Box Score WALESKA, Ga. – No. 24 Reinhardt University turned away the potent University of Pikeville offensive attack to hold on for a 41-35 win in double overtime on Saturday afternoon in a big AAC game.
 
UPike is now 3-3 overall this season and 1-1 in the league, with all three losses coming to teams ranked in the Top 25. The Eagles improved to 3-2 on the season. This was their first conference contest.
 
The teams headed to the first extra period tied at 28. The Bears won the toss and gave the Eagles the ball. They needed only one play to score, junior quarterback Taylor Jackson hit senior end Luis Morris for the 25-yard score. Freshman kicker Alex Hardy hit the extra-point to make it 35-28.
 
Senior quarterback Lee Kirkland took command of the offense and scored on a one-yard keeper on fourth and goal. Senior kicker Jakob Headley's fifth PAT of the game sent the teams to a second extra period tied at 35.
 
The Eagles again found pay dirt, coming when Jackson hit freshman receiver Collin Fletcher for a diving 21-yard touchdown reception.
 
Forced by rule to go for the two-point conversion, the Eagles failed, leaving the door open for the Bears.
 
Facing a fourth-and-eight, however, Kirkland's pass intended for Bralin Barton was incomplete.
 
Reinhardt got the scoring started with 7:22 left in the first quarter when junior quarterback kept from 12 yards out for the score. Freshman Alex Hardy booted the PAT to put the Eagles on top 7-0.
 
The Bears responded early in the second period when senior Lee Kirkland hit senior receiver Derrick Griffith II for the final 14 yards of a five-play, 94-yard drive. Senior Jakob Headley split the uprights for the game-tying extra-point.
 
Before the half, however, the Eagles regained the advantage when Jackson hit freshman running back Jordan Ghant on a 24-yard scoring strike. The extra-point came with 4:53 left and the Eagles led 14-7, a lead they'd take to the break.
 
UPike was quick to tie the game again to start the third period when Kirkland senior wideout D'Andre Stafford on an 18-yard scoring strike. It was another lengthy scoring drive, covering 81 yards on eight plays. Headley's kick evened the count at 14-14 with 11:44 left in the frame.
 
Jackson put the Eagles back on top in the fourth period when he found sophomore receiver Jakari Clark from 33 yards out. Hardy's kick made it 21-14 with 13:40 left in the quarter.
 
Pikeville was undeterred, however. It covered 73 yards on a methodical 12 plays, and when Kirkland again hit Stafford from 21 yards away, it allowed Headley to tie the game again at 21.
 
The Bears got the ball back late and made the most of it, moving 92 yards on eight plays, the final one on a Kirkland keeper to tie the game with 1:14 left. Headley made the Bears lead 28-21.
 
But Reinhardt wasted no time getting even. It covered 55 yards on seven plays, the last being a 23-yard scoring scramble by Jackson with only 17 seconds left. Hardy's kick tied the game at 28 and sent the teams to overtime.
 
Kirkland, the reining NAIA offensive player of the week, was 19-of-34 for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the air. He also ran for 58 yards and two more scores.
 
Griffith was a favorite target, hauling in five catches for 116 yards for his second consecutive 100-yard receiving week.
 
Senior tailback Alex Sanders led the rushing attack with 126 yards on 22 carries.
 
Jackson was a crisp 15-of-27 in the air for 266 yards and four touchdowns. Junior David Friedberg led six receivers with five catches for 90 yards. Sophomore Jerdavian Colbert ran for 150 yards on 28 rushes.
 
Junior Levi Evans led the Bears on defense with 14 tackles, while sophomore Chuck Moore added 11. Sophomore Brett Coleman was in on nine tackles.
 
The Bears will return home on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. when they will host Kentucky Christian University at the W.C. Hambley Athletics Complex. The game will culminate the university's homecoming festivities.