Box Score BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell intercepted six passes and handed Pioneer Football League co-leader San Diego its first conference loss of the season, 48-24, Saturday at Barker-Lane Stadium/Ed Gore Field.
Jordan Cramer and Braden Smith each scored 3 touchdowns for Campbell (4-3, 3-2 PFL), which won its third-straight game and in doing so, set school Division I era (since 2008) records for overall and conference victories in a season.
The Camels outgained the Toreros 490-346 and held the nation's 12th-leading offense 92 yards below its season average. San Diego (6-2, 4-1) saw its 4-game win streak halted as its offense accounted for just 17 points.
Saturday's result was San Diego's worst loss against a PFL opponent since a 41-0 setback in 1999 at Dayton.
CU set a Barker-Lane Stadium record for interceptions in a game and had its most picks since a 7-interception game at Carthage in 2008.
Campbell's 490 yards of total offense was a season-high and its most ever against a PFL foe and the second-highest tally since the school resurrected its program in 2008.
CU entered the game as the PFL's top rushing offense (and 21st in the nation) at 199 yards per game, and tallied 315 yards on 49 carries. Carl Smith (97) and Braden Smith (87) led the ground attack as the Camels averaged 6.4 yards per attempt.
Braden Smith added 175 yards on 16-of-29 completions with no interceptions and one TD. He scored three times on the ground.
Cramer chipped in two rushing TDs and caught a scoring pass for Campbell, which held the ball for 32:43 of the game.
Erik Feliciano and Greg Bridges had two interceptions apiece, while Terrell Barnes and Michael Rudisill each grabbed one for the Camels.
Jeremiah Robinson entered the game leading the PFL and ranked 11th in the nation with 1.83 tackles for loss. On Saturday, he had 2.5 TFL, including one sack, and racked up 7 total tackles. Chris Price led the Camels with 8 total tackles.
Kenny James led the Toreros with 119 rushing yards on 21 carries. Quarterback Mason Mills finished 9-of-21 in the air for 119 yards with 5 interceptions, one touchdown and was sacked three times.
Mario Kurn and Zach Dunaj led USD with 10 total tackles each.
Campbell led 28-17 at the half before USD cut the margin to 28-24 on Smith's 39-yard run with 10:15 left in the third quarter.
However, four of USD's final six drives ended with interceptions. Randel Herring blocked a 50-yard field goal attempt by Ernie Collins and the Toreros also turned the ball over on downs.
Conversely, the Camels scored touchdowns on three of their next four possessions after San Diego drew within 28-24.
Feliciano's second interception of the third period set up the Camels 1st-and-10 from the USD 25-yard line with 6:57 remaining. Seven plays later, Braden Smith hooked up with Cramer on a 12-yard touchdown pass to push the Camel lead to 35-24.
Barnes picked off Mills to once again give the Camels another short field on the USD 24 with 12:42 left in the contest. Braden Smith ended the 6-play drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak.
After Bridges' interception gave the ball back to the Camels with 9:35 remaining, Braden Smith ran 52 yards on a quarterback keeper to account for the final margin.
Campbell took a 28-17 half-time lead thanks to a 322-143 advantage in total offense. Carl Smith ran for 77 yards and a touchdown before the break, while Braden Smith added 43 and a TD, and Cramer 31, plus a pair of scores.
The Toreros jumped in front early when Campbell fumbled on the second play from scrimmage and Blake Oliaro scooped up the ball and ran in from 12 yards.
However, Campbell quickly evened the score on the following drive. Braden Smith completed a 36-yard pass to Alex Green; then Carl Smith ran 24 yards for his third rushing TD of the year.
Mike Levin's 44-yard field goal pushed USD back in front 10-7 with 7:10 to go in the opening period, but the Camels answered again with a 71-yard drive that took only 4 plays and 1:38 off the clock.
On a 1st-and-10 from the San Diego 49, Carl Smith ran 28 yards. Braden Smith then scored around left end on a quarterback keeper from 21 yards out for a 14-10 Camel lead.
After a defensive stop, Campbell capped a 66-yard drive when Cramer ran 26 yards up the middle to give the Camels a 21-10 edge.
USD responded with a 66-yard drive of its own, topped off by a 14-yard Mills to Sam Hoekstra hook-up to bring the Toreros to within 21-17.
With 1:51 left in the second quarter, the Camels took over at their 20-yard line, and promptly drove 80 yards for another score. Braden Smith connected with Paul Constantine on a 33-yard catch to move into USD territory.
Braden Smith then reeled off a 12-yard run to give the Camels a 1st-and-10 at the Torero 11. On the following play, Smith's pass was intercepted in the end zone, but USD was flagged for interference. Cramer then ran in from 3 yards to provide Campbell with a 28-17 lead at half-time.
Campbell returns to action next Saturday in a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at Davidson. San Diego is off next Saturday before traveling to Dayton on Nov. 5.