GEORGETOWN, Ky. – In their battle to secure the Mid-South Conference crown, the #10 Campbellsville University Fighting Tigers mounted a sensational 19-point fourth-quarter comeback, but ultimately fell just shy, losing a 34-32 heartbreaker to the #20 Georgetown Tigers.
With the loss, Campbellsville finishes the regular season with an impressive 8-2 record (4-2 MSC). Due to the head-to-head result, the Tigers place third in the conference standings (behind winner Lindsey Wilson and Georgetown) and now sit on the bubble for an at-large bid to the NAIA FCS Playoffs.
- The #10 Fighting Tigers' valiant 19-point fourth-quarter rally fell just short in a 34-32 road loss to #20 Georgetown.
- Campbellsville (8-2, 4-2) finishes third in the MSC and will await their postseason fate during the NAIA Selection Show.
- The Tigers dominated the stat sheet, out-gaining Georgetown 451-311 in total offense, including a 187-83 advantage on the ground.
- Senior Tre' Bass was the heart of the comeback, finishing with 194 all-purpose yards (149 rushing, 45 receiving) and two crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns.
- Quarterback Jett Engle accounted for 283 total yards, throwing for 264 yards and one touchdown while adding a rushing touchdown of his own.
- The Tiger defense collected an interception by Jaquon Coulter and held Georgetown to just 83 rushing yards on 30 attempts.
Campbellsville opened the game in dominant fashion, controlling the ball and the clock. The Tigers marched 71 yards on their opening drive, resulting in a 21-yard field goal from
Colin Fratus. Following a defensive stop, CU embarked on a 15-play, 46-yard drive that ate 7:47 off the clock, ending with another Fratus field goal, this time from 34 yards, to take a 6-0 lead.
The momentum shifted entirely in the second quarter. Georgetown struck for a 41-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-6 lead. On the ensuing possession, a Campbellsville fumble gave Georgetown a short 17-yard field, which they converted into another touchdown just before halftime to take a 14-6 lead into the locker room.
Georgetown carried that momentum into the third quarter, scoring on their opening drive to go up 21-6. After a failed fake punt by Campbellsville, Georgetown scored again on a short field, pushing their lead to 27-6. Campbellsville finally answered late in the quarter with an eight-play, 65-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard quarterback sneak from
Jett Engle to make the score 27-13.
Georgetown opened the final frame with a 47-yard touchdown pass, extending their lead to what seemed an insurmountable 34-13.
Trailing by 21 points, the Fighting Tigers roared to life. Engle orchestrated a 13-play, 75-yard drive, finding Troy Oliver for a nine-yard touchdown (kick failed) to make it 34-19. The defense forced a quick three-and-out, and the offense, getting the ball in excellent field position, scored in just three plays on a four-yard touchdown run by
Tre' Bass.
Down 34-26 with 5:58 to play, the defense stood tall again, forcing another quick punt. With 4:11 on the clock, Engle and Bass led one final, desperate march. The Tigers drove 77 yards in 11 plays, converting multiple fourth downs. With just 26 seconds remaining, Bass punched it in from two yards out, pulling the Tigers to within two. The comeback, however, stopped there, as the ensuing two-point conversion pass failed, and Georgetown recovered the onside kick to seal the 34-32 victory.
The Fighting Tigers, with an 8-2 overall record against one of the toughest schedules in the NAIA, now sit on the playoff bubble. NAIA officials will announce the 20-team FCS field at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 16, during the NAIA Football Selection Show on the NAIA's YouTube Channel.
