Box Score BLUEFIELD – The Bluefield University Rams football team earned its first-ever win over the University of Pikeville Bears, 50-26, Saturday night at Mitchell Stadium.
Nathan Herstich passed for 329 yards and a school-record seven touchdowns, four to JaQuan Ebron, and James Thomas rushed for 149 yards to lead the Rams to victory.
INSIDE THE GAME

• Pikeville took the opening kick and drove into the BU redzone before the Rams defense held.
• The Rams scored four touchdowns to take a 29-0 lead.
  • Herstich passed 29 yards to Ebron.
  • Herstich connected with Thomas Lee on a 75-yard pass play.
  • Ebron hauled in his second TD from eight yards out.
  • Jewels Gray caught a 15-yard TD pass from Herstich.
• UPike got on the board in the second quarter.
• Cortarius Gilmore and Ebron caught second quarter TD passes to give Bluefield a 43-14 halftime lead.
• Ebron scored Bluefield's final TD in the third quarter on a two-yard pass from Herstich.
• The Rams had a 13:03 drive in the fourth quarter, all running plays most on the legs of James Thomas, who carried 14 times on the drive, that ended at the Pikeville three-yard line with 23 seconds remaining.
• The Rams amassed 590 total yards, 329 in the air and 261 on the ground.
• The win over Pikeville was Bluefield's first over the Bears. Pikeville was Bluefield's first opponent in 2012 when the BU program was revived after a 70-year dormancy. Going into Saturday's game the Rams were 0-8 against the Bears.

LEADERS

• Herstich completed 17-of-36 passes for 329 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Ebron caught five passes for 149 yards and four touchdowns.
• Thomas rushed for 149 yards.
• Gilmore gained 87 yards on the ground.
• KeDarrius Phinazee sparked the Rams defense with six tackles.

NEXT IN LINE

• The Rams open Appalachian Athletic Conference play Saturday, Oct. 8 against the Point University Skyhawks at Mitchell Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.