Box Score

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Seth Millar matched a season high with 134 rushing yards and Nu'Keese Richardson returned a pair of punts for touchdowns as the University of Pikeville topped Bethel (Tenn.) 35-24 on Saturday at the Hambley Athletic Complex.

UPIKE (4-3) got off to a hot start on homecoming as Jeremy Hill returned the opening kickoff 53 yards, setting up a seven-play, 45-yard drive that ended with Millar's two-yard run to the end zone.

Bethel's Clay Robertson threw one of his two interceptions on the night in the next drive, allowing Pikeville's A.J. Graham to immediately hit Hill with a 40-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline to make it 14-0 in the high-scoring first quarter.

Before the first 15 minutes were over, Robertson answered with his first career touchdown pass, Graham added a touchdown for Pikeville on a goal line keeper and Bethel's Robbie Phillips connected on a 20-yard field goal to give the Bears a 21-10 lead at the end of the quarter.

With Millar averaging nearly seven yards per carry, UPIKE didn't need a typical performance from Graham, but the junior still went 9 of 18 for 139 yards and a touchdown. Hill was his top target, finishing with three catches for 63 yards.

UPIKE finished the game without throwing an interception, but it still needed a big performance from its defense after giving up four fumbles. Linebacker Taylor Woods led that unit with 12 tackles, including a sack and four for a loss. Pikeville outgained the Wildcats 400-295, including a 257-85 advantage on the ground.

Robertson was 19 of 39 with 210 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw the two picks that UPIKE returned for 50 total yards. Quincy Walden paced the receivers with 76 yards on three catches and a score, while Travis Smith netted 101 yards rushing on 26 carries.

Up 21-10 after the first quarter, UPIKE's only other scores of the game came on punt returns by Richardson.

The speedster struck first early in the second quarter, taking Phillips' punt at his own 24-yard line 76 yards for the score. It was the longest punt return of the season and one-yard shy of breaking the program record.

Trailing 28-10, Bethel (2-6) added a touchdown late in the quarter on Robertson's second career touchdown pass to Skylar Haley from seven-yards out. After nearly 13 minutes without any points, Richardson struck again, returning a punt 44 yards to make it a 35-17 Pikeville lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Logan Diebold's three-yard touchdown run on the first play of the quarter would be the last points scored in the game. On Bethel's last five drives, it was stopped on downs four times and threw an interception as UPIKE held strong for the 35-24 win.

Next Saturday the Bears travel to No. 11 Georgetown (Ky.) for a 1:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Toyota Stadium.