McKenzie, Tenn.  – Bears football opened the Mid-South Conference schedule Saturday afternoon, falling 45-16 to 13 ranked Bethel on the road.

The Wildcats' defense prevented easy yardage for the Bears as they would finish the game with 362 yards of total offense, their lowest of the season. Three interceptions plagued the high flying UPIKE offense, and the ground game was held to 55 total yards.

Lee Kirkland finished the game with 256 yards through the air, featuring one touchdown hauled in by Ben Henson. Henson led the receiving core with 70 yards while Derrick Griffith added 58. Dasani Tate snagged his first touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter for the Bears' final score.

MSC Freshman of the Year Jonathan Morton had his best showing of the season, finishing with 12 total tackles (9 solo, 3 assist). Morton also recorded a pair of tackles for loss while Travion Pope and Obie Wilson added one each. Jacquez Russ managed his first sack of the season, bringing down the Wildcats QB for a loss of six yards.

UPIKE received to open the contest, marching 65 yards on their opening drive. Jake Headley split the uprights after a goal line stand by the Bethel defense, putting the Bears up 3-0. The Wildcats answered with a touchdown and a field goal on the following drives, leading 10-3 after the first quarter.

The Bears couldn't convert on a fourth down on their first drive in the second, turning it over to the Wildcat offense. UPIKE's defense forced a stop but the following drive was brought to a close by the Wildcat defense, forcing a punt. Bethel marched down the field to score and take a 17-3 lead. The rest of the half was a defensive battle that saw neither team score.

Bethel scored three straight touchdowns to open the second half, holding the Bears' offense to just 12 yards up to the 5:53 mark. Kirkland found Henson for a 53-yard touchdown on the next drive to end the drought and make it 38-10 Bethel.

The final Bethel touchdown came on the opening drive of the fourth quarter, taking a 35 point lead with just under 12 minutes to play. Eli Sammons took over at quarterback at the end of the quarter, leading a six play, 39-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Tate.

UPIKE football looks to bounce back next Saturday, October 1^st as they head to Bluefield, VA. Kick-off between the Bears and Rams is slated for 7:00 PM.