MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Pikeville rallied from a 17-point deficit to take a lead but a late touchdown was too much to overcome in a 34-30 loss to Maryville (Tenn.) College on Saturday afternoon.
 
Maryville, an NCAA Division III school, led 21-7 by the end of the first quarter and pushed it to 27-10 in the middle of the second before the Bears began to rally.
 
Quarterback Xavier Malone had another huge day, throwing for 366 yards on 39 of 55 passing. Senior wide receiver Jordan Williams had his third 100-yard game of the young season, catching 14 passes for 110 yards.
 
After senior tailback Jermaine Abner got the Scots on the scoreboard on a three-yard run with 11:04 left, Bears' junior running back Amon Williams broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run.
 
Freshman Isaac Smith's PAT tied the game with 9:34 left in the opening period.
 
But the Scots weren't finished in the frame. Senior quarterback Bryson Rollins hit Zae Richardson from 66 yards out and then found sophomore tight end Jalen McCullough on a 16-yard scoring strike.
 
Before the quarter ended senior kicker Luke Pinkston had hit three extra points to give the Scots a 21-7 lead.
 
Smith nailed a 24-yard field goal with 9:56 left in the half to cut the lead to 11, but Richardson's second touchdown catch of the day, covering 19 yards, pushed the Maryville lead to 27-10 with 6:54 to play in the half.
 
The Bears, however, had cut the lead to a touchdown before halftime. It started when Amon Williams scored from three yards out, and then, at the horn, Smith connected from 26 yards away to send the teams to the break with Maryville's lead trimmed to 27-20.
 
The only third-quarter score tied the game and came when Jordan Williams caught a Malone pass from 12 yards out, and Smith tied the game at 27 with 5:34 left in the frame.
 
Early in the fourth, the Bears took its only lead of the day when Smith nailed his third field goal, this one from 21 yards away with 13:03 left to make the score 30-37.
 
It stayed that way until a last-minute touchdown for the Scots sealed the day. McCullough hauled in his second touchdown toss of the day and the fourth thrown by Rollins. This one covered eight yards to set the final score with only 35 seconds left.
 
In addition to Jordan Williams, junior tight end Grant Scott had a big day, catching six passes for 101 yards.
 
Amon Williams led the rushing attack with 81 yards on 15 carries and a score, extending his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown to 12.
 
Senior linebacker Tommy Turner led the Bears on defense with eight tackles. Two Bears had interceptions as freshman LaCharles Woodruff and sophomore Quincy Clark picked off passes.
 
The Bears will have their final bye week of the season before opening AAC play against league newcomer Rio Grande (Ohio).
 
The Red Storm, who resumed playing football after a 75-year hiatus, will come to the W.C. Hambley Athletics Complex on Oct. 11 for a 7 p.m. kick.