 |  |
New-look Pikeville presents stiff challenge for No. 21 Hawks
By Jim O'Hara
ROME – They were a young team once – a unit under new coach that was always considered the underdog going up against established foes.
That was seven years ago when the Shorter University Hawks and head coach Phil Jones broke on to the college football scene. Not long after, SU gained respect by claiming a Mid-South Conference championship and a berth in the NAIA national playoffs in its fourth year as a program.
On Saturday at Barron Stadium, it is the University of Pikeville that will wear the underdog shoe when the Bears, boasting a surprising 2-0 record, unveil a young roster that has rallied around a new coach with a new sense of excitement.
“They’ve had a big change in their program,” Jones said of Mid-South East Division member Pikeville, which looked within the high school coaching ranks in the Bluegrass State to revive its football program and will be more than ready to upend the No. 21-ranked Hawks. “They’ve got the winningest high school coach in Kentucky who brought in 193 kids. We certainly can’t overlook them. We can’t overlook anyone.”
Jones and the Hawks, who broke into the NAIA Top 25 this week after opening the year with a 42-10 upset victory over then No. 20-ranked Webber, know that this isn’t the same Pikeville team they have defeated three straight times, the most recent win a 49-14 romp last season when the Bears settled for a 2-8 record.
Pikeville decided to make a change and during the off-season handed over the reins to Dudley Hilton, who, during a 36-year career as a high school coach, won 345 games and three Kentucky state championships.
The move has paid immediate dividends for Pikeville.
After Hilton attracted some of Kentucky’s top prep recruits and integrated them with some key returning veterans, the Bears have wasted little time making a loud statement, opening the year by blowing past Southern Virginia 63-18 and following it up last week with a 24-17 win over NCAA Division II Kentucky Wesleyan.
Utilizing a spread attack on the offensive side of the ball, Pikeville is led by junior quarterback Trevor Hoskins, who behind a line composed mostly of freshmen, has already thrown for 620 yards and seven touchdowns. Hoskins emerged as one of the bright spots for the Bears in 2010 when he threw for 2,689 yards and 25 touchdowns.
While Hilton has ignited an offense that has averaged 479.5 yards in its first two games, Pikeville’s defense has yielded more than 350 yards per outing, but at the same time has given up just three touchdowns.
Bending and not breaking is something Shorter’s defense found to its liking against Webber, which held the advantage in total yardage over the Hawks, but was denied points a number of times thanks to some key goal-line stands by SU.
Two of those stops came in the final minute of the first half, one when junior safety Desmond Clark picked off a pass and returned it a school record 100 yards for a touchdown to earn Mid-South Defensive Player of the Week honors.
On offense, Shorter revealed an improved passing attack, taking advantage of Webber’s decision to load up the box and slow Shorter’s potent rushing attack.
Making his first start as quarterback, senior David Byrd completed 5 of 6 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, setting single-game school records for yards and scores. Shorter still had success on the ground as sophomore C.J. Scott ran for 130 yards and a touchdown.
On special teams, Shorter got major contributions from sophomore transfer Jonny Sitton, who was named the Mid-South Special Teams Player of the Week after recording 168 total return yards, the two big gainers coming on kick returns of 71 and 70 yards.
“There were a lot of things we did well,” Jones said, “but there are still some things we need to improve on.”
Kickoff for Saturday’s game is 1:30 pm with gates opening at 11:30 am.
Saturday will serve as SPLOST Appreciation Day as well as Mal's Pals and Childhood Cancer Awareness Day. Fans that show their voter registration card will receive two free game tickets and fans will have opportunities to learn more about Mal's Pals, Inc., while donating financially or giving blood to the cause.
