FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The #20 Campbellsville University Fighting Tigers opened their 2025 season with a dramatic road victory, holding off a furious fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars 31-28 on Saturday afternoon.
- The Fighting Tigers started their season 1-0 after a nail-biting 31-28 victory over the Cougars in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
- Running back Tre' Bass was a dual-threat force, scoring two touchdowns: one on the ground and one through the air.
- The Campbellsville defense was opportunistic, forcing three crucial turnovers, including two fumble recoveries and a late-game interception.
- Quarterback Jett Engle threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns in his debut as the Tigers' starter.
- Linebacker Chase Maynard had a dominant defensive performance with seven tackles, a sack for a 10-yard loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
- Kicker Colin Fratus was perfect on the day, hitting a 24-yard field goal and all four extra-point attempts.
- The Tigers return to action next Saturday in Florida to battle the Webber International Warriors. That game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. ET.
After the opening kickoff, the Campbellsville defense forced a quick three-and-out. The Fighting Tiger offense took the field for its first possession and immediately set the tone, marching 73 yards in 10 plays. The drive was highlighted by a 33-yard pass from quarterback
Jett Engle to
Caden Thieman and capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from senior running back
Tre' Bass to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.
Following another defensive stop, the Tigers turned the ball over on downs near midfield. Saint Francis then mounted a lengthy drive that bridged the first and second quarters but came up empty when a 25-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
Midway through the second quarter, the Tiger offense struck again. A quick three-play, 62-yard drive was sparked by a 45-yard deep pass from Engle to
Roland Hazard Jr.. Engle then found Bass for a 12-yard touchdown reception, extending the Campbellsville lead to 14-0. The defense created another opportunity on the Cougars' next play from scrimmage when linebacker
Chase Maynard forced and recovered a fumble. However, the ensuing Tiger possession ended with an interception. Saint Francis capitalized on the turnover, scoring its first touchdown of the day to make it 14-7, a score that would hold until halftime.
Campbellsville received the second-half kickoff and promptly re-established its dominance. The offense drove 81 yards, with Engle connecting with receiver
Troy Oliver for a 23-yard touchdown to push the lead to 21-7. After the defense forced another punt, the offense went back to work. Running back
Archelaus Smith broke through the line and sprinted for a 28-yard touchdown run, giving the Tigers their largest lead of the day at 28-7. The Cougars managed a late touchdown in the quarter to cut the deficit to 28-14 heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter began with a wild momentum swing. A Campbellsville punt was fumbled by the Saint Francis returner and recovered by
Darius Willis Jr. at the Cougars' 14-yard line. The turnover led to a 24-yard field goal by
Colin Fratus, extending the lead to 31-14 with 13:06 to play.
From there, the Cougars mounted a furious rally. They scored a touchdown to make it 31-21. On the ensuing Saint Francis possession, Willis Jr. temporarily halted the comeback with a crucial interception. The Cougars' hopes were revived when they intercepted an Engle pass with 3:17 left on the clock. Facing a 4th-and-24 after a massive sack by the Tiger defense, the Cougars' quarterback threw a wild, flailing pass that was tipped multiple times at midfield before being caught for a shocking 83-yard gain down to the Campbellsville goal line. Saint Francis scored two plays later, narrowing the score to a precarious 31-28 with 1:42 remaining.
Campbellsville recovered the Cougars' subsequent onside kick. The Tigers could not completely run out the clock and turned the ball over on downs with just two seconds left. The defense was called upon one last time, and a final desperation pass by Saint Francis fell incomplete as time expired, sealing the hard-fought road victory.
