PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville saw a 14-3 lead evaporate into a 27-20 loss to the University of the Cumberlands on Saturday night in the home opener.
 
The loss pushed the Bears to 1-1 on the season while the Patriots improved to 2-0.
 
The Bears wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, taking the opening kickoff downfield and handing to senior Adrian Medacco for the final nine yards. Senior kicker Jakob Headley split the uprights with 10:51 left in the opening period for a 7-0 Bear lead.
 
Cumberlands responded 10 minutes later when sophomore Job Mattossian split the uprights with 4:16 left from 37 yards out, getting the Patriots on the scoreboard but trailing 703.
 
The Bears responded with 13:14 left in the first half when junior Xavier Malone found classmate Diego Soto from 17 yards out for the touchdown. Headley's kick made it 14-3.
 
The Patriots were next on the scoreboard, finding pay dirt from 12 yards out when senior Jakwon Roberts found sophomore Darius James with 2:24 left in the half. Mattossian's kick was good to cut the UPike lead to 14-10.
 
Cumberlands took the final drive down to the horn, and Mattossian hit a field goal from 28 yards out. That got the Pats within one point, 14-13, at the break.
 
The Patriots kept the pressure on as the third quarter started, with Roberts finding DK Edwards for an eight-yard touchdown with 10:58 left. Mattossian's PAT made the score 20-14 for a lead they would never lose.
 
A second third-quarter touchdown came with 4:54 left when James carried for the final six yards to make it 27-14.
 
Pikeville cut the deficit to seven with 7:40 to play in the game when Malone hit Soto from 34 yards out, but would get no closer.
 
Malone and senior Lee Kirkland combined for 16-of-30 in the air for 134 yards. Malone had two scoring passes, but to Soto, who hauled in five passes for 59 yards to lead the Bears in both categories.
 
Starting tailback Alex Sanders was injured on the opening kickoff of the game and was limited to two carries. Medacco led six rushers for the Bears with 68 yards on nine carries.
 
Roberts was 12-of-21 for 140 yards and the two scores to lead the Patriots. His favorite target was junior Elijah Howard, who caught four passes for 31 yards.
 
James was the leading carrier for the Patriots, picking up 96 yards on 30 carries.
 
One week after carrying for 240 yards on 50 carries, Cumberlands had 177 yards on 52 rushes.
 
Pikeville will be back on the road next Saturday, playing at Georgetown at 7 p.m. Cumberlands will travel to Union in the annual Battle for the Brass Lantern. That game will also kickoff at 7 p.m.