Oct. 24, 2012 — The Kentucky Christian football team gave the Homecoming crowd a lot to cheer about with a 21-7 win over Union to give the team its first three-game winning streak in a season in program history.
The win was the first for KCU against Union in three meetings and moved the Knights' record to 5-3 overall (2-1 in the Mid-South Conference). The Bulldogs dropped to 3-5 overall (0-2 Mid-South).
Sophomore Quarterback Cole Cooper came off the bench after starting quarterback Graham Johnston went down with an injury to throw for 95 yards and run for a team-leading 34 yards and two touchdowns.
Cooper entered the game on the first drive of the second quarter after Johnston left the game following the second play. The Knights were not able to convert that drive into points but, two drives later, Cooper engineered an eight-play, 60-yard touchdown drive capped off by a five-yard run by sophomore running back Austin DeHart.
KCU reached the end zone again on its next possession with Cooper pushing in from the one-yard line after hitting sophomore WR Marcus Hicks on a 30-yard strike to put the Knights at first-and-goal at the two-yard line.
Union got the game within a score after marching down the field 80 yards on just five plays. Rob Brown pushed it in from the two-yard line to make it 14-7.
The Knights' defense stiffened down the stretch, ending three Bulldog drives on turnovers -- an interception by sophomore LB Ken Reichle and two fumbles recovered by sophomore LB Andrew Stewart and junior DT Marvin Newkirk III.
Newkirk III's recovery gave KCU the ball on the Union 27-yard and Cooper made quick work of the opportunity with his second touchdown from five yards out on the drive's fifth play to seal the program-setting win.
The Knights travel to the University of Pikeville next weekend, Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m., before heading home for Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 3 against the University of the Cumberlands. Kickoff from KCU Stadium is set 1:30 p.m.
