UPIKE football loses on the road against Bethel
0There were lots of storylines to the University of Pikeville football team’s 28-14 loss at Bethel on Saturday, Oct. 18, but in the end, it came down to missed opportunities.
There were three touchdowns scored in the first four minutes, starting with Bethel marching down the field for a seven-play, 68-yard drive that ended with Logan Diebold hammering the ball in from seven-yards out. UPIKE, running back Seth Millar in particular, wasted no time responding using two plays, including a 68-yard scamper by Millar to tie it up.
But keeping up with the game’s narrative early on, the Wildcats took the lead with a two-play drive of their own. After a short run by Alexandrian Nesbitt, Bethel quarterback Kerry Sellers II hit Quincy Walden for a 53-yard scoring strike to give Bethel a lead that it wouldn’t surrender as both teams stalled offensively until late in the third quarter.
UPIKE’s R.J. Rosemond Jr., threw a pick on the next drive, starting a sequence that saw Bethel fumble two drives later, followed by the teams trading four straight punts after a controversial field-goal miss.
Early in the second quarter, Damir Karapandzic attempted a 45-yard field goal that appeared to be good, but the officials said it went wide. At the start of the third frame, Karapandzic missed again from 46-yards out as Bethel took over for its best drive of the game, going 71 yards on 10 plays to take a 21-7 lead. Looking to give itself one last chance to come back, UPIKE put together a lengthy drive, using 20 plays to go 79 yards for eight minutes and 32 seconds to get within seven as Millar scored his second touchdown of the game.
Needing a stop with about 10 minutes to play, UPIKE couldn’t catch a break as it was whistled for two personal foul penalties that took the ball from near midfield all the way to the 14-yard line. Devan Raymer took advantage for the Wildcats, tallying a rushing touchdown on the very next play to get to the final 28-14 advantage.
The Bears didn’t stop their comeback effort, but were forced to punt on their next drive before being stopped on downs twice. Sani Warren was sacked in the final minute, forcing him to spike the ball before two incompletions in the end zone ended the game.
UPIKE outgained the Wildcats 407-323 in total offense, including running 88 plays compared to 54. The Bears also had 24 first downs to the Wildcats 12 and had possession for nearly 11 more minutes. But Bethel made the big plays when it mattered and did a nice job slowing the Bears’ rushers after struggling in the first quarter.
Millar finished with 95 yards rushing. With the Wildcats keying on Millar, Rosemond Jr., had to make some plays with his feet too, rushing for 36 yards on 11 carries, Rosemond Jr., went 18-for-34 passing for 196 yards with an interception, while Warren was just 3-of-9 for 42 yards.
Shawntez Johnson and Shawntay Zachary had big days receiving with seven catches each, as Johnson racked up 107 yards and Zachary finished with 71.
John Dudley-Hilton led the UPIKE defense with nine total tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, while Derek Harris added six tackles.
UPIKE is back in action at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 25, hosting No. 9 Georgetown.