PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The University of Pikeville football team will be facing arguably its toughest challenge of the season so far on Saturday at No. 19 Reinhardt (Ga.), but it’s also coming off one of its best defensive performances in over 10 seasons.
The Eagles have won all three of their games by an average of 37 points and are scoring 53.6 point per game. UPIKE improved to 2-2 overall last week after shutting out Bethel (Tenn.) 22-0 on the road, the first shutout since the 2004 season.
It’ll be an interesting matchup as the Eagles are the No. 1 rushing team in the NAIA at 338 yards per game and UPIKE’s defense is the eighth best in the nation, allowing just 276.3 yards of total offense per contest.
Game Notes
· Reinhardt is coming off a 36-25 win at Georgetown. It was the first meeting between the Eagles and the perennial strong Tigers, who are off to a surprising 0-3 start. Reinhardt had a program-record 16 tackles for a loss while limiting the Tigers to under 60 yards of rushing for the game.
· Quan Weaver is having a stellar season running the ball for UPIKE with three 100-yard rushing performances in the first four games. That mark already ranks fifth in program history for 100-yard games in a season. Coming into Saturday, Weaver ranks eighth nationally at 106.8 rushing yards per game.
· UPIKE outgained Bethel 414-174 in total offense. Including allowing just 77 rushing yards to register the 22-0 win last week. Sani Warren went 14-for-22 passing for 254 yards with two touchdowns, both to speedy wide out Elijah Bell.
GAME FACTS – UPIKE at No. 19 Reinhardt
Site: Boring Sports Complex, Waleska, Ga.
Watch: Reinhardt Stream
Radio: EKB (107.5 FM)
Twitter: @UPIKEAthletics
Series History: First Meeting
Next UPIKE Game: Oct. 3 vs. Cumberland (Tenn.), 1:30 p.m. ET, Pikeville, Ky. (Pike TV, EKB ZRock 107.5 FM)
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