ATCHISON, Kan. – Battling a top-five opponent on the road, the #12 Campbellsville University Fighting Tigers saw their historic 2025 campaign come to an end on Saturday afternoon, falling 21-17 to the #5 Benedictine College Ravens in the Second Round of the NAIA Football Championship Series. Despite holding a 10-point halftime lead and outgaining the Ravens on the ground, a special teams miscue and a late fourth-quarter rally by Benedictine ended Campbellsville's first playoff run since 2015. The Tigers conclude the season with an 8-3 overall record.
- The #12 Fighting Tigers (8-3) pushed the #5 Ravens to the brink on their home turf, leading 17-7 at halftime before falling 21-17.
- Senior running back Tre' Bass was unstoppable, rushing for a massive 189 yards on 23 carries (8.2 avg) and a touchdown.
- Defensive back Jaquon Coulter provided the highlight of the first half, intercepting a pass and returning it 80 yards for a touchdown to give CU the lead.
- The Tiger defense held the high-powered Raven passing attack to just 95 yards through the air and forced two turnovers on downs.
- Campbellsville nearly matched Benedictine's rushing output, tallying 239 rushing yards compared to the Ravens' 246.
- Kicker Colin Fratus remained reliable in clutch situations, drilling a 41-yard field goal just before halftime.
The game began in challenging conditions with snow showers and temperatures in the 30s at Larry Wilcox Stadium. Campbellsville looked to strike early, moving the ball into the red zone on their opening drive, but a
Jett Engle pass was intercepted in the endzone, halting the threat. After the defense forced a punt, Benedictine struck first late in the opening quarter with a six-play, 54-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run, taking a 7-0 lead.
The Tigers responded emphatically in the second quarter. A seven-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by a 25-yard run from
Tre' Bass and a 20-yard reception by
Roland Hazard Jr., set the stage. Bass capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge to tie the game at 7-7.
Momentum swung violently in Campbellsville's favor on the ensuing possession. With Benedictine driving into Tiger territory, Jaquon Coulter jumped a route, intercepted Jackson Dooley's pass, and raced 80 yards down the sideline for a touchdown, silencing the home crowd and giving CU a 14-7 lead. The Tiger defense held firm again late in the half, stopping the Ravens on 4th down at the CU 25-yard line. With just 42 seconds left, the offense orchestrated a quick drive, allowing
Colin Fratus to connect on a 41-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Tigers into the locker room with a 17-7 advantage.
The third quarter became a defensive struggle for field position. The turning point of the contest came midway through the period. With the Tigers pinned deep in their own territory, a punt attempt was blocked by Benedictine and recovered in the endzone for a touchdown, cutting the Campbellsville lead to 17-14.
Both defenses traded stops until the middle of the fourth quarter. Benedictine mounted a four-play, 58-yard drive, reclaiming the lead 21-17 on a 17-yard touchdown run with 6:41 remaining.
Trailing by four, the Tigers had two final opportunities. After a punt on their penultimate possession, the defense forced a quick stop to give the offense the ball back at their own 25-yard line with 2:24 to play. Engle connected with Hazard Jr. for an eight-yard gain, and Bass added runs to move the chains. However, facing a 3rd and 6 at the Benedictine 33-yard line, Engle's pass was intercepted at the 20-yard line with just over a minute remaining, allowing the Ravens to run out the clock.
