Box Score

GRAYSON, Ky. – Shawntez Johnson was unstoppable, catching 10 passes for 180 yards with a touchdown as the University of Pikeville topped Kentucky Christian 22-7 in Mid-South Conference East play on Saturday.

The Bears improve to 5-4 overall with the win and 2-3 in the MSC East, while the Knights drop to 3-6 and 2-3 in league play.

Kentucky Christian entered the game ranked fifth in the NAIA in total defense, allowing just 278.8 yards per contest. The Bears blew up than number, outgaining the Knights 403-158 behind a solid performance from their quarterback and top receiver.

A.J. Graham completed 21-of-33 passes for 289 yards with a touchdown and an interception. It was his third highest passing game this season, much to the help of a 66-yard touchdown pass to Johnson to make it a 10-7 UPIKE lead early in the third quarter.

Johnson matched a season high with 10 catches and came up six yards shy of breaking Nu'Keese Richardson's receiving yards record. The program record for receptions is 11.

Jeremy Hill caught four passes for 62 yards and Richardson came down with four for 48. The receivers needed big games with the running game being shut down by the Knight defense.

Graham scrambled for the most rushing yards on the team with 64 on 17 carries with a touchdown.

Seth Millar led the backs with just 22 yards on five carries as the Bears went to the air.

Kentucky Christian's Isaac Brabson struggled to 9-of-20 passing for just 79 yards and Jamuel Jones led the Knights' backs with 67 yards and a touchdown.

Demetrius Taylor led the UPIKE defense with seven tackles and Taylor Woods disrupted the backfield with a pair of sacks.

After a scoreless first quarter, Ryan Wilson opened the second with a field goal to put UPIKE up 3-0. Three minutes later Jones rushed 16 yards to put the Knights in the end zone for the only time in the game, which also gave them their only lead at 7-3.

Graham's long pass to Johnson after halftime ended a four-play 75-yard drive which was followed by a Graham keeper for another touchdown five minutes later.

Trailing 16-7, Kentucky Christian couldn't move the ball the rest of the game, instead punting the ball a season-high seven times against UPIKE. Millar scored the game's final touchdown at the start of the second quarter to put the Bears up by 15.

Two home games remain on the Bears' schedule, starting with Belhaven (Miss.) on Saturday, Nov. 9 and wrapping up with Union (Ky.) on Nov. 16.