CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville University Fighting Tigers outscore the Cumberland University Phoenix 26-7 in the third and fourth quarters but it's not enough to overcome the Phoenix's monster 47-point first half.
 
The Tigers received the opening kickoff and things got off to a rocky start. On their first drive and their initial first down, D'Anta Sipp fumbled the ball but managed to recover it himself. The Tigers offense would stall and punt away. The Phoenix would have had a repeat of events with recording only one first down then punting but a costly penalty by the Tigers defense resulted in a first down. That drive would instead lead to a Cumberland touchdown and an unsuccessful two-point conversion.
 
On the first play of their second drive, Dequantay Shannon busted free for a 77-yard touchdown carry. The extra point was no good and the score stayed knotted 6-6. The tie wouldn't last long, however. After a big 35-yard pass play to get inside the Campbellsville redzone, the Phoenix were able to pound the ball in for a rushing score. The Tigers' subsequent drive began with an interception by the Phoenix defense as Josh Meglis intended to connect with Zac Cole. With great starting field position, a holding call on the Cumberland offense made it first and twenty, but a 41-yard bomb set up the Phoenix at the Campbellsville two-yard line for another rushing touchdown.
 
The Tigers' first drive of the second quarter ended after just three downs. A fumble by the Phoenix's quarterback Carpenter bounced back up to him. It would have been a three-and-out situation but an unsportsmanlike penalty against Campbellsville extended the Phoenix's drive and, shortly after, they hit the Tigers defense with a 42-yard pass for the score. The second quarter would be one to forget for Campbellsville; they had two more three-and-outs and a fumble by Sipp in their own redzone recovered by the Phoenix. Cumberland University would put up 27 points on the board in the second quarter alone.
 
At the half, the Phoenix had 17 more first downs than the Tigers (20-3), 17 more offensive plays than the Tigers (41-24), and nearly 400 yards of total offense compared to the Tigers' 137. The passing offense of Cumberland University averaged 20.5 yards per pass in the first half and they did not record a punt.
 
The second half proved to be the Tigers'. The Phoenix were marching down the field when freshman defensive lineman Tyshaun Thomas forced a fumble from Cumberland's Robinson at the Campbellsville 14-yard line. The Tigers' drive would be good for eight plays and 38 yards, but a big fourth-and-one conversion attempt was unsuccessful and meant a turnover-on-downs. However, the Fighting Tiger defense was up for the task and forced their first three-and-out of the contest. An 11-play, 83-yard drive capped off by a Shannon touchdown rush would put up the first score of the second half.
 
Upon receiving the Campbellsville kickoff, another big 63-yard pass was in short order. Although they reached the Tigers' redzone, a second fumble was forced by Thomas this time with Cain Newland on the recovery. A huge 58-yard throw from Meglis to Michael Walker set up a Tate Pringle 12-yard touchdown catch. The attempted two-point conversion back to Pringle was no good. Again though, the Tiger defense would stand strong keeping the Phoenix offense to only one first down on their subsequent drive before a punt.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Phoenix would once again be forced to punt after a singular first down. Campbellsville was unable to successfully follow up as they went three-and-out, but Cumberland would do the same in return ending their drive quickly. Finding his groove, Meglis hit Luke Sheperson with a 30-yard connection that boosted their drive inside Cumberland's 10-yard line. Meglis would then find sophomore Patrick Oden for a touchdown and then also the successful two-point conversion.
 
The last minutes of the fourth quarter were defined by a forced fumble by Jacoby Miguel but retained by the Phoenix. The very next play would result in a 65-yard touchdown by Cumberland's Christian. Deuce Shreve would relieve Meglis in Campbellsville's last possession and lead the Tigers to their last score of the game: a Shannon rushing touchdown. That made it the final score of 32-54.
 
When the game was over, the Tigers would climb out of a few of their statistical holes from the first half. They ended with only five fewer first downs compared to the Phoenix (27-22) and with one more offensive play than Cumberland (72-71). Two significant differences remained: time of possession and total yards. The Phoenix tallied over 37 minutes of possession while the Tigers notched only 22 of their own and Cumberland finished with 630 total yards compared to Campbellsville's 438.
 
Shannon had over 100-yards rushing for the first time in his career and three touchdowns on just 10 attempts. Fellow freshman Luke Sheperson also gained over 100-yards receiving for the first time of his short tenure with the Tigers. First year players would be the theme as Jacoby Miguel led the Tigers' defense with 10 tackles and a sack.
 
The Fighting Tigers will take the field again October 23^rd at 7 p.m. ET taking on the #21 University of the Cumberlands Patriots in Williamsburg, Ky.