CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Fighting Tiger football traded blows with the University of Pikeville Bears and came away with their first win of the season on Homecoming 31-28.
 
The Tigers received the kickoff and with their first play quarterback Josh Meglis hit running back D'Anta Sipp with a short shovel-pass up the middle for a 32-yard gain. Despite the substantial gain, their drive would sputter and necessitate a punt. After converting their first third down, Pikeville's Alex Sanders ran for an 81-yard touchdown.
 
On the subsequent kickoff, returner Kel Hawkins took the ball 43-yards nearly to midfield and set up great field position for the Fighting Tiger offense. Campbellsville would capitalize with a three-minute drive resulting in a ten-yard Michael Walker catch from Meglis. That score was the first points Campbellsville had scored in the first quarter all season. The next Bears possession was a three-and-out and so was the next offensive possession for the Tigers. It would have been another three-and-out for Pikeville but a botched snap on the punt ended in a fumble recovery for a touchdown by freshmen Alex Patrick. An eventful first quarter would stay that way when, on third-and-four at Campbellsville's 47-yard line, Pikeville's Ivan Vaughn ran for a 46-yard touchdown. The Tigers' Walter Batey forced a fumble on the play that rolled into the endzone, but Vaughn was able to salvage the play.
 
After a three-and-out by Campbellsville, the first play of the second quarter was a huge pass for Pikeville. Bears quarterback Lee Kirkland found receiver Ben Henson deep for a touchdown of 49-yards. The Tigers' following possession managed to march 80-yards down the field buoyed by a huge leaping 27-yard catch for Michael Walker on a pivotal third down. The score would come when Meglis connected with receiver Luke Sheperson for 21-yards. Campbellsville's defense would hold strong against Pikeville forcing a punt on their first set of downs. Kicker Devin Neally would log the next points on a career-long field goal of 41-yards. That scoring drive was supplemented by a clever fourth down fake punt rush by Christopher Carden. Pikeville would have one more possession in the first half, but it proved to be fruitless.
 
At the half, Campbellsville had 13 first downs compared to just five for the Bears. The Tigers faced 11 third downs but converted on six of them. In total, Campbellsville had 44 total plays compared to 26 for Pikeville and averaged 8.2 yards per play as opposed to the Bears' 5.8. Meglis led the way in offense with 166 passing yards on 13-22, 7.5 yards per pass, and two touchdowns. The Fighting Tiger rushing defense allowed 152 rushing yards by Pikeville, but other than the big 81-yard dash, they permitted only 31 yards on 12 attempts. Campbellsville nearly double time of possession as well: 19:44 compared to 10:16.
 
The third quarter began with a Pikeville eight play, 63-yard drive capped off by a 12-yard touchdown rush by Sanders. Campbellsville's first second-half chance with the ball ended with a punt. On the first play of their second drive, Kirkland of Pikeville threw a pass to Bralin Barton for 73-yards to the Campbellsville 12-yard line. The Tigers defense walled off the endzone and prevented a fourth down pass from connecting. On the turnover-on-downs, the Tigers offense took 5:11 off the clock and down into the opponent's redzone themselves. However, like Pikeville, they were unable to convert and a fourth-down attempt for a touchdown caused a turnover-on-downs.
 
The Tigers would hold the Bears to a three-and-out forcing Pikeville to punt from their own 11-yard line. After a third down conversion, a pass from Meglis bounced off a Pikeville defensive back's hand and straight into Walker's who streaked to the endzone for the 37-yard score.
 
Entering the fourth quarter with the ball, Pikeville tried to advance their offense but could not convert on a fourth-and-short and turned the ball over on downs at midfield. The Tigers offense was stalled in return and punted after taking 2:44 off the clock. Pikeville took the ball from their own ten down to the Campbellsville 36. The Bears were able to convert one fourth down earlier in the drive and would try another conversion at the Campbellsville 36 but were ultimately stopped one yard short. From that point, the Tigers offense was able to settle in and run the remainder of time off the clock to take the game.
 
The game ended with the Tigers recording 427 yards of total offense and having been able to keep their third down conversion rate above 50% (10 of 18). The victory marked Campbellsville's first since they defeated University of Pikeville earlier this year on February 26, 14-13.
 
The Fighting Tigers will next have the Cumberland University Phoenix visit Finley Stadium on October 16 at 1:30 p.m. ET.