LEBANON, Tenn. – Coming off an emotional high from defeating #7 Lindsey Wilson, the #6 Campbellsville University Fighting Tigers faced the challenge of refocusing against a determined Cumberland University squad. Despite leading by 15 points entering the fourth quarter, a furious late rally by the Phoenix handed the Tigers their first loss of the season, 35-33, on Saturday afternoon.

• The #6 Fighting Tigers suffered their first defeat, falling 35-33 on the road despite leading 27-12 at the end of the third quarter.
• Quarterback Jett Engle threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns, including a late score to Tre' Bass with four seconds remaining.
• Wide receiver Easton Barlow had a huge day, catching six passes for 133 yards and a crucial 72-yard touchdown.
• Special teams provided a spark when Aaron Cyrus recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown early in the third quarter.
• Kicker Colin Fratus remained perfect on field goals for the season, hitting attempts from 35 and 36 yards.
• Safety DQ Brown secured two interceptions, giving him three picks in the last two games.

Playing on their homecoming, Cumberland University came out determined to knock off the conference leaders. The Phoenix took the opening drive deep into Tiger territory, but the Campbellsville defense held firm on the goal line, forcing a 20-yard field goal. The Tigers' offense struggled to find rhythm early, fumbling on their first possession and punting twice, leaving the score 3-0 after one quarter.

Campbellsville finally broke through in the second quarter. Following a Cumberland interception grabbed by DQ Brown, the Tigers embarked on an impressive seven-play, 80-yard drive. Jett Engle capped it off with a strike to Troy Oliver in the back of the endzone for a three-yard touchdown, giving CU a 7-3 lead. Cumberland responded, driving down the field again, but the Tigers executed another crucial goal-line stand, holding the Phoenix to a 21-yard field goal. Campbellsville took the ensuing possession and marched 52 yards in 10 plays, setting up kicker Colin Fratus, who nailed a 35-yard field goal as the half expired, putting the squad up 10-6.

At halftime, it was clear Cumberland came to play. While the Tiger defense did a great job forcing field goals and getting off the field on third down, costly penalties and turnovers had given the Phoenix favorable field position.

The third quarter started explosively for Campbellsville. On Cumberland's first possession, a host of Tigers broke through the line, blocking the punt, which Aaron Cyrus recovered in the endzone for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 17-6. The Phoenix drove down the field and scored a touchdown, but Marcus Bell Jr. made the initial contact on the two-point conversion attempt, keeping the score at 17-12. Campbellsville answered immediately. On the very next play from scrimmage, Coach Russell dialed up a screen-and-go; the defense bit, and Engle threw a strike over the middle to Easton Barlow, who raced 72 yards for the touchdown. Later, DQ Brown, covering his deep half, skyed for a ball and secured his second interception of the game, setting up Fratus for a 36-yard field goal to extend the lead to 27-12.

However, the fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Phoenix, who scored 23 unanswered points. Cumberland scored touchdowns on consecutive drives to cut the lead to 27-25. After forcing a Tiger punt, the Phoenix drove again and took a 28-27 lead on a 30-yard field goal with 3:38 left. An interception thrown by Engle on the Tigers' next possession gave Cumberland the ball back, and they capitalized quickly with a 30-yard touchdown run to extend their lead to 35-27 with only 1:43 remaining.

Down but not out, Campbellsville mounted a furious final drive, marching 77 yards in eight plays over 1:31. Engle got the ball out quickly to the flats, connecting with Tre' Bass for a five-yard touchdown pass with just four seconds left. Trailing 35-33, the Tigers went for the two-point conversion to tie, but the attempt failed. Cumberland recovered the subsequent onside kick to seal the upset.

Engle finished 22-of-35 for 351 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception24. Barlow led all receivers with 133 yards and a score on six catches, while Bass added 80 receiving yards and a score to his 36 rushing yards. Defensively, Chase Maynard led the team with 10 tackles (four solo, six assists), while DQ Brown and Ellis Reed each added nine stops. Brown also secured both of the team's interceptions.