By JIMMY GILLIAM
pressbox1.com

JACKSON - Campbellsville tied the game at 10-10 with 2:26 remaining in the first quarter. From that point on, it was all Lambuth as the Eagles rolled to win 51-10.

Total dominance would describe Lambuth's defense as they shut down the Tigers and made adjustments to the fast-paced no-huddle offense. Although the Tigers had a few trips inside the red zone, they came away without any points on the scoreboard.

Couple Lambuth’s stingy defense with a great special-teams effort that gave the offense a short field to work with for most of the contest and there were the makings for a rout.

It was the first home victory for first-year Lambuth coach Hugh Freeze and the second in as many weeks for the Eagles as they improved to 2-2 on the year.

The Eagles’ balanced offensive attack finished the game with 511 yards; 282 passing yards and 229 rushing. Lambuth’s phenomenal freshman Edward Robinson led all rushers with 160 yards averaging 10 yards per carry against the Tigers, scoring one touchdown. Lambuth senior Josh Garza, 7-10 for 188 yards, and freshman Adam Weise, 8-15 for 75 yards and one interception, each threw a touchdown pass against their woeful opponent. Senior Landon Talley doubled all other receiver individual totals with 122 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns against Campbellsville.

Campbellsville’s Greg Fountain was the Tigers top rusher with 117 yard and one touchdown. Fountain’s performance against the Eagles broke the all-time career rushing mark for the Tigers. He needed just 36 yards in today's game to surpass the old record of 2,921 yards set by Tim Mays from 1996 to 1998.  Fountain now stands alone in the career-rushing category with 3,002 yards and at least eight games remaining in his collegiate career.

The Tigers battled against Lambuth, but trailed 16-10 at the end of the first quarter.  From there, Lambuth's defense dominated and held Campbellsville to 397 yards total yards.

Lambuth’s 51 points scored against the Tigers was the most scored by the Eagles since week nine of the 2004 season when the Eagles defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 49-39. It also marked the first time since 2002 where the Eagles posted 50-or-more points in a game.

The play of the game came in the second quarter as Talley took the reverse, selling it to everyone before stepping back and hurling a pass across the field to for a 19-yard touchdown to Garza, the quarterback, that gave the Eagles a 30-10 lead. The play was something that not only surprised the defense, but the Campbellsville coaching staff as well. “The trick play caught us off guard,” said Tigers Head Coach Perry Thomas, “but that’s football.”

Campbellsville and Lambuth first met back in 1988 and Saturday’s win gives Lambuth a 16-5 lead in the series. The two schools actually met back in 1987 with Lambuth winning 21-7, but Campbellsville fielded a JV squad that year

The Tigers, 0-3, are on the skids as they have now lost 13 in a row but look to rebound next week as they travel to West Virginia Tech (0-3) on September 27. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.EDT.

Meanwhile, Lambuth is riding a two-game winning streak and will travel to Mid-South Conference opponent Viginia-Wise. The 3-0 Highland Cavaliers will celebrate homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.EDT.

In other action:

UNIV. OF THE CUMBERLANDS 22, BETHEL 20 at McKenzie, Tenn. -- Bethel's Joevaris Carter caught a 27-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Chad Lamping with :55 to play against University of the Cumberlands to draw within two points of the visiting Patriots.

But Justin Woodard's try-for-two attempt was stopped short on a controversial call. Woodard believed he had crossed the plane, but the officials whistled the ball dead just inches from the goal line. As a result, Bethel's futility continued as the Wildcats fall to 0-3 on the season.

It was the fourth straight loss at Wildcat Field as BC's offensive woes continued. The Wildcats couldn't complain about the defensive effort. Bethel forced four turnovers, a bothed punt snap, had a crucial goal line stand and essentially frustrated the Patriots during their seven red-zone approahces. Cumberland managed only two scores inside the 20.

The defense did its job as it has all year, but Bethel's offense showed flashes, despite struggling most of the day.

"Our defense is playing lights out and hat's off to them," said Bethel football coach Dino Kaklis. "We need our offense to be more consistent but when we give up turnovers and put ourselves in a hole, we hurt ourselves."

Lamping threw three interceptions on the day, but completed 11 of 21 passes for 61 yards and a TD. Carter pulled down five passes for 59 yards.

Bethel returned the opening kick for a score, but the play was nullified by a penalty. The Patriots took a 6-0 lead in the first frame on Kyle King's 1-yard run. Bethel responded in the second quarter when Woodard scrambled 18 yards for a score. Sean Fraser's PAT gave Bethel the brief lead. King hit Maurice Berryhill for a 12-yard scoring pass to lead 13-7. Woodard scored on a 3-yard run to start the fourth and BC led 14-13.

The Pats added two more scores, a 39-yard TD pass from King to Damen Hensley. The try for two failed and Cumberlands ed 19-14. Hunter Meade added a 33-yard field goal for a 22-14 margin.

Bethel had one last shot when Cumberlands botched a punt snap, landing BC within striking range.

"We got a play in our favor, got the ball, got in the end zone and got the points," said Kaklis, shrugging his shoulders. "We showed some moxy and had a chance to tie the game.'

Cumberland had 460 total yards to Bethel's 227, but turnovers were costly to both teams.

"The kids played hard; this was one of those games you didn't want to end," said Kaklis. "You wanted to keep playing until you mom called you home for dinner."

Bethel will host Belhaven, 0-3, 6:30 p.m. CDT Saturday at Wildcat Stadium.

(Bethel story by Jim Steele of pressbox1.com staff)

TENNESSEE-MARTIN 31, AUSTIN PEAY 17 at Clarksville, Tenn. -- UTM quarterback Cade Thompson threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns as the Skyhawks improved to 3-1 overall, 1-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Mike Hicks had nine catches for 155 yards and a 28-yard touchdown. E.J. Daniel caught a 14-yard TD pass and Roren Thomas caught an 8-yard scoring aerial.

The Skyhawks had 488 total offensive yards.

UT-Martin travels to archrival and Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State next Saturday. Kickoff at Roy Stewart Stadium is 6 p.m.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY 13, LANE COLLEGE 0 at Langston, Okla. - The host Lions improved to 3-1 on the year with two second-quarter scores over the Dragons.

Raytron Mayfield had 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown while Lion quarterback Danny Lowery threw for 182 yards and a TD. Lane had two scores called back, one on a fake field goal and another on a long pass, but both were erased by penalties.

Lane will hold its home opener when it faces UNC-Pembroke 6 p.m. Saturday.