UPIKE Athletics

 
 
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The University of Pikeville football team opened the 2026 season on Thursday night with a 51-7 win over homestanding Arkansas Baptist College.
 
The offense rolled out a balanced attack, throwing for 214 yards and running for 143 more. The special teams was equally as impressive, as all-conference kicker Isaac Smith posted 15 points on a perfect night for him, and the defense didn't allow a point, as the Buffaloes' only points of the night came on an interception return.
 
The Bears jumped out to a 14-0 lead after a period and pushed it to 31-7 by the half.
 
UPike's first score came on the opening drive when Alex Hatton dropped back on 3^rd-and-12 and hit Ty Perkins for a 68-yard touchdown pass. Smith nailed the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 13:24 left in the quarter.
 
Before it ended, Hatton finished a 55-yard drive with a three-yard keeper. Smith's extra point came with 9:10 left in the first period.
 
Junior tailback Amon Williams made it 21-0 when he scored from seven yards out with 9:12 left in the half. The Cumming, Ga., product scored in his team's first nine games last season. He finished the game with 25 yards on eight carries.
 
Hatton hooked up with Perkins again, this time from eight yards away, to push the score to 28-0 with 3:41 left in the period. Smith nailed a 21-yard field goal with 1:10 to play to push it to 31-0.
 
Before the half was complete, the Buffs scored for the first time this season. It came on an interception by Joa'Quinn Charles, who returned it 77 yards for the score to send the teams to the break with UPike on top 31-7.
 
The Bears' defense returned the favor a minute into the second half. Damion Watts picked off a Charles Coney pass and went 43 yards for the score. Smith made it 38-7.
 
With 8:30 left in the frame, Hatton found All-American tight end Grant Scott for a nine-yard score, and Smith's boot made it 45-7.
 
Before the period ended, Smith nailed his second field goal of the night, this time from 31 yards out, pushing the edge to 48-7.
 
Smith provided the only points of the fourth quarter when he nailed a 17-yard field goal with 1:16 left in the game.
 
Hatton was 14 for 27 in the air for 219 yards an three touchdowns. He completed passes to six receivers, four of them catching multiple passes. Perkins scored on both of his catches for a team-high 76 yards.
 
Senior Deajuan McDougle led the team with five receptions for 65 yards. Scott hauled in three for 57 yards and a score, while senior Miguel Hernandez had 23 yards on three catches.
 
Sophomore Jayden Pepper led six ball carriers with 12 carries for 54 yards. Freshman Bryce Henson followed with 39 yards on five rushes.
 
Senior defensive end Ahmad Fisher and junior linebacker Levi Evans had six tackles each to lead UPike. Evans had 1.5 tackles for loss. Najmir Bellegarde got his junior season off to a solid start, recording four tackles, two of them sacks.
 
The Bears recorded eight sacks in the game.
 
UPike will play its home opener a week from Saturday when it hosts No. 14 Campbellsville University at the W.C. Hambley Athletics Complex. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.