What a difference two halves can make to a struggling football program.
The University of Pikeville football Bears treated a homecoming crowd to a 38-14 halftime lead against the University of the Cumberlands at the W.C. Hambley Athletic Complex on Saturday.
What followed in the second half was a Halloween nightmare.
The Bears were held scoreless over the final two quarters as the Patriots came all the way back to stun the Bears, 41-38.
Quarterback Lee Kirkland had a career game with 391 yards passing and five touchdowns. Receiver Alexander Shelton hauled in five catches for 110 yards and two scores. D’Andre Stafford added 130 yards and a score.
UPIKE dropped to 2-6 overall and extended their losing streak to five games.
At Pikeville
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
UC (6-2)….0 14 20 7 – 41
UP (2-6)….14 24 0 0 – 38
Scoring:
First Quarter
UP – Alexander Shelton, 34-yard pass from Lee Kirkland (Jakob Headley kick), 12:53
UP – Randy Ramanan, 12-yard pass from Lee Kirkland (Jakob Headley kick), 11:57
Second Quarter
UP – Alexander Shelton, 7-yard pass from Lee Kirkland (Jakob Headley kick), 14:55
UC – A.P. Parham, 7-yard pass from Jakob Greer (Trip Holloway kick), 13:28
UP – Randy Ramanan, 6-yard pass from Lee Kirkland (Jakob Headley kick), 8:12
UP – Jakob Headley, 23-yard field goal, 4:29
UC – Martize Smith, 9-yard run (Trip Holloway kick), 3:20
UP – D’Andre Stafford, 21-yard pass from Lee Kirkland (Jakob Headley kick), :58
Third Quarter
UC – Alonzo Russell, 30-yard pass from Jakob Greer (Trip Holloway kick), 13:25
UC – Martize Smith, 3-yard run (kick failed), 7:49
UC – Ethan Cox, 11-yard pass from Jakob Greer (Trip Holloway kick), :07
Fourth Quarter
UC – Brandon Stuckey, 13-yard pass from Jakob Greer (Trip Holloway kick), 8:39
Next up: UPIKE (2-6) at Cumberland University (3-5), 2:30 pm, Nov. 6.