The University of Pikeville wrapped up the home portion of its 2025 football schedule with a 51-42 win over Kentucky Christian University on Saturday at the W.C. Hambley Athletics Complex.
 
UPike, 4-5 on the season and 4-1 in the conference, will play its final game of the regular season next Saturday afternoon when it visits Reinhardt (Ga.) University. That game will decide the conference champion and the automatic bid into the NAIA playoffs.
 
The win also means that UPike hasn't lost a home AAC game since entering the conference three seasons ago.
 
It was a big day for sophomore tailback Amon Williams, who returned with two rushing touchdowns. That gives him 30 touchdowns in his career, tying him for the school's all-time lead.
 
UPike started out strong, taking the ball 50 yards on 16 plays and chewing 6:47 off the clock before freshman kicker Isaac Smith nailed a season-long 39-yard field goal to put the Bears in front 3-0.
 
The next points were provided by the defense. A sack by sophomore linebacker Najmir Bellegarde resulted in a fumble that was scooped up by sophomore linebacker Levi Evans, who returned it the final 42 yards for a touchdown.
 
Evans' score was capped by a Smith extra point to put the Bears on top 10-0 with 3:49 left in the period.
 
On their next possession, the Bears put together another lengthy drive, covering 56 yards on 10 plays, ending when Malone hit junior Cobe Stribling for a 26-yard touchdown to push the lead to 17-0 with 13:49 left in the half.
 
From there, KCU took over. Sophomore quarterback Jackson Wasik was, as is normal, the key. He hit junior receiver Javion for a 27-yard touchdown. The kick by Christian Altiz cut the lead to 17-7 with 10:58 left.
 
Before the half, Wasik had scored on two rushing touchdowns, covering six and one yard, to give the Knights a 20-17 lead to the half.
 
The second half started with the teams trading scores. UPike scored first as freshman Jayden Pepper scored on a 20-yard run to put the Bears in front 24-20. KCU answered when again Wasik found Martin for a 14-yard score, making it 27-24 for the Knights.
 
Pepper responded with his second score, this time from three yards before Wasik hit freshman Jalen Briscoe from 28 yards away.
 
The quarter ended where it started, with KCU on top by three. This time the score was 34-31.
 
The Bears tied the game when Smith hit from 27 yards out with 10:20 to play.
 
From there, sophomore tailback Amon Williams took over for the Bears, scoring on runs of 14 and 1, and Smith nailed both kicks to push the lead to 48-34.
 
Each team scored in the final 1:04. For the Bears, Smith nailed a 43-yard field goal, his longest of the season. The Knights answered when Wasik hit sophomore Jacob Cline for a 23-yard score.
 
Malone was 30 for 46 in the air for 216 yards and a touchdown. He hit senior Jordan Williams 11 times for 63 yards.
 
On the ground, Amon Williams had 18 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Bellegarde led the way with eight tackles, six of them solos. He also had the sack and forced fumble. Junior Dige Savage had six tackles, five for loss, a tackle for loss, an interception and four pass breakups in the win.