BLUEFIELD, Va. – Bluefield University held off a furious University of Pikeville rally to pick up a 43-40 win on Saturday night.
 
The Rams jumped out to a 30-9 lead at halftime, only to see the Bears outscore them 31-13 in the final 30 minutes. But the rally wasn't enough.
 
The game got off to a rough start for the guests, as the Rams took the opening kickoff in for a score. They ran 11 plays and covered 84 yards, ending when Ethan Cash hit Marlin Haywood for the final 28 yards for the score.
 
The Bears created their own break when Marshawn Boyden blocked the kick, keeping the deficit 6-0 with 9:39 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
But before the period ended, the Rams found the end zone again. This time, Cash finished the drive himself with a six-yard run, and Dylan Ausley's kick was good to make it 13-0 with 5:16 left.
 
Less than a minute into the second frame, the score went to 20-0 when Cash found Connor Padgett for an 82-yard touchdown with 14:14 left in the half.
 
Then it was UPike's turn for a long play, as quarterback Xavier Malone threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to senior Brandon Newton. Isaac Smith's extra point cut the deficit to 20-7 with 10:42 to play in the second quarter.
 
Bluefield got the points back, however, when Cash ran his second touchdown carry of the game. He covered the final yard of a five-play, 72-yard drive to go up 27-7 with 7:45 left.
 
The teams traded scores in the final 97 seconds of the half. UPike picked up two on a safety, but Ausley's 20-yard field goal at the horn sent the teams to the half with Bluefield on top 30-9.
 
UPike (2-5, 2-1) quickly responded out of the halftime break. On the third play from scrimmage, sophomore Amon Williams bolted 44 yards for the score. Smith's PAT made it 30-16 with 13:53 to play in the third quarter.
 
The rush extended his school record to 15 straight games with a touchdown.
 
Later in the quarter, Smith booted a 25-yard field goal to pull the Bears within 11 at 30-19 with 8:58 remaining.
 
Bluefield wasn't ready to quit, and Cash again hooked up with Haywood, this time from 14 yards out, with 3:38 left in the period. The kick failed, leaving the score 36-19.
 
UPike wasted no time answering, scoring on the fifth place of the ensuing drive when Pepper went 19 yards for his second touchdown of the day. Smith's kick made it 36-26 with 2:18 left in the third.
 
The Rams stretched their lead again, this time on an 11-yard carry by Kyree Edwards, to make the score 43-26 with 12:51 left in the game.
 
The Bears began their final rally with a nine-yard scoring run by Jayden Pepper with 11:13 to play. Smith's PAT made it 43-33.
 
UPike drew closer with 4:41 left when Malone hit Jordan Williams from 10 yards out, pulling within three points.
 
But the Rams took the kickoff and ran the clock out, securing the win.
 
Malone was 17 for 31 for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Newton hauled in five passes for 141 yards and a score.
 
Amon Williams had his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, gaining 109 yards on 15 carries and his score. Pepper had 71 yards on eight carries and two scores.
 
The Bears had three players with double digit tackles, led by sophomore linebacker Levi Evans. His 16 tackles tie him for the fourth most in school history.
 
Sophomore linebacker Najmir Bellegarde followed with 13 tackles while senior defense end Ahmante Altman added 10 tackles.
 
UPike will return to the W.C. Hambley Athletics Complex for the final two home games of the season, starting on Saturday when it hosts Union Commonwealth University. That game has a special start time of 3 p.m.