Blue Bears competitive in loss to UPIKE
Pikeville, KY – Livingstone College opened their 2018 season on the road in Kentucky, taking on the University of Pikeville Bears. The Blue Bears fell to Pikeville, 52-23 on Thursday night at the Hambley Athletic Complex.
Pikeville got on the score board first with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Bowen Smith to Arties Clark. After the butterflies got out of their systems the Blue Bears offense came alive.
After marching down the field, Livingstone's quarterback Miles Hayes threw to wide receiver Everett Ransom in the end zone, but the receiver despite being interfered with, pulled down the pass with one hand. Antoine Akundu's point-after made the score 7-7 with 5:54 to play in the second quarter.
Pikeville quickly answer the Blue Bears attack to score a touchdown right before the half giving UPike the seven point lead.
As the second quarter winding down, the Blue Bears threatened in the red zone, however a 44-yard field goal from Akundu as time expired cut into UPike's lead, 14-10.
In the third quarter, LC took the lead for the first time on a four yard touchdown pass from Hayes to Corey Hall giving the Blue Bears a 17-14 lead.
UPike switched quarterbacks and went on a 21-point run extending their lead 35-17 over the Blue Bears. The Blue Bears scored in the fourth on a three yard run from Justin Ruffin cutting the lead to 42-23.
UPike scored on a 31-yard touchdown run from quarterback Trevon Wofford to extend the Bears lead 49-23, and added a field goal with less than a min left in the game.
The Blue Bears are on the road next Saturday to take on Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina.
