Bulldogs Outplay UVa-Wise in Second Half to Take Gridiron Victory

September 24, 2005
Game Stats

Lebanon, TN– After falling behind 22-7 to the University of Virginia's College at Wise, Cumberland University outplayed its visitors the final 37 minutes to take away the gridiron victory. The Bulldogs outplayed the Highland Cavaliers in the final 2 1/2 quarters, rattled off 27 unanswered points and won the Mid-South crossover contest by a 34-22 final tally.

The 22nd rated UVa-Wise squad suffered its first defeat of the year to fall to 3-1 and was shutout for a half for the first time in the 2005 season. Cumberland University improved to 2-1 and have defeated the Cavs in four of the past five meetings.

Leading 22-19 coming out of the half, the Cavs drove from their own 32-yardline to the Cumberland 17-yardline. The visitors decided to go for a first down on fourth-and-12 but quarterback Randy Hippeard's pass feel incomplete to Jack Haddix. The Bulldogs' signal-caller Brandon Janco took over and completed six of eight passes for over 80 yards on the ensuing drive. The quarterback capped the drive by hitting Ryan Carter for a nine-yard score to give Cumberland a 27-22 lead with 7:19 left in the third quarter.

The Cumberland defense forced UVa-Wise to punt and forced a fumble on the Cavs' next two possessions. After a missed Bulldog field goal, linebacker Chris Fanning picked up a fumble by Cavs' punter Ray Damm who scambled upon receiving a bad snap and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown to take the score to 34-22 with 11:19 left in the contest.

The Cavs offense was able to manage only three first downs and 47 yards of offense on their last four offensive possessions in the final 11 minutes of the contest. Cumberland finish the contest by making two key first downs to run out the final 4:10 and record the 34-22 win.

Trailing 7-0 after an opening touchdown drive, UVa-Wise drove 62 yards on 10 plays as Damm booted a 27-yard field goal. Hippeard gave the Cavs their first lead on a one-yard plunge on the first play of the second quarter for a 9-7 score. Ra'Shad Morgan scampered 72 yards cutting across the field and burning past the Bulldog defenders for the touchdown. Godfrey Pestana added the final Cavs' score on a 10-yard run with 11:03 left in the second quarter to put UVa-Wise ahead 22-7 at the time.

Sophomore running back Morgan had an impressive day with 172 yards rushing on 24 carries. Pestana added 82 yards on 17 attempts as the Cavs totaled 239 yards of rushing. Freshman Kendon Doe had two acrobatic catches of his four receptions for 35 yards. Defensively, Corey Wheeler paced the way with 11 stops and a tackle for loss. Brandon Moore chipped in eight tackles and B.J. Brooks blocked a Cumberland punt and had seven stops.

UVa-Wise will complete its three-game road swing with its longest road trip of the year to Lambuth University next Saturday, October 1st for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff in Jackson, TN.

-Go Cavs-