BLUEFIELD, W. Va. – For the second time this season, a UPIKE opponent left the Bears offense too much time to mount a game-winning drive, as Dillon Wheatley’s 14-yard touchdown run with only nine seconds remaining gave Pikeville the win over Bluefield on Saturday, 41-35.
However, the win carried more significance than just any homecoming spoiler, it also secured UPIKE (6-4, 4-1 MSC App.) a winning record overall and in Mid-South division play for the second time in three seasons.
As the score and final minute dramatics would suggest, Saturday’s contest was an absolute thriller with the two teams trading scores left and right.
After a few lackluster drives, UPIKE finally got on the scoreboard but without the offense on the field as Christopher Dublin blocked a Ram punt and Josh Green returned it 45 yards for a touchdown.
Willie McCloud scored his 17th career rushing touchdown on the second play of the second quarter to give the Bears a 14-0 lead. McCloud’s 17 touchdowns move him to 4th overall in the record list.
Bluefield then answered with a quick score then a non-offensive touchdown of its own when Jonathan Green picked off Bowen Smith and took it to the house to tie the game at 14.
That pass was Smith’s lone mistake of the game, as he completed 14 of his 17 passes for 142 yards as well as taking in two short rushing touchdowns.
Both offenses fired on all cylinders in the contest, but their methods of operation could not have differed more.
Bluefield struck quick with big plays through the air, as Ram quarterback Cason Whitt threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, UPIKE liked to slow the pace of the game down with methodical runs and the Bears amassed 251 yards on the ground, along with all five of their offensive touchdowns. Because of that pace, Pikeville dominated time of possession, holding the ball for over 11 more minutes than the Rams.
After the game was tied at 14, UPIKE and BC traded scores pretty much for the duration of the game.
Smith’s first rushing touchdown and Whitt’s second touchdown advanced the score to 21 all at halftime.
Bluefield went three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half, and UPIKE responded with a long 15-play, over eight-minute long drive punctuated by an Xondre Willis touchdown to give the Bears a 28-21 lead.
Willis was once again a force out of the backfield with his fourth 100-yard game this season, today for 118 yards on 17 touches.
After Bluefield answered, Smith’s second rushing touchdown of the day gave UPIKE the lead again halfway through the fourth quarter, which was once again equaled by BC, this time on a two-yard run.
At Bluefield
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
UP (6-4)……………………..7 14 7 13 – 41
BC (4-6)……………………..0 21 0 14 – 35
Scoring:
First Quarter
UP – Josh Green, 45-yard blocked punt return (William Chandler kick), 6:58
Second Quarter
UP – Willie McCloud, 3-yard run (William Chandler kick), 14:26
BC – Quincy Mock, 3-yard pass from Cason Whitt (Tanner Griffith kick), 11:12
BC – Jonathan Green, 30-yard INT (Tanner Griffith kick), 9:46
UP – Bowen Smith, 5-yard run (William Chandler kick), 4:47
BC – Lowell Patron Jr., 38-yard pass from Cason Whitt (Tanner Griffith kick), 3:02
Third Quarter
UP – Xondre Willis, 12-yard run (William Chandler kick), 5:25
Fourth Quarter
BC – Lowell Patron Jr., 25-yard pass from Cason Whitt (Tanner Griffith kick), 12:22
UP – Bowen Smith, 1-yard run (William Chandler kick), 5:44
BC – Alex Martin, 1-yard run (Tanner Griffith kick), 2:47
UP – Dillon Wheatley, 14-yard run (kick failed), :09
Next up: UPIKE (6-4) vs. Cumberlands (9-1), Hambley Athletic Complex, 6 p.m., Nov. 10.
(Source: UPIKE Sports Information Office)