CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Fighting Tigers took on the Roosevelt Lakers Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium following a presentation of the 2024 Campbellsville University Athletics Hall of Fame inductees.. The Tigers' were not deterred by a rainy gameday as the defense kept Roosevelt scoreless for three quarters, and the offense clawed through the Lakers' defense with ease to move to 5-0.
Pre-game, women's tennis legend Sonya Kessler, broadcaster, long-time faculty athletic representative and broadcaster (among many other things) Russell "Russ" Mobley, and football running back sensation Greg Fountain all entered the Hall of Fame.
Campbellsville lost the coin toss, but the choice to defer from the Lakers gave the Tigers opening possession. As the Tigers' and Lakers battled wet conditions, each team struggled to find their offensive flow. Campbellsville's opening drive started as quick as it ended, resulting in having to punt the ball deep into Laker's territory. The Lakers' crack at their first offensive drive was terminated two plays in, with the Fighting Tigers' defense forcing a fumble and recovery. Starting on their own 16-yard line,
Charles Collins rushed for 69 yards, opening the second drive of the game. The Lakers' defense held the Tigers' offense, forcing
Colin Fratus to attempt a field goal which was successful from the 35. Both teams' defense held the other scoreless the rest of the quarter, finishing the first with the Tigers' in the lead, 3-0.
Starting the second, Roosevelt came out with possession and moved the chains quickly down the field. However, the Fighting Tigers' defense persisted through a long drive from the Lakers and forced a field goal which was unsuccessful. Opening their first drive of the second, Campbellsville started on their own 20-yard line, but the initial play resulted in a loss of yardage.
Jagger Gillis connected with Collins for a 14-yard pickup giving them a first down on their own 30. Shortly after, Gillis hit
Andre Siler for a 42-yard catch putting the Tigers' on Roosevelt's 27. Facing a third-and-four in Laker territory, Gillis and Siler connected once again for the first touchdown of the game, giving Campbellsville a ten-point advantage.
Kicking off the second half, Roosevelt's drive lasted four plays resulting in a Tigers' fourth down stop, putting Campbellsville on Roosevelts 24. Collins rushed for a total of 13 yards in back-to-back plays, then was targeted by Gillis for a 21-yard Tiger touchdown. After the score, Roosevelt was looking to get on the board, but once again was stopped by the relentless Fighting Tiger defense. Regaining possession, Campbellsville drove down the field reaching Lakers territory, but was stopped. Going into the final quarter of play Campbellsville held the lead, 17-0.
Opening the last quarter of play,
Justyce Law punted the ball 42-yards resulting in a touchback allowing the Tigers' defense to set up. Only two plays into their first drive of the fourth, Roosevelt threw it into
Jeremiah Pauling's hands for an interception returning the ball 13-yards setting up the offense perfectly. Two plays in, Gillis found Siler in the endzone for a 22-yard connection, granting the Fighting Tigers a 24-point advantage. In desparate measures and after a long eight-play drive, Roosevelt finally broke the goalline and then successfully converted for two extra points. Both teams held the other scoreless the rest of the quarter, resulting in the Fighting Tigers 24-8 victory.
Campbellsville will be back in action Saturday, October 5th, defending their home turf against the Cumberland University Phoenix. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET.
- Gillis completed ten of his 19 throws for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Siler paced the Tigers' offense with 85 of his receiving yards and Collins fell right behind with 58 total yards.
- Obie Wilson, Pauling (who had the Tigers' lone interception), Ellis Reed, and Terry Brown finished even with five tackles each while Jayden Cray had one sack.
- Campbellsville and Roosevelt were rather even in each statistical category, but the Tigers' had a less penalized game, only having 5 penalties for 42 yards. Also, Campbellsville was five of 11 on third-down conversions while limiting Roosevelt to five of 14.
- With eight consecutive victories in 2015 and six in 2017, the Fighting Tigers' 5-0 start is their third-longest winning streak ever. Other than 2017, this is also the first 5-0 start.
