CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Jacob Russell completed 15-of-18 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns in the third quarter and 22nd-ranked Campbellsville broke open a close game, defeating Cumberland, 41-21, Saturday night at Finley Stadium.

The Bulldogs (3-5, 0-2 Mid-South West) trailed 20-14 at the half, but the Tigers (6-2, 3-0) scored on its first three possession of the third quarter, taking advantage of two Cumberland turnovers – one fumble and one interception. CU committed a season-high four miscues in the loss and Campbellsville scored 24 points off those miscues.

Moses Cornelius led the Bulldogs on the ground with 92 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown while Justin Snyder completed 12-of-29 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed for one TD.

Russell finished the game 29-of-40 for 404 yards and four touchdowns, three of those to Alcorn, who finished with nine catches for 156 yards.

Marquis Cain intercepted Snyder on the opening drive of the game after a miscommunication between the quarterback and Al Thompson. The Tigers moved 39 yards on eight plays, but the Bulldog defense forced an incompletion on third down and Will Ward booted a 27-yard field goal to put the Tigers ahead, 3-0.

Campbellsville took its next possession 84 yards and eight plays, with Russell hitting Jarrod Harrington for 25 yards and Conor Dunn for 15. Chantz Goodman rushed for 13 yards on the drive as well but two incompletions set-up 4th-and-2 from the CU13. AJ Strong rushed through the right side 13 yards for the TD and a 10-0 Tigers advantage with 5:56 left in the opening period.

Snyder and Michael Green just missed on a deep throw for the Bulldogs but connected on a busted coverage for a 43-yard TD throw, completing an eight-play, 76-yard drive. Josh Bates kicked the extra point, cutting the deficit to 10-7.

Harrington returned the ensuing kickoff 49 yards to the CU42 and Alcorn caught a 20-yard pass. Donovan Norfleet and Andrew Leonard sacked Russell and a holding penalty on the Tigers pushed the drive back and Ward kicked a 36-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter to extend the lead to 13-7.

Snyder was sacked by Bryson Bell on the next drive and fumbled, with Beau Biller recovering for the home team. Goodman and Strong rushed for a combined 17 yards and the Tigers got a little lucky on 2nd-and-goal, with Christopher Golden tipping a slant pass, but the ball had enough velocity to reach the end zone and Alcorn made a diving 13-yard TD catch, giving Campbellsville a 20-7 lead with 12:17 left in the second period.

The Bulldogs answered, though, moving 62 yards on five plays thanks to a 25-yard completion to Green and a roughing the passer call. Cornelius rushed for 15 yards to the two and Snyder carried the final yard around left end for the TD, cutting the lead to 20-14.

Campbellsville last drive of the first half ended at the CU31 after Strong ran twice for 15 yards and Russell scrambled for 10 yards, but the Bulldogs blitzed three straight plays to cause incompletions.

The Tigers took the opening drive of the second half 75 yards on seven plays, with Dunn catching a 32-yard pass and Russell hitting Alcorn on a pump-and-go for a 22-yard TD and a 27-14 advantage.

Austin Chaplin fumbled for the Bulldogs just over midfield fighting for extra yards and Campbellsville took advantage of that miscue. Alcorn caught a pass for 27 yards before a 29-yard TD pass to Zerric Willis on the same pump-and-go route.

Snyder threw his second interception of the game on CU’s next possession, with Percy Minor returning the pick 12 yards to the CU43. Six plays later Alcorn caught a 30-yard TD, also in the right end zone, pushing the Tigers lead to 41-14.

Cumberland’s final TD of the game came in the fourth quarter, with a 48-yard run by Trevon Jones moving the ball to the Tigers 19. Cornelius gained 14 yards to the three and a pass interference call gave CU 1st-and-goal at the one. Cornelius barreled in from there with 4:04 to play in the contest.

Cumberland returns home next Saturday for Homecoming, facing Bethel University at Noon at Nokes-Lasater Field.