Pikeville, Ky. – Behind a career effort from quarterback Lee Kirkland, Bears football scratched (RV) Cumberland University 47-37 Saturday afternoon.
The win moves the Bears to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in MSC play, extending their streak to four straight wins over the Phoenix.
Unsurprisingly, the Bears netted 579 yards through the air as Kirkland surpassed Trevor Hoskins for the second most yards in a single game. Kirkland averaged 10.7 yards per attempt, throwing four touchdowns, which is the second most of his career. The junior completed 57% of passes, completing 31 of 54.
Three receivers managed over 100 yards, led by Derrick Griffith with 127 yards. Alex Sanders showed off his hands out of the backfield, snagging five targets for 121 yards and a touchdown, including a career-long 80-yard touchdown catch. Rashad Brown led the core in scoring with a pair of touchdowns, finishing with 116 yards.
Travion Pope totaled 11 tackles to lead the defense, recording a tackle for loss in his career performance. Seneca Fuller Jr. managed six solo tackles, while Branden Johnson, Jae Arnold, and Josh Ervin recorded sacks.
In addition to three tackles, defensive back Cameron Miller took his second interception of the season the length of the field for a touchdown. Miller made the read and the catch on a 2nd and goal toss from Cumberland, tying the longest pick-six in program history.
Sanders led the rushing effort, netting 46 yards and a touchdown, while Neace went for 18. Kirkland added a rushing touchdown which is his first of the season.
UPIKE's defense set the tone out of the gate, forcing a three and out to give the Bears the ball with less than two minutes played. Kirkland led the Bears on a 20-play, 72-yard drive that included a crucial 4th and 24 conversion on a pass to Griffith, which put the Bears on the two-yard line. Kirkland finally found Brown in the end zone to put the Bears up 6-0.
After forcing another punt from the Phoenix, Sanders caught an 80-yard touchdown bomb from Kirkland, which gave the Bears a 13-0 advantage. Kirkland added two more touchdowns in the second quarter, including a 74-yard completion to Griffith. The Bears were in the driver's seat heading into the break with a 27-17 lead.
The Bears marched 75 yards in six plays in their opening drive of the second half, going up 34-17. At the end of the third, UPIKE was out to a 47-24 lead.
Cumberland made things interesting in the fourth, scoring on their opening drive before intercepting Kirkland on a goal line toss on the Bears' first drive in between. The Phoenix made it a 10-point contest on the ensuing drive, marching 80 yards in six plays. After forcing a punt, Cumberland had the ball with 4:39 left to play with hopes of a late-game comeback. However, Joe Timp closed the door for the Phoenix offense with an interception at the Phoenix 46-yard line, going 24 yards upfield to put the ball in the Bears' hands with 3:43 to play.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Phoenix pushed the Bears 15 yards upfield and moved the chains, allowing UPIKE to run the clock and seal the win.
The Bears look to open the season 3-0 for the first time since 2013 next Saturday as they head to McKenzie, Tenn. to take on Bethel.
