GRAYSON, Ky. — It took a couple quarters to get going, but the University of Pikeville football team dominated the second half for a 40-11 win at Kentucky Christian on Saturday.
The Bears were up just 9-3 at the half, but scored 24 unanswered points to take control of the game on their way to the 29-point win.
At 3-1 in the Mid-South Conference East Division, UPIKE now gets a chance at winning a share of its first conference championship. Cumberlands lost to Georgetown on Saturday to finish 4-1 in the league and the undefeated Tigers are up next for the Bears at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Hambley Athletic Complex.
With a UPIKE win, all three teams would be tied at the top of the standings with 4-1 records and tri-champions would be named. The division’s automatic bid to the NAIA National Playoffs would go to the highest ranked team of the bunch. Then again, a Georgetown win next Saturday would give it the outright title.
At Kentucky Christian (1-9, 1-3 MSC East), the Bears’ defense looked like a group excited to have so much left to play for. It held the Knights to just a field goal in the first half and didn’t give up a touchdown until halfway through the fourth quarter when Graham Johnston’s seven yard scamper made it 33-11.
The outcome of the game was decided in the third quarter when UPIKE (4-6, 3-1 MSC East) outscored Kentucky Christian 21-0. All of the defensive momentum was heading in the Bears’ direction for those 15 minutes after closing out the first half with a safety.
Credit Jack Hopkins for leading that charge as he finished with a team-best 11 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Quintin Salley and Taeron Brown chipped in with six stops each as the Knights could only log 13 first downs on the day.
Turnovers didn’t help matters as the Knights lost three fumbles and threw an interception. UPIKE wasn’t immune with a pick and two fumbles itself, but Quan Weaver was good enough in the running game to negate the issue.
The sophomore from Frankfort, Ky., rushed for 188 yards on 32 carries with a pair of touchdowns. Weaver scored the game’s first touchdown with a one-yard run, then shut the door on the game with the final score on a 35-yard scamper into the end zone.
UPIKE quarterback R.J. Rosemond Jr., had a bad day through the air, completing 6-of-20 passes for just 51 yards, but made up for it with 80 rushing yards on 15 carries. He went to work in the third quarter, scoring the Bears’ first two touchdowns with his feet before adding a third through the air to Jamon Langford.
KCU’s Graham Johnston went 19 of 45 through the air for just 183 yards with two interceptions. His best work came on the ground as well with 61 yards and a score.
It was truly two different types of attacks squaring off as KCU led the passing game 191-51 and UPIKE led the running game 311-134. Those differences led to a fairly even total-offense showing at 362-325 in the Bears’ favor.
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