WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The first road trip of the season didn't go as planned for the University of Pikeville, falling to the University of the Cumberlands 52-20 on Saturday night.
 
Cumberlands (2-0) scored the game's first 22 points, all coming in the opening period of play, before the Bears scored late in the opening period. By halftime, the Patriots were in front 39-7.
 
UPike got on the scoreboard with 1:18 left in the opening frame when Lee Kirkland hit senior D'Andre Stafford over the middle for a 10-yard touchdown. Senior Austan Shuffler made the extra point.
 
Those seven were all the Bears could account for until the fourth quarter when they posted a pair of rushing touchdowns. Tyrese Christian handled the load both times, first from eight yards and then from five.
 
Kirkland finished the game 24-of-48 for 240 yards and a score while throwing his first four interceptions of the season. In the game, two lengthy streaks came to a close for the graduate student from Bluffton, S.C.
 
He had posted five straight games of at least 300 passing yards and eight straight with three or more touchdown passes.
 
Junior Jordan Williams and senior Diego Soto each had six catches in the game. Williams covered 72 yards while Soto ate up 52.
 
Sophomore Amon Williams led the Bears on the ground with 65 yards on 14 carries.
 
One thing that didn't change was the play of junior linebacker Chuck Moore, who had his third straight game with double digit tackles. Nine of his 11 were of the solo variety. Junior defensive back Brett Coleman added nine tackles as the combination continue to lead Bear tacklers.
 
Cumberlands combined to go 14-of-23 in the air for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Finishing with 218 yards on the ground, the Patriots got 84 yards and a score from Trent Davis and 76 yards and two touchdowns from JB Carlisle.
 
Pikeville will remain on the road next week for its final nonconference game of the season when it travels to Faulker, Ala. Gametime is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Montgomery.