Morgan’s Record Day Helps UVa-Wise Clinch Best Start in Decade

September 23, 2006
Game Stats

Wise, VA – Ra’Shad Morgan dashed to a record-setting 289 yards rushing and four touchdowns to help The University of Virginia’s College at Wise race to its best start on the gridiron in a decade Saturday afternoon. Morgan was the engine in the Highland Cavaliers’ potent offense for a 59-42 win over the Cumberland University Bulldogs.

UVA-Wise took its season mark to a perfect 4-0 and the first time the program has start with four wins since recording a 10-0 regular season in 1996, the team’s last NAIA playoff appearance. The team has now surpassed 40 points in all four victories and have posted 200 points for a 50.0-point per game average. The Cavs’ 59 point effort this afternoon is the most points they have scored since defeating the Newport Apprentice School, 63-7, in the fifth game of the 1999 season. Cumberland drops to 1-2 on the season.

Morgan (Chesterfield, VA/Meadowbrook) totaled his 289 yards rushing on 34 carries to shatter the old UVA-Wise single game rushing record of 248 yards set by Greg Thomas vs. Tusculum in 1996. The junior found the endzone on scampers of 51, 36, 4 and 12 yards to take his season total to 14 touchdowns.

Quarterback Randy Hippeard (Stafford, VA/Colonial Forge) ran the Cavs offense again solidly as the unit produced a season-best 691 yards of total offense, with 354 yards passing and 337 yards rushing, and 31 first downs. Hippeard completed 15 of 24 attempts for 354 yards and three scores. Aric Evans (Cincinnati, OH/Taft) caught three passes for 119 yards and scoring catches of 52 and 57 yards. Herb Watson (Virginia Beach, VA/Churchland) grabbed four passes for 72 yards and a 32-yard TD.

Defensively, Reggie Dorsainvil (Virginia Beach, VA/Salem) paced the charge with a career-high 11 tackles, 2.5 tackle for loss, a sack and forced a fumble. Corey Wheeler (Manassas, VA/Stonewall Jackson) added seven stops, Matt Hutchings (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hill) produced a sack and forced a fumble on the play and Eric Ludden (Fredericksburg, VA/Massaponax) grabbed an interception.

Cumberland took control early with touchdowns on their opening two possessions to go ahead 14-0. The Cavs answered with two scores of their own with a Morgan 51-yard run at the end of the third quarter and Evans 52-yard strike from Hippeard.

Tied 21-21, Ray Damm (Stafford, VA/Stafford) connected for a 23-yard field goal before Evans streak down the sideline with a 57-yard scoring catch for a 31-21 halftime lead. The Cavs outscored the Bulldogs 28-21 in the second half to go on for the 59-42 victory.

The Bulldogs Brandon Howard ran for 102 yards on 15 attempts with one score to lead their ground attack. Quarterback Matt Eads (Kingsport, TN) threw for 189 yards on seven of 13 tries with two scores and one interception while running in the game’s first touchdown from two yards. Glen McKnight caught an 80-yard touchdown pass. Robert Durham posted 11 stops and 1.5 tackles for loss on defense.

UVA-Wise has no time to enjoy being 4-0. The team will travel to third-ranked Georgetown College next Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. affair.

-Go Cavs-