Box Score Campbellsville, KY – The offense turned at full power and the defense shut down the Tigers in every drive. The Patriots claimed victory over Campbellsville 39-7 in their final road game of the season.
 
Football picked up their second win of the season with a heavy offensive push, balancing between the air and ground attack to make six trips into the endzone. Meanwhile, the defense stood tough with only one third-down conversion allowed of 13 attempted by the hosting Tigers.
 
The Patriots closed a three-game stint on the road with their second win of the season. Now, they look ahead to the final two games of the season hosted in Williamsburg after a bye week.
 
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By the Numbers
Nathan Arnold had an extraordinary day under center, completing 15 of 23 passes for 232 yards. He was responsible for four touchdowns in the contest, three in the air and one on a 30-yard scramble on the ground. Out of the pocket, he was able to average over six yards down field on keepers.
 
The run game was balanced with Arnold's air raid; the quarterback's 232 passing yards were met with 238 yards on the ground shared by eight rushers. The figures combine for 470 yards of offense total in the game, most since the Patriots broke 500 against Cumberland on February 21.
 
Easily the favorite target of the night, Darius Young notched his third game with over 100 yards receiving this season. In six catches, the veteran wideout scored twice with 123 yards collected off the line of scrimmage. The final passing touchdown went to the hands of Jacob Ward, getting his second collegiate score.
 
Martize Smith led Cumberlands on the ground with his second-consecutive game rushing over 100 yards. While scoreless on the night, the sophomore rusher averaged 9.2 yards per attempt, rushing 16 times for 147 yards. Arnold and Zalon Reynolds noted the only rushing bursts into the endzone on Friday night, tallying one each.
 
While the offense dominated, the defense did as well. The Patriots allowed only one touchdown to the home team, meanwhile shutting down any offensive threats to force Campbellsville to a 1-13 mark on third down conversions. The Tigers were held out of the redzone the entire night, only four of 15 drives even crossed midfield.
 
The defensive line commanded the contest; Campbellsville was only allowed 207 yards of offense and the run game was held to less than 100 yards. Brad Montgomery led the team in tackles with seven under the lights, two solo. Meanwhile, Demone (DJ) Smith tallied five tackles, two solo, two sacks and 2.5 TFL against Campbellsville. Kynan Russell also deserved a tip of the hat, noting six tackles with three solo as well as an interception in the endzone to keep Campbellsville at bay.
 
How it Happened
Cumberlands set the tone with the first play of the game. Six points went up on the board as the JR Smith caught the opening pass and returned it to the endzone. It was the corner's second pick off of the season, this time running it back 25 yards for his first career score.
 
Campbellsville responded with their first and only score of the game. The punt fake resulted in seven points on the board, a short-lived 7-6 lead for the home team.
 
A long, 14-play drive went in the Patriots favor to follow the opposing touchdown, giving Cumberlands back the lead. Brandon Stuckey started it off with a 30-yard push on the kick-off return to give them a start near midfield. Ward was the target of a six-yard pass for the first offensive trip into the endzone of the night for the Patriots.
 
On the subsequent drive, the defense forced Campbellsville to a three-and-out. They did so five times in the first half alone to allow the offense open the margin early on the other side of the ball.
 
After a pass interference call, the Patriots set up shop just outside of the redzone. Arnold was sacked for a three-yard loss, but got back on his feet to make a 30-yard sprint to the endzone for his first rushing touchdown of his career.
 
Late in the first half, Damon Byrnes-Mitchell noted a big 14-yard solo sack on second down, later forcing another punt. With short time on the clock, M. Smith noted a long 30-yard rush to move up from within their own five-yard line. The Pats crossed midfield on a deep 38-yard pass from Arnold to Young before Young was found again for a 16-yard score with seven seconds remaining in the half.
 
Cumberlands held the 26-7 advantage going into halftime. Not including the 70-yard fake punt and score by Campbellsville, the Patriots held the home team to only 14 yards of offense in the half to their own 216 yards.
 
The Patriots were right back to work in the second, receiving the ball first and scoring in five plays. After a 23-yard kickoff return by Stuckey, the run game picked up small yards capped by a two-yard push by Arnold on fourth-and-one. On the following down, Arnolds longest pass of the night was completed to Young for a 57-yard trip to the endzone.
 
Campbellsville worked their way back downfield in a 10-play drive lasting about five minutes. The effort by the home team came up empty as K. Russell was there to make the excellent grab leaping into the endzone with the interception and touchback after the deflected pass.
 
M. Smith marched 59 yards downfield on the following drive for his longest rush of the night. On fourth-and-goal, he got the call to sweep to the right side but narrowly missed the endzone. Campbellsville forced the turnover-on-downs at the one-yard line.
 
However, the defense allowed only one first down to the Tigers in a drive capped by a three-yard sack by D. Smith. A long 51-yard pass after the punt from Arnold to Stuckey allowed the Patriots to again knock on the door within the redzone. Reynolds, while low on yardage for most of the night, made the final push of the drive onto the maroon and white lettering and put the final score of the game on the board.
 
It was a scoreless fourth quarter as the Patriots ran out the clock, allowing Campbellsville only 24 yards of room forward in the final 15 minutes. Phillip Garner had the longest play of the quarter, a 24-yard rush to move just outside of the redzone.
 
Up Next
The Patriots will rest up in preparation for the final two-game stretch here in Williamsburg. Pikeville will come to town on April 2 at James H. Taylor, II Stadium for a 6 PM kickoff.
 
Fans at the game will be limited to faculty, staff and students with a valid Cumberlands ID. In addition, two immediate family members of varsity players will be allowed attendance.
 
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