PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Homecoming, sunny skies and a record-breaking defensive performance added up to a whole lot of smiles for the University of Pikeville football team as it shut out visiting Cincinnati Christian 59-0 on Saturday at the Hambley Athletic Complex.

It's the sixth shutout in program history, and it was delivered in style.

The Bears' defense held the Eagles to just 89 yards of total offense, breaking the previous record of 117 registered by North Greenville in 2001. UPIKE also limited Cincinnati Christian to zero yards through the air, knocking out the 61 gained by Bluefield last season. It's also the first shutout recorded by the Bears at home.

Coming off four straight losses, this was just what the doctor ordered.

Willie McCloud picked up 73 yards on the ground and scored twice, while Xondre Willis chipped in with 52 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries. Shannon Patrick completed 11-of-16 passes for 77 yards and a score and Bowen Smith went 4-of-7 for 56 yards.

Jordan Owens and Mikal Howard led the receivers with four catches each as Howard grabbed the lone touchdown through the air of the game. On the other side, T.J. Jemison failed to completed a pass, going 0-for-6 and Braydon Womeldorf was the leading rusher with 44 yards.

With the Eagles (0-8. 0-4 MSC East) unable to hold onto the football -- fumbling eight times and throwing a pick -- UPIKE took advantage of a short field for most of the game. McCloud scored twice on the ground in the first quarter on runs of two and 11 yards, then Jamar Kirksey made it 21-0 with a two-yard rush of his own early in the second quarter.

The most exciting touchdown of the game came as the buzzer sounded before halftime.

Just when it was looking like the Eagles were going to get on the board, their 36-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Zach Bowens and scooped up by Romon Morris for a 52-yard touchdown return, his first time getting in the end zone in his career.

Coming out of halftime, Willis added his first touchdown of the season on a six-yard sweep to take a 35-0 lead, followed by Damir Karapandzic adding a 42-yard field goal three minutes later, which tied the longest make of his career.

Up 38-0, UPIKE (3-4, 2-0 MSC East) added 21 points to its lead in the last eight minutes of the fourth quarter. The first touchdown was the only one through the air as Patrick connected with Howard seven-yards out in the back, left corner of the end zone. It was Patrick's first career touchdown pass.

The next two scores followed fumbles. Andre Williams recovered the first at the Eagles' 30-yard line and Willis did the rest of the work on just three carries with six minutes to play. Two minutes later, Cincinnati Christian fumbled the snap on a punt and had to fall on the ball at the three.

From there, UPIKE handed the ball off to Casey McClean twice, scoring his first career touchdown from the three.

While there were plenty of points piled up, the day belonged to the UPIKE defense. Williams and Emmett Kersey led the way with seven tackles each, including a sack for Williams. Chad Conway and Camron Parsley teamed up for another sack and Romon Morris grabbed an interception that he returned for 32 yards.

QUOTABLE

"It was huge for us to get some key guys back coming off the off week, and to come out here and get a win like this will give us some momentum moving forward into the rest of conference play." - UPIKE head coach Allan Holland Jr.

BEAR FACTS

Fiffty-nine points are the most scored by UPIKE since beating Bluefield 62-40 in 2014…Willis, Patrick, McClean and Morris all scored their first collegiate touchdowns…It was a big day for Morris, returning a blocked field goal 52 yards for six and returning an interception 32 yards…Damir Karapandzic last hit a 42-yard field goal at Morehead State in 2014.

UP NEXT

UPIKE stays at home next Saturday, hosting Cumberlands at 1:30 p.m. ET. The game is being televised by WYMT.

-UPIKE-