Pikeville Scores Postseason Upset; Bears to Face No. 1 Keiser on Saturday
(Story provided by Pikeville Sports Communications)
BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – It was one for the ages.
The University of Pikeville will advance in the playoffs for the first time ever with a 42-35 win over Baker (Kan.) University on Saturday afternoon. The Bears' win is also the first football postseason win for any Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) team.
UPike improved to 6-5 on the season and have now won six of their last seven games. The Bears will travel to West Palm Beach, Fla., to take on No. 1 Keiser in the round of 16 on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The teams were deadlocked at 35 as the final period started. The Bears used 2:43 of the clock, covering 79 yards on only six plays. It ended on a 15-yard carry by freshman Amon Williams, and senior Austan Shuffler's extra-point made the score 42-35.
The Wildcats had three drives to tie the game but were unable to find the end zone.
The first was stalled when quarterback Sam Heggemann was stopped on a fourth-and-one carry by Najmir Bellegarde and Defensive Player of the Game Chuck Moore.
Both finished the game with 16 tackles. Caleb Anderson led the Bears with 18 tackles.
UPike came into the game with only 13 interceptions on the season, but the final two drives ended with picks. The first was caught by Marshawn Boyden while the second was hauled in by Joe Alvarez.
Offensive Player of the Game Lee Kirkland finished with 310 passing yards on 24-of-35 and three touchdowns. It's his 15th career 300-plus-yard game, while the second touchdown pass gave him 100 for his career.
Additionally, he carried for 42 yards and a score.
He got plenty of help. Williams finished with 152 yards on 24 carries and two scores, giving him five 100-plus yard games. Brandon Newton caught six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, while Williams hauled in seven for 66 yards and Diego Soto five for 60.
Baker took the ball to start the game and wasted no time finding the end zone. The drive ended with a six-yard carry by Sam Heggemann with 8:01 left in the period, and Seth Simpson nailed the kick for a 7-0 lead.
Pikeville was quick to respond, going 80 yards on only six plays. The key was a pass completed from Kirkland to Brandon Newton, covering 11 yards. It was knocked free but picked up by Jalen Royal-Eiland, who carried it 37 yards before being brought down at the Baker 30.
Williams covered the final 16 yards with 5:12 left, and Shuffler nailed the extra point to even the score.
It only took Baker 2:01 to counter, as Heggemann found Adrion Seals on a 51-yard pass to make it 14-7.
Kirkland answered early in the second period, scoring on a one-yard keeper with 14:22 left. Shuffler brought it even with the extra-point.
The defense made a stand, and again the offense was on the move. It ended when Kirkland hit Newton for a 38-yard score to make it 20-14 with 9:04 left in the half.
The Wildcats answered this time, with Heggemann throwing another touchdown, again to Seals, from 57 yards out. Simpson put Baker in front 21-20 with 2:32 left.
But that was enough time for the potent Bear offense. It covered 75 yards on a dozen plays, ending with a six-yard pass from Kirkland to Soto with six seconds left. UPike went for two, and again it was Kirkland to tight end Grant Scott to give the Bears a 28-21 halftime lead.
UPike started the second half with the ball, but a rare interception gave the Wildcats the ball at the Bear nine. It took only two plays to score, as Cole Fisher carried from the two.
On its next possession, Baker took the lead as Heggemann threw his third touchdown of the game, this time a nine-yard pass to Maveryk Becker to take a 35-28 lead.
But before the period ended, Kirkland found Newton on a 10-yard score, and Shuffler's kick with 25 seconds left tied the game for the fourth time, this time at 35.
The Bears will learn their next opponent on Sunday as they advance to the round of 16.