Pikeville, Ky. – Bears football fell to (8) Lindsey Wilson on Saturday 39-9 in their final home game of the 2022 campaign.

The loss drops the Bears to 5-4 on the season, with a conference record of 4-3.

The run game was the story for the Blue Raiders who churned out 268 yards on the ground. The Bears held Lindsey Wilson to just 158 yards through the air. Xavier Malone netted 335 yards through the air but the Blue Raiders talented defense managed three interceptions, taking one for a pick-six.

UPIKE won the offensive battle, recording 431 yards of total offense while the Blue Raiders finished with 426. The Bears' lone touchdown in the contest came on the ground by way of Lee Kirkland who pounded in a one-yard TD in a goal line effort. The issue for the UPIKE offense was not production, instead execution in the red zone. The Bears' finished 2-6 in the red zone, and the Blue Raiders defense limited the Bears to an 8-18 conversion mark on third down.

Reigning defensive player of the year Jonathan Morton led the defensive effort with eight solo tackles and a pair assisted. Obie Wilson shined in the secondary with two pass break-ups and an interception.
UPIKE fired out of the gate following kickoff, launching a 9-play, 92-yard drive that was almost completely managed by Malone's arm. He completed four passes on the march upfield, including a 45 yarder to Derrick Griffith. On the Blue Raider two-yard line, Malone's toss was intercepted to shut down the drive.

The Bears' defense forced a three and out on the following drive to answer but the subsequent UPIKE drive resulted in a punt. Lindsey quickly pulled together a 90-yard drive on 10 plays to strike first, scoring the lone touchdown of the quarter.

Malone led the Bears on an 85-yard drive that capped the first quarter and spilled into the second, ending in Kirkland's touchdown run. The Blue Raiders answered with a touchdown drive, which would be the only touchdown of the second quarter. At the 7:32 mark, UPIKE got the ball at their own 17 and compiled an impressive drive leading to Lindsey's 10-yard line. The Blue Raider defense made a stand and held the Bears to a Sandorf field goal from 27 yard. The half ended with a Lindsey Wilson 17-9
lead.

The Blue Raider defense held the Bears scoreless in the third and fourth quarters, scoring 21 points.

UPIKE football will end the regular season on Saturday, November 12^th as they head to Montgomery, Ala. for a matchup with Faulkner.