The Buccaneers opened their 2026 campaign on a rainy night in Johnston City, Tennessee, only to watch Campbell surge ahead early and never look back. A 49-37 final score reflected a game that swung back and forth, but the early lead slipped away.
Campbell struck first, capping a swift opening drive with a touchdown that made it 14-7. The Buccaneers responded before halftime, as TJ Peyton found the end zone on a short rush that briefly gave ETSU a 24-21 edge.
Mason Mims Leads Aerial Assault
Mims, the veteran quarterback, carved up the defense with 373 passing yards and two touchdowns, keeping the Buccaneers competitive despite the growing deficit. His connection with Charlie Browder, who added 56 yards, and Suderian Harrison, who topped the receivers with 99 yards, kept the offense moving.
Looking Ahead to Tusculum
ETSU now turns its attention to a home matchup against Tusculum next week, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The team hopes to rebound from the opening loss and fine‑tune the pieces that will define its season.