Late Touchdown Takes Lambuth to Victory Over Cavs

October 1, 2005

Jackson, TN– Lambuth University completed its fourth quarter comeback with a 49-yard touchdown pass with 2:35 left in the game to take away the football victory from the University of Virginia's College at Wise Saturday afternoon. The Eagles found the endzone two times in just over two minutes of the final 4:59 and saw the Cavs come up a half yard short on fourth down to stop their drive for the 25-21 final score.

UVa-Wise falls to 3-2 after dropping its second road game in as many weeks. Lambuth claimed its first win of the year to go to 1-4.

The Cavs defense and special teams paved the way for all of the 21 points on the day. Trailing 3-0 midway through the second quarter, freshman Kendall Gibson shot around the left end to block the Lambuth punt and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown and 7-3 lead.

On the next Eagle possession, Corey Wheeler picked off Lambuth quarterback John Garza and returned the ball to the home 23 yardline. Cavs' quarterback Robert Johnson hit Jack Haddix at the one yard line where Godfrey Pestana hurdled into the endzone to take the game to 14-3. Evan Granier hit his second 49-yard field goal as time expired for Lambuth to make it 14-6 at the half.

After a third Eagle field goal, Wheeler picked off his second pass of the day but this time returned it 69 yards for the Cavs' third touchdown of the day to go ahead 21-12 with 11:15 left in the game.

UVa-Wise punted midway through the fourth quarter and forced a fumble by the Lambuth returner only to have the ball squirt upfield over 20 yards and into Lambuth player’s hands who advanced the ball inside the 10-yard line. Lambuth cut the margin to 21-19 three plays later with 4:59 left in the contest.

After failing to make a first down, the Cavs punted back to Lambuth 30-yardline. An Eagles’ receiver hauled in a pass that was deflected by two UVa-Wise defenders for 21 yards. Lambuth connected for the biggest play of the day on the second play of the drive for a 49-yard go ahead score to make it 25-21 with 2:35 left in the game, the the first Eagle lead since the second quarter.

Freshman quarterback Robert Johnson led the Cavs from their own 35-yard line to the Lambuth 23-yard line on 10 plays covering 42 yards. On fourth down and 13 yards, Johnson hit a diving Kendon Doe for 12 1/2 yards to come up six inches short of a first down to keep the potential game-winning drive alive.

The Cavs finally return home for their next four of five games starting for the Homecoming contest on Saturday, October 8th against Kentucky Wesleyan for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.

-Go Cavs-