yards down the field in the 1:45 on six plays. Bowen Smith – who came in for starting quarterback Sani Warren – hit Jordan Olinger on quick post route and Olinger ran in for the 24-yard touchdown catch. The Bears cut its deficit to 14 points with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
 
The defense for the both team took center stage in the fourth quarter with neither offense adding to its point total. Eight drives took place in the fourth quarter with the longest one coming at the end of the game with Pikeville going 59 yards in nine plays.
 
In the fourth quarter the Campbellsville defense forced Warren to throw an interception – which was his first drive back in the game after Smith took over at quarterback part way through the third quarter. The Tigers then forced two turnovers on downs to seal the 28-14 victory for Campbellsville.
 
Throughout the game, the Tigers defense did not allow Pikeville into the red zone, while the Campbellsville offense went 3-for-6 in the red zone with three touchdowns. The Tigers also outgained the Bears, 502-398.
 
Last season Warren threw for a career-high 364 against Campbellsville. On Thursday night he was held to 181 passing yards on 13-of-29 passing, while throwing one interception and no touchdowns.
 
This is Campbellsville's first season opening win since beating Union College on the road to start the 2011 season, 30-14. This is also the Tigers first home opening win since 2013, when they beat Belhaven University at Finley Stadium, 54-22, during its fourth game of the season.
 
Next up, Campbellsville travels to West Point, Georgia next Saturday to face Point University on the road. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. ET.
 
 
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