BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Career nights from both Sam Bennett and Adrian Pope led the Bluefield College football team to a multitude of records on Saturday night, as the Rams racked up their first-ever Mid-South Conference East Division victory, 68-56 over Union College (Ky.) to spoil the Bulldogs' Homecoming game at Williamson Stadium.
 
Bluefield (3-5, 1-1 MSC East) set modern-era program records for total yards of offense (763) and rushing yards (643) on Saturday evening, thanks in part to outstanding performances from Bennett and Pope, while the 68 points scored ties the program's highest single-game total in history, matching a 68-point effort from 1933.
 
The Rams' offensive line led the way for Bennett and Pope's record-setting evenings, helping both backs to new career highs.
 

Bennett—who became the first Ram to break the century mark in three-straight weeks—overpowered Union (1-5, 1-1 MSC East) for 276 yards on the ground, besting his previous career high by more than 130 yards. In the second quarter, the sophomore surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards, joining Marion Harris in the club. Bennett's total came on 30 carries as he became the first Ram to score three touchdowns in a game.
 
Meanwhile, Pope broke loose for 225 rushing yards, surpassing his previous high of 141 and bringing his career total to 999. Pope had 20 carries and scored one touchdown. Both Bennett and Pope's previous career highs came against Union last season.
 
Armani Ford and Ashten Dixon each scampered for a pair of touchdowns as well, as BC scored eight times on the ground. Dixon provided another touchdown on a 45-yard connection with Cory Mabry, while Joshy Erby found David Gianesin for a 30-yard touchdown to close the Rams' scoring output. Dixon was 7-for-13 on the night for 90 yards, while Erby's pass to Gianesin was his only attempt on the evening.
 
For the second-straight week, the Rams got off to a hot start and posted 21 points in the first quarter. Dixon's seven-yard quarterback keeper on the Rams' first possession capped a 68-yard drive in eight plays for a 7-0 lead.
 
The Bulldogs' first drive was halted by reigning NAIA National Defender of the Week Carlton Toussaint's fifth interception of the season.
 
Both teams were forced to punt, then the scoring began to pick up as the quarter started to wind down.
 
Bennett punched in the Rams' second score from one yard out, as BC had to go just 29 yards for the score after a poor Union punt. Bluefield took six plays to find the endzone and go up 14-0 with 5:54 left in the first.
 
The Bulldogs responded with their first score of the night on LaVance Anderson's first of three touchdowns in the game—all of which came in the first half. Anderson's six-yard score capped a 75-play drive.
 
Dixon tossed his first of two interceptions in the game to end the next series. But, the Rams' defense forced a Union punt, not allowing the takeaway result in points.
 
While Bluefield took over at its own 20, the Rams made quick work of the following drive by covering the 80 yards in just four plays. The series was capped Mabry's 45-yard catch-and-run for BC's 21-7 lead.
 
After a pair of empty possessions, Union tallied the next score on Anderson's second score, this one from 17 yards out and trimming the deficit to 21-14.
 
But, the Rams' offense began to run on all cylinders and BC found the endzone on each of its next three possessions to open up a hefty 41-14 lead.
 
Dixon carried his second score of the night in from three yards out, while Pope and Bennett racked up scoring runs from 36 and 48 yards out, respectively. Pope's longest run of the night came as a set-up to Dixon's score, as the sophomore went 47 yards on the Rams' first play from scrimmage, and Bluefield scored two plays later.
 
Anderson's third and final touchdown came with 14 seconds remaining in the first half, making the Rams' lead 41-21 at the break.
 

The lone score of the third quarter came from Armani Ford, as the quarterback ran one in from six yards out, closing a seven-play, 58-yard drive and earning Bluefield a 48-21 lead.
 
The shootout then began in the fourth quarter, as the teams combined to score 55 points in the final frame alone.
 
Ford ran in another keeper from 11 yards out to blow the game open, 55-21 with 14:04 remaining in the game.
 
But, the Bulldogs would not bow out in front of their Homecoming crowd and Chandler Whittlesey began to lead the charge. The quarterback connected with Diquan Jefferson for a 22-yard score and a speedy Union score by covering 76 yards in three plays.
 
Then, a lost fumble for the Rams led to a 67-yard scoring return by Darius Thomas to trim the lead back to 20 points for Bluefield.
 
On Bluefield's next possession, the Rams remained poised and stuck to their plan by pounding the ground. Bluefield went to their workhorse and Bennett provided, as he carried the ball on seven of the Rams' nine scoring plays including the six-yard score for his third touchdown of the night.
 
Whittlesey would not quit though and the Bulldogs struck again, this time on a 76-yard pass to Kyle Keplinger to once again make it a 20-point game, 62-42.
 
An onside kick was recovered by Cordell Johns and the Rams began a methodical drive to take time off the clock. The seven-play drive took 3:32 off the clock and ended with Erby's pass to Gianesin on a 4^th-and-12 play from the Bulldogs' 30-yard line, giving BC a 68-42 advantage.
 
Though down, Union wasn't out as they have shown their ability to put points on the board quickly this season.
 
The Bulldogs got a 55-yard return from Tony Jackson on the kickoff, and scored on the first play from scrimmage. Then, an onside kick worked in Union's favor and Whittlesey struck once again on a 38-yard catch-and-run to Tyler Ross, making the score 68-56 with 2:20 to play.
 
The Rams recovered the next onside kick and were able to run out the clock and preserve the win.
 
Whittlesey finished the night going 15-for-28 for the Bulldogs for 367 yards, with the team amassing 556 yards of total offense. Keplinger tallied 103 yards receiving on just four catches, while Diquan Jefferson and Domonique Jefferson totaled 95 and 92 yards, respectively. Whittlesey also did it on the ground, rushing 14 times for 101 yards.
 
Rodrell Smith had an all-around game for the Rams, compiling 25 yards receiving, 48 yards rushing and 39 yards on a pair of kick returns.
 
James Gunn made eight of his 10 PAT attempts and sent his 11 kickoffs 640 yards (58.2 avg) including a trio of touchbacks.
 
Harry Casseus led the Rams' defense which applied pressure on Whittlesey for much of the night. Casseus had eight total tackles, including three sacks for a loss of 26 yards while also forcing a fumble.
 
The Rams now enter their off week before the closing stretch of the season. The Rams will welcome Georgetown College to Mitchell Stadium on Nov. 1. The Tigers are currently ranked No. 9 in the country and picked up a 42-14 win against Cumberlands (Ky.) today. Georgetown plays at University of Pikeville before their meeting with the Rams. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.