Montgomery, Al. – The Fighting Tiger Football team traveled to Faulkner University to take on the Eagles Saturday night. The Tigers took down the Eagles, 36-5.
The Eagles took possession of the ball to open the game but failed to put anything on the scoreboard. The first Tiger drive didn't last long after a Jagger Gillis sack, a penalty call, and an incomplete pass. After a three-and-out by the Eagles, Gillis connected with Keon Smith for the first Tiger touchdown, 6-0. With just two minutes of play left in the first quarter, Gillis' pass was completed to Luke Sheperson for 14 yards and another Tiger touchdown. Colin Fratus' kick attempt was good, 13-0.
To begin the second quarter, the Eagles seemed to be making up ground but came up empty-handed. With another Tiger penalty on their next drive, Alain Lopez came in for the fourth down and gave possession back to the Eagles. On a long Faulkner drive, the Eagles came up just a few yards short but made an appearance on the scoreboard with a 28-yard field goal, 13-3. During the final Tiger drive of the first half, Faulkner was troubled with penalty-after-penalty and gave Tre Bass the opportunity for another Tiger touchdown, 19-3. The Eagles returned the ball to their endzone on a blocked PAT for a two-point conversion, 19-5.
The Tigers lead the first half in many statistical categories: first downs (10-8), rushing yards (53-48), and receiving yards (94-55).
The Tigers struggled on their first drive of the second half. A few incomplete passes, a Gillis sack, and a false start gave possession to the Eagles. A roughing of the passer penalty on Campbellsville gave Faulkner an easy first down, but came up with nothing. In an eight-play drive, Bass rushed down the field before passes from Gillis to Spencer McCown, CA Collins, Patrick Oden, and Andre Siler ended with another Tiger touchdown, 26-5. Six plays by the Eagles ended after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Falkner before possession was given back to the Tigers on their own 35-yard line. Gillis' pass was completed to Ashton Auker for 14 yards to help the Tigers move downfield. Josh Traylor rushed for a total of six yards before Gillis found Sheperson for another touchdown. The PAT from Fratus was good, 33-5.
Penalty-after-penalty started the fourth quarter. Before the end of the Eagle drive, penalties continued to be called on both sides before possession was given back to the Tigers. Incomplete passes continued for the Tigers before the Eagles took over, but came up empty. A Campbellsville three-and-out led the Eagles to take over once again. Faulkner's five-play drive ended before anything could come of it. With under a minute left, Fratus kicked another field goal to add three more points to the scoreboard, 36-5.
The Tigers continued to lead through the rest of the game in many statistical categories: first downs (19-13), rushing yards (66-61), receptions (21-14), and receiving yards (282-71). Unfortunately, the game had over 20 penalty calls before the clock ran out. Ellis Reed led the way in tackles for the Tigers with nine. Sheperson had 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Gillis had 248 passing yards and finished the game with a QB rating of 179.4.
The Fighting Tiger Football team will take on Lindsey Wilson College on Saturday, October 14th, at Finley Stadium in Campbellsville, Kentucky. The game is set to kick off at 1:30 P.M. ET.
