TIME: 1:30 p.m. ET
DATE: Saturday, Nov. 11
Location: Pikeville, Ky.
WATCH: Pike TV
LISTEN: Z1075 FM
LIVE STATS: NAIA DakStats
IN-GAME UPDATES: Twitter
GAME NOTES: UPIKE vs. Bluefield
SCOUTING THE RAMS: It's been quite a turnaround for Bluefield which finished 1-10 last season and just 1-5
in the MSC East Division. Fast forward to the current campaign and the Rams are 6-4 overall and 4-1 in the
Appalachian Division. In fact, Bluefield hadn't won more than a single game in a season since resurrecting the
football program in 2012.
First-year head coach Dewey Dusk is the architect of the new-look Rams, leading them to wins in their previous five
games before a 54-0 loss to now second-ranked Reinhardt last weekend. Lusk has let the defense lead Bluefield to
new heights, ranking 25th nationally by allowing just 352 yards per game. The Rams passing defense is the best in
the nation, allowing 144 yards per game through the air. And it's not just the secondary where the Rams excel, they
also rank 20th in sacks per contest at 2.7. Isaiah Fenner is the player to watch with four interceptions and 35 tackles.
Offensively, Bluefield relies on a three-back rushing attack of Rashad Butler, Malik Brown and Alex Martin who all
have at least 400 yards on the ground.
X MARKS THE SPOT IN THE RECORD BOOK: With his 257 rushing yards at Union three weeks ago, Xondre
Willis turned in the most yards in a single game in program history. The previous best was 254 by Leonard
Moore back in 2003. The Belfry product is UPIKE's leading rusher this season with 931 yards, which is good for
6.9 yards on average when he touches the ball. Those yards per carry are currently the most ever produced by
a Bear.
BROWN GETS HONOR: Taeron Brown was named the MSC Appalachian Defensive Player of the Week two
weeks ago after registering 18 tackles in the loss against Reinhardt. That total is the second most in a game by a
Bear in program history.
UPIKE IN THE NAIA: The Bears rank 33rd nationally in points per game at 31.7 and have the 40th best rushing
attack, gaining 175.4 yards per game. As an offense, UPIKE is 49th in the NAIA at 376 yards per game. How- ever,
the defense is 65th in the NAIA, allowing 415 yards a game.
Romon Morris is eighth in total interceptions with five, Xondre Willis ranks 23rd in rushing yards per contest at
93.1 and Taeron Brown is 17th in tackles per game at 9.4. Punter William Chandler's 37.6 yards per attempt are
the 32nd best mark in the NAIA.
SENIOR DAY: This is the final game at the Hambley Athletic Complex for 17 UPIKE seniors. The bunch has been a
part of the first MSC divisional championship won by the school and has 19 total wins entering today's game. These
are the first seniors to spend all four years with Allan Holland Jr., who is in his fourth season as head coach.
ONE WIN FOR COACHING RECORD: With a win in today's season finale, UPIKE head coach Allan Holland Jr.,
can become the school's all-time wins leader with 23. He is currently tied for the record with Jerry Mynatt. Mynatt
led the Bears to their only NAIA Playoff appearance in 2005, while Holland Jr., got the school its first conference
championship last season.
-UPIKE-
