Bear defense forces eight turnovers, scores thrice in win over KCU
September 26, 2009
PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Pikeville College forced eight turnovers and the defense posted three touchdowns as the Bears knocked off regional rival Kentucky Christian University 28-14 on Saturday night at the W.C. Hambley Athletics Complex.
The win was the first for Joe Johnson as head coach of the Bears, who had opened the season with three straight losses. The setbacks came to a pair of NCAA schools – Div. II Brevard (N.C.) College, I-AA Tennessee Tech – and the nation’s 12-th ranked NAIA team in Shorter College.
Despite rain all day in Pikeville and the threat of it all evening, a nice crowd came out to support the winless clubs, with the home fans going home happy in the end.
Pikeville wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with senior receiver Nick Jamerson taking a handoff 39 yards on the first play from scrimmage. The play was set up by a 37-yard kickoff return by senior DeVaughn Whitley and All-American Kyle Chilton kicked the PAT to make it 7-0 only 19 seconds into the game.
But KCU (0-5) quickly answered with a nine-play, 60-yard drive that ended when sophomore quarterback Beau Dailey scored on an eight-yard run. Ethan Nettles tied the game with the extra-point with 12:27 still to play in the opening frame.
Pikeville scored twice more before the half, with both coming on defensive plays. In the first period freshman linebacker Brandon Dockery picked up a fumble and scooted five yards to make it 14-7 later in the first period, and in the second, junior free safety Dan Wideman picked off a pass that was tipped by teammate Demetrious Swinger and returned it 80 yards on a play that saw him cross the field twice before scoring with 9:03 remaining in the half.
The high snap on the PAT forced holder Levi Hanks to run for the conversion, setting the score at 22-7, which would stand at the half.
KCU scored the third quarter’s only touchdown when Dailey scored on a one-yard run. The four-play, four-yard drive was set up by a fumbled punt the Knights recovered, and the kick brought the guests within eight at 22-14.
Pikeville iced it away on what would be the game’s final score. The Bears punted to start the second half, but the Knights returned the favor by coughing it up. Junior Tramayel Jones scooped it up at the 15 and ran to pay dirt give the Bears a much-needed cushion.
Despite the win, Pikeville was outgained offensively for the fourth straight outing. Pikeville finished with 196 yards of offense. The Bears had 130 yards on 44 carried, led by 61 for freshman tailback Jeremy Mobley on 18 hauls.
In the air, freshman Chase Ellis was 7-of-15 for 66 yards, finding Jamerson four times for 45 yards.
KSU finished with 352 yards of offense, averaging 5.2 yards per play. The Knights ran for 208, with Dailey chalking up 122 on 15 carries. In the air, he was 16-of-33 for 144 yards but threw three interceptions. Junior Austin Hunter caught a game-best five passes for 37 yards.
On defense, senior Kenny Harris and junior Anson Cunningham had six tackles each. Cunningham added a tackle for loss – one of eight for the Bears, despite not recording a sack – while Harris recovered one of five fumbles in the win.
Jones had two recoveries, scoring on one and having another touchdown called back due to a penalty. Dockery and junior Jarvis Griffin netted recoveries as well.
Wideman was joined on the pick unit by Swinger, who tipped Wideman’s interception into his hands, and senior John Brown.
The Knights, who had three fumble recoveries of their own, was led by sophomore Clyde Manuel with seven tackles. Five of them were solos and one was for loss, one of eight for KCU in the game.
Pikeville will play its first MSC East opponent next Saturday, hosting sixth-ranked and two-time defending division champion Cumberlands at 1:30. The Patriots escaped Cumberland University on Saturday 14-13 to remain undefeated at 4-0 on the season.
PC
PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Pikeville College forced eight turnovers and the defense posted three touchdowns as the Bears knocked off regional rival Kentucky Christian University 28-14 on Saturday night at the W.C. Hambley Athletics Complex.
The win was the first for Joe Johnson as head coach of the Bears, who had opened the season with three straight losses. The setbacks came to a pair of NCAA schools – Div. II Brevard (N.C.) College, I-AA Tennessee Tech – and the nation’s 12-th ranked NAIA team in Shorter College.
Despite rain all day in Pikeville and the threat of it all evening, a nice crowd came out to support the winless clubs, with the home fans going home happy in the end.
Pikeville wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with senior receiver Nick Jamerson taking a handoff 39 yards on the first play from scrimmage. The play was set up by a 37-yard kickoff return by senior DeVaughn Whitley and All-American Kyle Chilton kicked the PAT to make it 7-0 only 19 seconds into the game.
But KCU (0-5) quickly answered with a nine-play, 60-yard drive that ended when sophomore quarterback Beau Dailey scored on an eight-yard run. Ethan Nettles tied the game with the extra-point with 12:27 still to play in the opening frame.
Pikeville scored twice more before the half, with both coming on defensive plays. In the first period freshman linebacker Brandon Dockery picked up a fumble and scooted five yards to make it 14-7 later in the first period, and in the second, junior free safety Dan Wideman picked off a pass that was tipped by teammate Demetrious Swinger and returned it 80 yards on a play that saw him cross the field twice before scoring with 9:03 remaining in the half.
The high snap on the PAT forced holder Levi Hanks to run for the conversion, setting the score at 22-7, which would stand at the half.
KCU scored the third quarter’s only touchdown when Dailey scored on a one-yard run. The four-play, four-yard drive was set up by a fumbled punt the Knights recovered, and the kick brought the guests within eight at 22-14.
Pikeville iced it away on what would be the game’s final score. The Bears punted to start the second half, but the Knights returned the favor by coughing it up. Junior Tramayel Jones scooped it up at the 15 and ran to pay dirt give the Bears a much-needed cushion.
Despite the win, Pikeville was outgained offensively for the fourth straight outing. Pikeville finished with 196 yards of offense. The Bears had 130 yards on 44 carried, led by 61 for freshman tailback Jeremy Mobley on 18 hauls.
In the air, freshman Chase Ellis was 7-of-15 for 66 yards, finding Jamerson four times for 45 yards.
KSU finished with 352 yards of offense, averaging 5.2 yards per play. The Knights ran for 208, with Dailey chalking up 122 on 15 carries. In the air, he was 16-of-33 for 144 yards but threw three interceptions. Junior Austin Hunter caught a game-best five passes for 37 yards.
On defense, senior Kenny Harris and junior Anson Cunningham had six tackles each. Cunningham added a tackle for loss – one of eight for the Bears, despite not recording a sack – while Harris recovered one of five fumbles in the win.
Jones had two recoveries, scoring on one and having another touchdown called back due to a penalty. Dockery and junior Jarvis Griffin netted recoveries as well.
Wideman was joined on the pick unit by Swinger, who tipped Wideman’s interception into his hands, and senior John Brown.
The Knights, who had three fumble recoveries of their own, was led by sophomore Clyde Manuel with seven tackles. Five of them were solos and one was for loss, one of eight for KCU in the game.
Pikeville will play its first MSC East opponent next Saturday, hosting sixth-ranked and two-time defending division champion Cumberlands at 1:30. The Patriots escaped Cumberland University on Saturday 14-13 to remain undefeated at 4-0 on the season.
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Pikeville, Kentucky 41501
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