PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Next up for the University of Pikeville football team is a trip to last season's NAIA National Championship runner-up in No. 23 Cumberlands (Ky.), a team the Bears haven't beaten since 2006, but this time around both teams are looking to rebound after a loss.
UPIKE and the Patriots are set to kickoff at 1:37 p.m. ET at James H. Taylor II Stadium in Williamsburg, Ky., with WYMT on hand to televise the action on its ThisTV station, as well as being available via online stream through the UC Sports Network. Locally, ZRock 107.5 FM will be on hand with the call.
Cumberlands was a force to be reckoned with last season, finishing 13-1 after finally losing in the NAIA National Championship Game. That Patriot team came to Pikeville and beat the Bears 59-3, but so far this year UC is 1-2 overall, including a 28-27 loss to unranked Union last week.
The Patriots opened the season ranked fourth in the NAIA Top-25 Poll, but have since dropped 19 spots after losses to Cumberland (Tenn.) to open the season and last week's upset by the Bulldogs.
UPIKE is looking for its first win since thumping Bluefield (Va.) in the season opener. Since that win the Bears are 0-3, including a 44-14 loss to No. 17 Lindsey Wilson at home last week.
Cumberlands' starting quarterback Adam Craig was most likely lost for the season after an injury against Union, meaning Pikeville native Randy Maynard will be stepping into the starting role against the Bears. The junior completed 6-of-10 passes last week for 59 yards while also adding 36 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Quarterback Sani Warren is once again not expected to play for UPIKE while recovering from injury. The last two weeks have seen freshmen Tyler Guffey and R.J. Rosemond Jr. sharing the load under center with Guffey throwing for three scores and Rosemond Jr. being more of a scrambler with one rushing touchdown.
Defensively, linebacker John Dudley Hilton continues to creep towards holding the all-time record for tackles at UPIKE. The senior is currently at 237 total tackles, leaving him 37 stops shy of taking over the No. 1 spot.
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