TIME: 6:07 p.m. ET
DATE: Saturday, Oct. 21
WATCH: WYMT (This TV) | Union Stream
LISTEN: 1075FM EKB with Joe Kinzer on play-by-play
LIVE STATS: NAIA DakStats
IN-GAME UPDATES: Twitter | Instagram
GAME NOTES: UPIKE at Union
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Union is 2-4 and three of their losses were by 41, 42 and 50 points. But keep in mind, those also came again No. 14 Southeastern (Fla.), No. 5 Lindsey Wilson and most recently No. 3 Reinhardt (Ga.). The other loss was a 33-30 setback at Cumberlands.
Union has one of the top passing offenses in the NAIA, ranking 20th nationally with 273 yards per game. The offense overall is one to take note of, ranking 21st in total offense per game at 441.8. Tyler Toombs is the receiver you have to keep an eye on, catching 16 passes for 528 yards, which is an NAIA 20th best 88 yards per contest. Both quarterbacks, Alex Bell and Kendrick Furness, are threats to run or pass. Bell leads the duo with 1,395 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 134 rushing yards and two more scores.
Senior linebacker Jake Everhart is the leader on defense with 46 tackles, 10 more than any other Bulldog. As a unit, the Union defense only has two interceptions through six games.
RECORD TIED: Allan Holland Jr., is the longest tenured head coach in UPIKE program history with this being his fourth season. He is also tied with Jerry Mynatt for the winningest coach in program history. Mynatt went 19-12 from 2003-05 and Holland Jr., is 19-21 starting with the 2014 campaign.
THE MATCHUP: Union gains more than 60 yards of total offense than UPIKE, but it's worth noting that they allow nearly 475 yards per game, which is 81st out of 88 NAIA teams. The Bears, on the other hand, rank 38th nationally in total defense at 378 yards per game. Also, Pikeville is No. 9 in turnover margin at +1.3, while Union is tied for 69th at -0.80.
UPIKE IN THE NAIA: The Bears rank 38th nationally in total defense, allowing 378 yards per contest and are 37th in points allowed at 26.1. UPIKE has been strong defending third downs as teams convert just 35.8 percent of the time, which is the 25th best mark in the NAIA. The Bears' 39.7 yards per punt attempt ranks 15th nationally.
Individually, Romon Morris ranks second nationally in interceptions with five and seventh in picks per game at 0.7. William Chandler is 29th in punting yards per attempt at 38.2 and Taeron Brown is 25th in tackles per game with 8.9
THE SCHEDULE AHEAD: When the Bears return home next Saturday, it will be homecoming against third-ranked Reinhardt. The regular-season is scheduled to come to a close at home as well against Bluefield on Nov. 11. In between the Bears will head south to Warner in Florida on Nov. 4.
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