CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. –  Despite a record-breaking night from quarterback Drew Gregg, the University of the Cumberlands football team came up short in its Mid-South Conference opener, falling 49-34 to 12th-ranked Campbellsville on Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium. The loss drops the Patriots to 3-2 on the season and 0-1 in MSC play.
 
Gregg turned in one of the greatest passing performances in program history, completing 33 passes on 62 attempts for 425 yards and four touchdowns, all new Cumberlands single-game records. The previous marks for completions (26), attempts (50), and yards (373) had stood since for 25 years, as they were all set against Campbellsville back in 2000. Gregg also added 30 yards rushing for the Pats.
 
Michael Petty led all receivers with eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown, including a 47-yard strike in the fourth quarter. D.K. Edwards added five grabs for 124 yards, with a 67-yard touchdown early in the first quarter, while Maddux McKinney finished with six receptions, 85 yards, and a score. Cade Lamb hauled in three passes, including a four-yard touchdown just before halftime.
 
The Patriot defense forced three turnovers and racked up six sacks, while also forcing a season-best five fumbles, but could only recover one. Matt Hammock and Hunter Zirkle each recorded strip sacks with Zirkle finishing with two forced fumbles, while Kantrel Smith and Deandre Williams also forced the ball loose on separate plays. Jeremy Hamilton and Major Newman both intercepted passes, giving UC three takeaways. Williams led all tacklers with 10 stops, while Berrian, Smith, Hammock, and Zirkle each tallied a sack.
 
The Tigers struck fast with a 94-yard kickoff return and a 52-yard touchdown run the next possession to take a 14-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Cumberlands answered immediately, as Juan Bullard Jr. picked up eight yards on first down before Gregg connected with Edwards for a 67-yard score to cut the deficit to 14-7.
 
On the next Campbellsville drive, Hammock stripped the ball loose on a sack, then recovered it at the Cumberlands 47. The Patriots capitalized with a 10-play, 53-yard march capped by a two-yard touchdown from Jayden Clayton to tie the game at 14 midway through the first quarter. A few possessions later, Zirkle tracked down the Tiger quarterback on third down, forcing a fumble on the CU 16-yardline. However, the Pats could not pick it up, as CU punted away the next play.
 
 
Trailing 21-14 in the second quarter, the Patriots built an eight-play, 59-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 14-yard catch from Petty and a fourth-down conversion from Gregg to keep the drive alive. The senior QB found McKinney open down the seam for a 25-yard touchdown to tie it at 21 with 1:37 left in the half. After a Tiger score, UC responded right back. Gregg threw for 6-7 on a 9-play, 75-yard drive, finding Lamb for a four-yard touchdown in the final seconds to make it 28-27. CU blocked the extra point to hold on to a one-point lead at the break.
 
Campbellsville opened the third quarter with a long touchdown drive, but the Patriot defense came back with more pressure. Hammock notched his second sack of the game on the next CU drive, and moments later, Hamilton intercepted a deep pass at the Tiger 42. UC threatened on its next drive, but the possession ended with an interception in the red zone.
 
Still trailing by just two possessions in the fourth, Gregg directed a quick-strike drive capped by a 47-yard touchdown to Petty, closing the gap to 42-34 with just over four minutes remaining. After another huge defensive stop that saw Newman jump a Tiger pass and give UC the ball back with a chance to tie, but Campbellsville answered right back with an interception of their own two plays later. After a late score from the Tigers, the buzzer sounded with UC falling 49-34.
 
Cumberlands outgained Campbellsville 516-434 in total offense and held the ball for over 36 minutes. The Patriots forced five fumbles and recorded six sacks while going 9-of-23 on third down.
 
UC will look to bounce back as they travel to Columbia, KY next weekend to take on the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College. Kickoff is set for 2:30 PM ET.
 
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