LAKE WALES, Fla. -- Warner scored touchdowns on its first three drives, sandwiched around a pair of University of Pikeville interceptions, to pave the way towards a 34-21 win at home on Saturday.

Xondre Willis gained 83 yards on 16 carries and Arites Clark caught four passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bears. Defensively, Andre Williams paced UPIKE with six tackles, including a sack, while Zack Bowens picked off a pass to go along with four solo stops.

Both teams picked up 18 first downs and UPIKE outgained the Royals 303-281 in total offense, but three interceptions, including a 50-yard pick six, were too much for the Bears to overcome.

Pikeville (4-6) opened the game in style as Sani Warren connected with Clark for a 30-yard score on the first drive, but things quickly turned south from there.

Warner (4-5) answered with an Andre Tommie touchdown pass, then picked off Warren on his own 19.

Following a sack, Warner had a 20-yard pass that set up Javon Wilson for a short run to make it 14-7. After getting a break with a face mask call on fourth down during the next drive, Warren was picked off by Cyle Watts at the 50 on third down which he took the distance for six.

UPIKE struck first in the second quarter on a 10-yard rush  by Willie McCloud to pull within six at 20-14, but wouldn't score again in the half. It didn't look like the Royals would either, but an 11-play, 71-yard drive at the end of the frame saw Wilson tally his second rushing touchdown to make it 27-14 at halftime.

After an offensive-heavy first half, only two touchdowns were scored in the second.

The first was scored when Warren hit Clark with his second touchdown catch, this time a 14 yarder, to get UPIKE within six at the 4:09 mark of the third quarter. But there wouldn't be any more points scored for 17 minutes.

UPIKE's next four drives ended on two punts, a turnover on downs and another interception.

Facing a 4th and 3 on Warner's 43-yard line with less than four minutes to play, the Bears went for it with a tying touchdown on their mind. However, Warren's pass intended for Curtis Brown was broken up by Imari Price.

Warner made the stop hurt as it scored its only touchdown of the half on the ensuing drive that included a costly penalty. It was 4th and 5 on the Royals' 45 when the Bears were hit with a personal foul on the punt.

Three plays later, Bryant Benton took off for a 37-yard touchdown run to make it a two-score game. Benton finished with a game-high 118 yards on the ground.

Warren completed one pass to Braxton Whitmore on the Bears' final drive, but his next attempt was intercepted by Watts for a second time to seal the non-divisional win for the Royals.   

UP NEXT

UPIKE wraps up the 2017 season with senior day at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday against Bluefield (Va.) at the Hambley Athletic Complex.   

-UPIKE-