PIKEVILLE, Ky. – With one ranked win behind it, beating then-No. 23 Cumberlands last weekend, the University of Pikeville football team will try to make it two straight as No. 14 Cumberland (Tenn.) comes to town at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the Hambley Athletic Complex.
The matchup between the Bears and Bulldogs can be seen live through Pike TV's online stream, while it will also be aired on Z107.5 FM and live stats will be available through the NAIA DakStats site.
Last week's 22-7 upset of Cumberlands was UPIKE's first win over a ranked team since beating No. 25 Campbellsville in 2012. It was also the first win against the Patriots since 2006 and the seven points allowed was the fewest points for Cumberlands in 51 games.
But ask any football team and they will tell you that the past is the past. No doubt the win was a big confidence boost for the Bears, but Cumberland could pose the toughest challenge yet for the 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-South Conference East Division Bears.
The Bulldogs (3-1, 1-0 MSC West) are coming off a 59-28 thumping of Bluefield (Va.) and a week before that they overwhelmed Belhaven (Miss.) 41-9. Those wins came after Cumberland traveled to NCAA Div. I Tennessee-Martin where it lost 63-7 in Martin, Tenn.
But against NAIA competition, the Bulldogs have been a load, opening the season with their own 34-27 win against Cumberlands in the Patriots first game since losing in the title game of the NAIA National Championship.
Against schools in the NAIA, Cumberland is averaging 44.7 points per game while allowing just over 21.
A key element to UPIKE staying in the game will be slowing down the rushing attack of Bulldog quarterbacks Reed Gurchiek and Broc Loveless. The option-oriented attack has had Loveless rushing 38 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns, while Gurchiek has kept it 28 times for 181 yards and two scores. Gurchiek is also listed on the depth chart as a backup strong safety.
This will be the first official game as head coach for UPIKE's Allan Holland Jr., after having the interim tag he has kept since August removed on Wednesday by Athletic Director Robert Staggs.
