Box Score BLUEFIELD – Homecoming 2018 was exciting. Bluefield and UPike battled for 60 full minutes and with only nine second left the visiting Bears scored the winning touchdown to claim a 41-35 win Saturday night at Mitchell Stadium.
Pikeville drew first blood when the Bears blocked a Drake Presley punt and returned it for a score. The visitors then moved ahead 14-0 early in the second quarter.
The Rams charged back as Cason Whitt connected with Quincy Mock on a three-yard scoring strike. Tanner Griffith's extra point was true and it was 14-7. BC drew even when Jonathan Green picked off a Bowen Smith pass and raced 30 yards to the end zone. Griffith's PAT tied the score at 14 with 9:46 left in the first half.
The game went back-and-forth all evening and Pikeville retook the lead on a five-yard keeper by Smith, only to see the Rams tie it at 21 when Whitt tossed his second TD pass of the night, this one to Lowell Patron Jr. from 38 yards out with three minutes to play before halftime. The teams went to the intermission tied at 21.
Pikeville scored the only points of the third and the Bears led 28-21 going to the final 15 minutes of play.
In the fourth period Bluefield drew even once again when Whitt connected once again with Patron, this time on a 25-yard pass play for the score. Yet again Pikeville retook the lead on a Smith plunge from one yard out with 5:44 left on the clock.
The Rams, looking to keep their three-game homecoming winning streak alive marched downfield, going 66 yards in eight plays and Alex Martin capped the drive with a one yard run. Griffith's kick tied the game at 35 with 2:47 showing on the Mitchell Stadium clock. That, however, was too much time left for Pikeville.
The Bears got the ensuing kick with 2:34 remaining and drove 44 yards to the Bluefield 14 with only 14 seconds remaining. On their final play of the game Dillon Wheatley raced 14 yards into the end zone for the game-winning score.
The Bears' ground game was crucial as they out-ran the Rams 251-85. However, the Rams controlled the air attack as Whitt completed 19-of-29 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Antonio Strickland caught nine passes for 142 yards and Patron hauled in four balls for 100 yards with two scores.
Defensively for Bluefield, DaMarcus Wimbush and Tyrice Henry each had 11 tackles.
The Rams wrap up regular season play next week hosting Point. It will be Senior Night and Military Appreciation Night at Mitchell Stadium. Kickoff will be 7 p.m.