VALLEY, Ala — In a game filled with dramatics, it was the final full possession that made the difference in UPIKE’s 38-31 win against Point on Saturday.
With just under eight minutes to go, tied at 24, the Bears (3-3, 1-0 MSC Appalachian) marched 69 yards downfield, punctuated by a three-yard pass from Bowen Smith to Arites Clark, in just four plays to take a one-score lead. It was Smith’s second touchdown of the game and he finished 11-23 for 219 yards and those two touchdowns.
Point (1-5, 0-1 MSC Appalachian) didn’t need much time to respond, going 75 yards in just three and a half minutes to equalize. The Skyhawks had their most productive game of the season on offense by tallying 429 yards.
But in a clinical example of clock management, Pikeville went 64 yards in less than 90 seconds to score the game-winning touchdown. Smith completed two passes on the drive, one of which was a 43-yard bomb from Darrion Leslie, and Xondre Willis plunged ahead for two nine-yard runs, the last of which hit pay dirt with 16.6 second remaining..
Point’s hail mary attempt to finish the game fell incomplete to finish the stunner for UPIKE.
Willis had his biggest game of the season as a rusher, netting 165 yards with that touchdown. He also caught one pass for 11 yards. Leslie also finally delivered the spark plug performance coach Al Holland Jr. knew he could produce after spending his final year at UPIKE with football. He caught two passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Both offenses needed some time to get started as only 10 combined points were put on the board in the first 27 minutes. UPIKE scored first with a nine yard run from Raekwon Burch halfway through the first quarter.
UPIKE’s only other first half score came on a 25-yard run from Trevon Wofford, who again showcased his dynamic playmaking ability in his limited action. He went 3-6 for 62 yards as a passer, while taking five rushes 40 yards with that touchdown.
Pikeville continued to show its offense is firing on all cylinders, marching for 492 yards of total offense, averaging 7.69 yards per play. The Bears also cleaned up the penalties which had plagued them in past games as they were only called for four in the entire game.
The Bears defensed gave its opposing offense a case of fumblitis for the second straight week in the third quarter, forcing fumbles on back-to-back possessions. The first of which — forced and recovered by Brandon Gibson — led to a UPIKE field goal. Andre Williams forced the second.
UP NEXT
UPIKE will try to stay undefeated in division play when it faces St. Andrews next Saturday at Hambley Athletic Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 on Oct. 6.