Football 11/13/2010 10:29:04 AM

Defense leads Bears to 44-14 win over KCU

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – On the strength of two Trevor Hoskins touchdown passes and two defensive scores, the Pikeville College Bears closed out the 2010 season with consecutive wins after a 44-14 win over the Knights of Kentucky Christian University Saturday evening.

The much-maligned defense, which gave up a school record 455 points this season, held KCU to the lowest output an opponent posted against the Bears this season and the two scores of their own offset the points it allowed.

Hoskins, a sophomore quarterback from Middlesboro, finished the season 201-of-376 for 2,673 yards and 25 touchdowns, all new single-season school records. And, he led a Bears' offense that scored a school-record 299 points this season.

Defensively, senior linebacker Anson Cunningham had a huge night with 13 total tackles. His career total of 273 tied Kenny Harris, a linebacker who finished his eligibility last season, for the all-time record of tackles in a career.

On Saturday, the Bears got another solid performance from junior fullback Ezekiel White, who was pressed into tailback duties when injuries left him as the only regular back on the roster a week ago. He finished with 111 yards on only nine carries and two scores, his second consecutive 100-plus-yard rushing game.

White's 18-yard touchdown with 24 seconds left in the opening period was the only score of the frame, and put the Bears on top 6-0.

Hoskins followed with his first scoring pass of the night, a seven-yard strike to freshman Jordan Amis, with 12:46 left. The Bears went for two, with Hoskins hitting White, to make it 14-0.

The next score came via the defense. Jamar Porter, in his final game as a Bear, forced a fumble and returned it 75 yards for the only touchdown of his career. Freshman Ryan Wilson's kick made it 21-0 with 7:59 left before halftime.

Kentucky Christian (0-11) followed with a seven-play, 55-yard scoring drive that ended when junior quarterback Beau Dailey scrambled for a 31-yard score. Sophomore Ethan Nettles booted the PAT to make it 21-7 with 5:37 remaining in the half.

But the Bears wasted no time in getting the score back. Hoskins hit Thomas Weeks for a 14-yard scoring strike. The touchdown was set up by a 56-yard kickoff return by freshman linebacker Jade Haddix on his only return of the season. Wilson's kick made it 28-7 with 4:45 remaining, and that score would remain at the half.

All of the second-half scoring came in the third period and began when senior linebacker Tramayel Jones picked off a pass and returned it 72 yards for the first touchdown of his career. Wilson, who booted the PAT, followed with a 26-yard field goal to make it 38-7 with 6:49 left.

Freshman Derrick Henderson scored KCU's final points of the season when he hauled in a 14-yard pass from freshman Alex Springs, with Nettles' kick making it 38-14.

Scoring ended when White capped a four-play, 59-yard drive with a 25-yard run.

Pikeville finished with 169 rushing yards on 25 carries, with White's total leading the way. Hoskins was 15-of-29 for 142 with the two scores and one interception.

Amis, his favorite target, caught five for 55 yards. The freshman from Buckhorn finished the season with 729 yards, leaving him only 22 shy of the single-season record.

KCU had 221 net rushing yards, led by freshman Deonte Merricks with 156 yards on 30 totes.

The quarterback combination of Dailey and Springs finished 12-of-28 for 108 with a score and two interceptions. Sophomore Rashad Earls caught half the completed passes for 58 yards.

Cunningham's 13 tackles and one pick led the defense, but two other seniors in their final game were also in double figures in tackles. Jarvis Griffin had 11 tackles, including three for loss and a sack, while Jones finished with 10 tackles and the interception on which he scored.

The Knights were led by junior linebacker B.J. Evans, who had seven tackles and a sack.

--PC--

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