Pikeville, KY – Saturday was a game of firsts, first home game, first game for Coach Fipps, first start for sophomore slinger Lee Kirkland, etc. The Bears kicked off against Bluefield in what would be a beautiful display of air-raid offense that pushed Fipps and company to a commanding 52-20 win over the Bluefield Rams.

The win puts the Bears at 1-0 on the season and 8-0 in the all-time series against Bluefield.

HOT OUT OF THE GATE

The Bears kicked off from what was an electric atmosphere at Hambley Athletic Complex and did not disappoint in their debut, racking up 686 yards of total offense including 370 yards through the air. This marks the programs best passing performance since October 5^th, 2013 where they tossed for 447 yards against Cumberland University.

Anything but one-dimensional, the Bears also benefited from an excellent outing from the running back core who amassed 316 yards, the highest rushing total since October of 2019. The ground game totaled three touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

SLING IT

Lee Kirkland was explosive in his first start, completing 24 of 43 attempts for 334 yards and four touchdowns. Kirkland connected with 10 different receivers in the contest, targeting veteran Arites Clark four times who collected 84 yards and a touchdown. Four Bears recorded more than 50 yards receiving, including Alexander Shelton who took his only reception 63 yards to the endzone.


GROUND GAME

On the ground it was redshirt junior Alex Sanders leading the Bears with 120 yards on 19 attempts and a touchdown. Ivan Vaughn had an impressive showing as well, netting 81 yards averaging just under seven yards per carry while Jayden Neace ran 10 times for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman linebacker Jonathan Morton led the charge defensively with seven solo tackles, two assisted tackles and a sack. Timothy Butler and Cameron Miller both snagged an interception, the latter shooting 32 yards upfield after the takeaway. Cedric Thomas managed the defensive backs as the senior broke up four Bluefield pass attempts.

THE RUNDOWN

The Bears received the first kick of the game and it was Ben Henson who put the Bears in Rams territory early, returning the opening kick 54 yards to set the Bears up on the Bluefield 41-yard line. Seven plays later and Alex Sanders punched it in to put the Bears up 7-0.

After the defense held the Rams behind the 50, the Bears offense began their next scoring drive with 10:21 to go in the first quarter at their own 19. Kirkland found Clark for a first down then it was the run that drove upfield, with Vaughn and Sanders getting touches before Henson caught a two yarder in to the endzone to put the Bears up 14-0.

Bluefield scored to make it 14-7 to close the first but the Bears bounced right back to start the second, after Morton forced a fumble on the Bluefield 24 which was recovered by UPIKE. Four plays later, the Bears stretched their lead to 14 making it 21-7 with 12:55 to go in the half.

The next Bears touchdown came from the arm of Kirkland who found Shelton down the middle. Shelton shook two would-be tacklers and put the Bears up 28-7. The Bears scored once in the third after a 75 yard drive that included a Randy Ramanan 38 yard reception and a 16 yard rush from Vaughn. UPIKE punched it in twice more in the fourth to extend the lead, the first coming on Vaughn reception for 25 yards and the final score for the Bears came on a three-yard rush from Xavier Malone to put the Bears over 50.

NEXT UP

Webber International is on the slate for next Saturday, September 25 as the Bears return to Hambley looking for win number two. Kick-off is scheduled for 4PM.