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Cumberland University

Luke Holloway
Josh Kelly/JLK Photography
Quarterback Luke Holloway scampers for a 17-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter. (Credit: JLK Photography)
34
Winner Campbellsville (KY) CAMPBELL 3-2 , 1-0
16
Cumberland (TN) CU 2-2 , 0-1
Winner
Campbellsville (KY) CAMPBELL
3-2 , 1-0
34
Final
16
Cumberland (TN) CU
2-2 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CAMPBELL Campbellsville (KY) 0 13 14 7 34
CU Cumberland (TN) 9 0 7 0 16

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University of the Cumberlands

10/7/2023 | 1:30 PM

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Oct. 07 (Sat) / 1:30 PM
 University of the Cumberlands
History

Game Recap: Football |

Tigers Too Much for Phoenix in Conference Opener

LEBANON, Tenn.--Turnovers plague the Phoenix as Campbellsville had four takeaways, three translated into points for the Tigers as they defeated the Phoenix 34-16 at Nokes-Lasater Field on Saturday night. 

Cumberland (2-2, 0-1 MSC) started the game strong, but once Campbellsville got some momentum, the Tigers never let Cumberland back in the game. Cumberland ran the ball for over 200 yards again, but the passing game was sluggish as they could only total 57 yards through the air allowing Campbellsville to load up for the run. 

Luke Holloway completed 8-of-19 for 57 yards and two picks, but he led the team in rushing, going for 97 yards and a touchdown. Treylon Sheppard added 77 yards. Rod Payne scored his first career Cumberland touchdown. 

The defense forced three takeaways in the game that led to one score. Derek Taylor picked up his first interception. Joey Samples and Branden Barnes each forced a fumble that the Phoenix pounced on. 

Cumberland picked up five sacks in the game as Jalen Brown and Aaron Davis each picked up two and Dez Wallace had one. 

Nate Stephens was electric on special teams. The freshman accounted for 174 yards on returns, setting up the Phoenix in plus territory multiple times. He had three punt returns for 74 yards with a long of 41 and four punt returns for 100 yards and a long of 40. 

Campbellsville (3-2, 1-0 MSC) tacked on 332 yards of total offense with 295 coming through the air. The Tigers got down 9-0 after the first, but scored the next 27 points to take control of th egame. Quarterback Jagger Gillis had himself a good night. Gillis completed 20-of-28 passes for 295 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. Gillis controlled the offense, getting nine receivers involved with four different Tigers catching a touchdown. 

Luke Shepardson caught five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown and Andre Siler caught four balls for 75 yards. 

Cumberland got on the board first after forcing a Tigers punt. Stephens had a big return of 29 yards to give Cumberland the ball at the Tigers 41-yard line. The Phoenix pushed it all the way to inside the 10 before having to settle for a 22-yard field goal from Christian Carter to give CU a 3-0 lead. 

The Phoenix forced the Tigers to go three-and-out on the next possession and again Stephens went 41 yards on the return to set Cumberland up. A personal foul put CU on the Tigers 17-yard line and the first play of the drive Holloway scampered for a 17 yard score. The point after try was blocked to keep it at 9-0. 

Trailing 9-0, Campbellsville began to string some plays together to close at the first. Gillis found Siler on a Houdini-esque play while being taken down on a big third down play to extend the drive. Two plays later and the first play of the second quarter, Gillis threw a seven yard touchdown to Tre Bass for their first score of the game, 9-7 Phoenix with 14:45 left in the second. 

Just before the half, Holloway was intercepted by Campbellsville's CJ Cutliff. The Tigers, fired up, drove 40 yards in four plays scoring on another seven-yard throw from Gillis to Ashton Auker to give Campbellsville a 13-9 lead at the half. 

In the third, Campbellsville took over on Cumberland's 30-yard line after a short punt. Two plays later, Gillis threw a 21-yard touchdown pass, this time to Austin Mueller for a 20-9 lead with 9:54 left in the third. 

On the ensuing possession, Holloway was intercepted by Kale Hagan and Hagan returned it to the house to extend the lead to 27-9. 

Later in the quarter, Gillis threw an interception over the middle that Taylor picked off. The interception sparked a six play scoring drive for the Phoenix. Payne found the endzone on a jet sweep to chip away at the lead 27-16 with 3:13 left in the third. 

Cumberland would not get anything going offensively in the fourth while the Tigers tacked on one more score for the 34-16 final. 

The Phoenix are at home for Homecoming next Saturday as they welcome No. 19 the University of the Cumberlands to town. Kick-off is set for 1:30 p.m. with Homecoming Festivities to go on at halftime. 
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Players Mentioned

Branden Barnes

#29 Branden Barnes

LB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Jalen Brown

#22 Jalen Brown

DL
6' 1"
Junior
Christian Carter

#49 Christian Carter

K
6' 0"
Freshman
Aaron Davis

#45 Aaron Davis

LB
6' 0"
Freshman
Luke Holloway

#3 Luke Holloway

QB
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Rod Payne

#31 Rod Payne

RB
5' 9"
Freshman
Joey Samples

#40 Joey Samples

DL
6' 0"
Freshman
Treylon Sheppard

#23 Treylon Sheppard

RB
5' 9"
Senior
Nate Stephens

#9 Nate Stephens

WR
5' 9"
Freshman
Dez Wallace

#6 Dez Wallace

LB
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Branden Barnes

#29 Branden Barnes

6' 0"
Sophomore
LB
Jalen Brown

#22 Jalen Brown

6' 1"
Junior
DL
Christian Carter

#49 Christian Carter

6' 0"
Freshman
K
Aaron Davis

#45 Aaron Davis

6' 0"
Freshman
LB
Luke Holloway

#3 Luke Holloway

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Rod Payne

#31 Rod Payne

5' 9"
Freshman
RB
Joey Samples

#40 Joey Samples

6' 0"
Freshman
DL
Treylon Sheppard

#23 Treylon Sheppard

5' 9"
Senior
RB
Nate Stephens

#9 Nate Stephens

5' 9"
Freshman
WR
Dez Wallace

#6 Dez Wallace

6' 2"
Junior
LB