BLUEFIELD – It's game day!
Venerable Mitchell Stadium will be festive with college spirit and pride as the Bluefield College Rams welcome Point University of West Point, Ga. to town for the first home game of the young season. Both teams are in search of their initial win of the year.
BC comes into the game following a heart-wrenching 32-13 loss last Thursday at Pikeville. In that contest the Rams fumbled seven times, losing seven. Those turnovers along with a Pikeville punt return for a score and a bad snap out of the end zone for a safety accounted for 15 points for the Bears.
Rodrell Smith's second half kickoff return for 92 yards made it an 18-13 game. The Rams moved the ball, but were unable to cross the goal in the second half.
Adrian Pope led the Rams with 48 yards on the ground. Sam Bennett carried for 430 and Marion Harris added 34. Freshman Damen Daniel, who played the final three quarters at quarterback also ran for 34 yards. Daniel completed 4 of 9 passes for 26 yards. Senior QB Terrell Hackney, a transfer from Liberty, was 4 for 4 passing for 35 yards. Cory Mabry and Quincy Mock caught a pair of passes.
The Bluefield defense was led by Ernest Moore who had 13 tackles. Harry Casseus and Carlton Toussaint had 10 tackles apiece and Toussaint had an interception with a 40-yard return.
Point dropped its opening game 73-21 to Reinhardt. Quarterback Charles Fortis was a bright spot for the Skyhawks as he rushed for 74 yards on 10 carries and completed 28 of 45 passes for 265 yards. Fortis threw three touchdown passes, but was picked off four times.
Dominique Moore, Rodrel Shorter and Connor Reed were Fortis' top receivers as each grabbed four passes. Ladarius Mathis had four catches.
This is the second meeting between Bluefield and Point. The Skyhawks won the only other meeting 57-29 in the 2013 season opener hosted by Point.
The Rams won their first games last season, since the program was revived in 2012 and finished the year with a 3-8 mark. Coach Ordell Walker and the Rams are in search of the program's first home victory since 1941.
Kickoff is set for noon. Admission is free for students, faculty and staff, $5 for all others.
