JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Interstat) — Kamden Sixkiller threw for 343 yards and two touchdowns and added two rushing scores as Campbell outlasted East Tennessee State 49-37 on Saturday at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.

Sixkiller completed 29 of 42 passes for the Fightin’ Camels, who won their season opener and improved to 1-0. He also ran 10 times for 95 yards, including a clinching 14-yard touchdown with 1:53 left in the game. East Tennessee State fell to 0-1 despite a strong performance from quarterback Mason Mims, who completed 33 of 41 passes for 373 yards and two touchdowns.

Campbell struck first when Sixkiller found Evan Austin for a 30-yard touchdown pass late in the opening quarter. East Tennessee State answered with an 18-yard scoring connection from Mims to Trey Weary, and the teams traded touchdowns from there. Ethan Lawrence’s 3-yard run gave Campbell a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Buccaneers seized momentum in the second quarter. Jason Albritton scored on a 6-yard run and Trey Peyton added a 3-yard touchdown sprint to put East Tennessee State ahead 21-14. Sixkiller pulled Campbell even with a 5-yard scoring run, then hit Stevie Keener for a 26-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the half. Ewan Johnson answered with a 44-yard field goal as time expired, leaving Campbell with a 28-24 halftime lead.

Campbell extended its advantage in the third quarter when De’Von Thomas scored on a 2-yard run, capping a long drive that consumed most of the period. The touchdown made it 35-24, and the Campbell defense forced a punt on the ensuing possession to maintain the two-score lead.

The fourth quarter began with a turnover that shifted the game decisively. Mims was hit and fumbled at the East Tennessee State 30, and Campbell’s Justin Garza scooped up the ball and returned it 29 yards to the Buccaneers 1. Thomas scored from 1 yard out on the next play, giving Campbell a 42-24 lead.

East Tennessee State responded with two quick touchdowns. D’Marius Rucker ran in from 4 yards out, and Mims threw a 6-yard scoring pass to Brandon Winton to cut the margin to 42-37 with 5:34 remaining. The Buccaneers had momentum following the second score, but Sixkiller put the game away with a 42-yard scramble to the East Tennessee State 18. He then ran 14 yards for his final touchdown, restoring Campbell’s two-score edge at 49-37.

Mims was efficient throughout and spread the ball to multiple receivers. Suderian Harrison had five catches for 99 yards, Charlie Browder added seven receptions for 56 yards, and Brandon Winton caught six passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. Xavier Gaillardetz contributed three catches for 59 yards and averaged more than 20 yards on two kickoff returns.

Campbell’s defense was led by Charles Battaglia with 12 tackles. Vance Sheppert added seven stops and A.J. Benton recorded six. Ebenezer Bedada had five tackles, including a fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter that sealed the result after East Tennessee State had driven into Campbell territory.

East Tennessee State’s defense was paced by Dre Delinois, who finished with 11 tackles. Jimmy Bowdry, Mike Jenkins and Jarvis Johnson each had five stops, while Charles Woodard recorded four tackles and two quarterback hurries. The Buccaneers pressured Sixkiller at times but could not contain him on the ground.

The game featured 1,171 combined passing yards between the two quarterbacks. Sixkiller’s favorite target was Spencer Jones, who caught four passes for 49 yards. Aaryn Tate added four receptions for 55 yards, and Austin had four catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Jyron Waiters contributed four catches for 41 yards and added a 35-yard punt return in the first quarter that set up a scoring drive.

Campbell’s running game was efficient if not explosive. Thomas scored twice on five carries for 10 yards, Ethan Lawrence carried five times for 14 yards and a touchdown, and J.J. Cowan added six carries for 16 yards. Sixkiller’s scrambles were the difference, as his 95 rushing yards were a team high.

East Tennessee State’s ground attack was more spread out. Jaiden Daniels ran five times for 39 yards and caught four passes for 30 yards. Peyton carried 11 times for 45 yards, Albritton rushed four times for 14 yards and a touchdown, and Rucker added a 4-yard scoring run. Mims also scrambled effectively, gaining 18 yards on eight tries.

The Buccaneers outgained Campbell in total yardage largely because of Mims’ prolific passing night, but three turnovers proved costly. East Tennessee State also struggled in the red zone early, failing to convert a first-quarter drive that ended with a turnover on downs at the Campbell 24. The Buccaneers managed only a missed field goal in the third quarter after reaching the Campbell 22.

Campbell next hosts Western Carolina on Sept. 5, while East Tennessee State welcomes Tusculum the same day.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected East Tennessee State to win 41-32, and Interstat’s ELO system gave the Buccaneers a 92.20 percent probability of victory. Campbell had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus-7. The combined 85 points went under the over/under line of 56.5.