BARBOURVILLE, Ky. -- Izayah Reittie took off for touchdown runs of 70, 61 and four yards to lead Union past the University of Pikeville football team 20-7 on Saturday afternoon. The loss is the Bears' first of the season in Mid-South Conference East Division play, dropping them to 4-5 overall and 3-1 in the east.

While the MSC East crown is still in play, the Bears would need help to qualify for the NAIA Championship Series and its requirement of being ranked in the top 20. With the win, Union moves to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in league play.

Reittle averaged a staggering 14.2 yards per carry as he racked up 142 yards on 10 attempts. Union quarterback Victor Garth went just 6 of 16 through the air for 105 yards with an interception, but made up for it with 50 yards rushing.

UPIKE starter Bowen Smith attempted just one pass before leaving the game with an apparent injury, giving way to Shannon Patrick (12-23, 97 yds., 2 int.) and Russell Gordon (1-2, 6 yds.). The Bulk of UPIKE's offense came through Gordon with 42 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and Jamar Kirksey with 83 yards on 19 carries.

Gordon did a little bit of everything, catching two passes, along with Anfernee Brown and Braxton Whitmore with two catches as well. Defensively, Camron Parsley and Chad Conway led the way with 9.5 and nine tackles, respectively.

Union outgained the Bears 333-246 in total offense, with more than 200 of UPIKE's yards coming in the second half. The teams were nearly even passing, but the Bulldogs were better on the ground at 228-143.

HOW IT WENT DOWN

• After the teams traded seven punts, Union's Reittie finished off a three-play drive by going 61 yards to the end zone with 1:04 left to play in the first quarter (0-7).
• Four punts later, Union and UPIKE threw interceptions on back-to-back drives, setting up Reittie for his second score of the game. This time around it was from just 4-yards out, ending a four-play, 15-yard drive to give Union a 14-0 lead.
• With nearly three quarters gone, the Bears finally cracked the scoreboard with three seconds left in the third quarter as Gordon lined up in the backfield and plunged ahead one yard for six. It was the result of UPIKE's best drive of the game, traveling 59 yards on 11 plays for nearly seven minutes (7-14).
• Down by a touchdown, the Bears drove deep into Union territory in the final three minutes of the game, but ended up being stopped on downs on 4th and 2 from the Bulldog 31-yard line. Union's response after taking over was watching Reittie go 70 yards for a touchdown on the first play, taking a two-possession lead (7-20).  

UP NEXT

UPIKE returns home to host Kentucky Christian for senior day at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the Hambley Athletic Complex.

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