Pikeville, KY – Campbellsville came to town for UPIKE football's 2021 home opener in a game that would be decided by a single point on Friday afternoon. Both teams managed a pair of touchdowns but the Tigers would take the 14-13 victory as UPIKE failed to convert on a PAT.

Offensively, the Bears took the advantage racking up 405 yards in total with 194 through the air and 211 on the ground. The Tigers managed 168 passing yards and 149 rushing yards to finish with 317 yards of total offense. A key downfall for the Bears in the game came from penalties where the Bears lost 120 yards on 12 flags thrown.

Time of possession also went in favor of UPIKE as the Bears held the rock for 35:47, trumping Campbellsville's 24:13. A bright spot for the Bears came on third downs, converting on eight of 17, keeping drives alive in key moments. Overall, UPIKE managed 20 first times, 11 on the ground and seven through the air.

Trevon Wofford completed a much-improved performance from his season debut a week ago, decisively aiding the Bears with 18 completions on 35 attempts. The junior notched his first passing touchdown of the season but was also thwarted by the Tigers' defense with three interceptions. The Cedartown, GA native proved elusive on his feet as well, scampering for 112 yards, with his longest coming in the third quarter where he broke free for a huge 49 yard gain after the Bears opened the possession on their own one yard line.

Alexander Shelton was a brute out of the backfield for UPIKE, fighting the Tigers defense and the elements for 84 hard-fought yards. Shelton carried 18 times and averaged 4.4 YPC, his longest coming in at 22 yards.
UPIKE's receiving core was busy on Friday night, with six receivers getting multiple grabs led by senior Arties Clark who caught five for 63 yards and a touchdown. Damian Sutton totaled 56 yards on three catches and had the longest reception on the game with a 45 yard snag that came in the third quarter.

Defensively the Bears were led by Chris Dublin who besides his 92 yard kick return for a touchdown was also the leading tackler for UPIKE, totaling 9 tackles. UPIKE also snagged two interceptions, one coming by Jacquez Russ and the other by Timothy Butler who was able to get 21 yards after the takeaway.

UPIKE's first touchdown on the season came in the first quarter on a drive that ate up 9:04 and saw the Bears march 55 yards to the endzone. Wofford threw for eight yards and rushed for thirty before finally dotting up Clark for the touchdown on third and goal.

The Bears came out of halftime with explosive energy, showcased by the opening kickoff return which would result in the second UPIKE touchdown of the game. In his longest career return, the senior cut up the field going 92 yards to the endzone to put the Bears back in the game. The return is not the only impressive play in the defensive back / kick returners career catalog – as the Georgia native went 84 yards for a touchdown against Bethel in November of 2019.

It was 14-13 as the Bears were in position to take the lead with 10:00 to go in the fourth quarter, looking at a 2^nd and 4 on the Tigers' 28 yard line. A great play by Chance Lucas in the secondary resulted in an interception that stalled the Bears threat to score. Campbellsville ate three minutes of clock in the next possession before punting it away to the Bears with 3:00 minutes to go. On the Bears final possession, defensive pressure forced a throw from Wofford that was picked off by Malcolm Walker, sealing the deal for the Tigers.

The Bears return to Hambley Field on Friday, March 12^th to take on the Saints of Thomas More. Kick-off is slated for 5:00 PM.