Pikeville, KY – The University of the Cumberlands Patriots entered Saturday's contest with a 9-1 overall record and 4-1 in Mid-South Conference Appalachian Division play. The only thing separating UC from a berth in the NAIA Football Championship Series was the Bears of the University of Pikeville. The Patriots came out and took care of business, hanging over 500 yards of offense up along with 49 points to earn the 49-13 win over the Bears. The win moves UC to 10-1 overall on the year and 5-1 in MSC Appalachian Division play. It is the first ten win season for the Patriots since 2013.

Although penalized three times in the opening drive for false starts, a mix of timing routes along with some fantastic rushing by both Milton Shelton and Nyre Holden would push UC out front with Holden taking it in from 39 yards out to give Cumberlands a 7-0 lead. UPike's first possession was cut short as Jeremiah Baker would pick off a pass from Bowen to take over on their 33 yard line. On the first play, a lateral pass from John Owens to Austin Ysidro was then hurled downfield to a wide open Isaiah Mighell for a 67 yard TD. The extra point from Devon McMillin was good to push the Patriots out to a 14-0 lead. A defensive stop for the Patriots would come up big again early as UPike would miss a 31 yard field goal attempt, giving UC the ball back with a 14 point lead entering the second quarter.

UC would drive deep into Bears' territory, but an errant pass from Owens would be picked off as the Patriots would give up the ball on a big drive. UPike would string together some plays to march it down to the UC 23 yard line, but a big stop by the Cumberlands' defense would force a turnover on downs. A facemask call on third and ten would extend UC's drive. Another interception would plague UC offensively, but another big stop by the Patriot defense would give Cumberlands another possession. This time, the Pats would see themselves faced with a fourth and three on the drive, but Cumberlands would go into the playbook with a nice reverse to Holden for a 26 yard touchdown. Another PAT by McMillin was good to make it 21-0 Patriots entering the half.
UPike would begin the second half of play with the ball and it was a heavy dose of Xondre Willis as he put the Bears on his back. An 11 yard run by Willis would put Pikeville on the scoreboard with their first touchdown of the contest. The point after by Chandler was good, making it 21-7 UC. After a short kickoff from UPike, the rushing attack of the Patriots would go back to work. A combination of Shelton and Holden would push the Pats straight down the field capped by a three yard TD run by Shelton to extend the lead. The extra point by McMillin was good to make it 28-7 Patriots midway through the third.

The Bears would be plagued again on their ensuing drive with more penalties as UC would get short field position for the next possession. After marching down the field again to the red zone, the Patriots would go to their bag of tricks again as Shelton would throw to Ysidro for a ten yard touchdown. McMillin's extra point was good, making it 35-7 UC entering the final quarter of play.
After UPike would be stopped again for a turnover on downs, UC's Shelton would go back to work again. After a 62 yard rush by Shelton, Ysidro would then carry it in from three yards out, giving him three total TDs on the game with a rushing, receiving, and passing TD. Ysidro becomes the first Patriot since Adam Craig in 2013 to score a touchdown in all three methods. McMillin's point after was good to make it 42-7 Patriots. The Bears would answer with a one yard TD pass from Bowen Smith to Alexander Shelton on their next drive, but the PAT was no good as the lead would be cut to 42-13 with just over six minutes to play.

Cumberlands would change quarterbacks for the final drive of the game as the ball was handed to sophomore Eric Forrest. He would march the Patriots down the field and cap the drive with a 40 yard touchdown strike to T.J. Williams to extend UC's lead once again. The extra point was good by McMillin as UC would end the game victorious by a score of 49-13.
Shelton was instrumental in UC's win as he carried the ball 20 times for a career-high 215 yards and a TD. He also threw for a touchdown. Holden added 89 yards on seven carries with two scores.

Four different players combined to go 11-18 through the air for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Ysidro was the main receiver in the game with four receptions for 33 yards and a score.
Defensively, the Patriots combined for 6.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery, an interception, and eight pass breakups. Cameron Baxley and Brad Montgomery each tallied five total tackles while Jeremiah Baker, Adam Johnson, Tyler Pendleton, Cole Genders, and Dominick Joseph all had four tackles on the night.

The Patriots now wait to find out who they will face in the NAIA Football Championship Series. The NAIA Selection Show will be held live on Facebook Live on Sunday, November 11^th at 5 pm.
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