Cavs Complete Eight Win Season in Rain Filled Day

November 11, 2006
Game Stats

Wise, VA – In a soggy Saturday afternoon, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise completed its best season in a decade. The Highland Cavaliers scored their first touchdown late in the first quarter and controlled the game the rest of the way in a 21-6 victory over the Union College Bulldogs.

UVA-Wise totaled its third most victories in the program’s 16-year history at 8-3. The winning season is the first since 2001 when the team was 6-4. The Cavs posted 3-2 mark in the Mid-South East Division to tie for second place, their highest league finish. Union College completed its 2006 campaign 2-8 and 1-4 in the conference.

Offensively, UVA-Wise finished perfect on the season by outgaining its 11th opponent in as many games, 378 to 322. Running back Ra’Shad Morgan added to his school best single season with 191 yards on 33 carries and two scoring jaunts while catching six passes for a team-high 78 yards. Quarterback Randy Hippeard passed for 189 yards on 13 of 32 attempts on a day of steady rain. Wide receiver Aric Evans grabbed four passes for 60 yards. Evans’ 60 yards broke the school’s single season receiving yard record with 832 yards. Wideout Kendon Doe tied the season catches record of 54 with his one reception for five yards while Matt Barbour added two catches for 46 yards. Senior fullback Dustin Thompson had a one-yard touchdown plunge for his only carry.

On the defense, linebacker Ben Robertson provided 10 tackles, a pass breakup and one tackle for loss. Senior linebacker Corey Wheeler added nine stops and a breakup while senior Matt Hutchings posted seven tackles and a tackle for loss.

In its second drive of the opening quarter, Union drove the length of the field. The Bulldogs drove 92 yards on eight plays for the game’s first points. Quarterback Kyle Callahan completed two 21-yard passes to Shawn Kelly before Callahan hit Ryan Chambers for a 27-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was stopped.

UVA-Wise rode Morgan to answer the visitors’ score. Morgan ran five times for 38 yards including a seven-yard scoring burst to cap a 58-yard drive to tie the game before kicker Ray Damm added the extra point, 7-6, to go ahead for what would be for good.

The next Cavs’ possession resulted in the second touchdown. Clyde Nophlin recovered a Union fumble at the visitor 40-yard line. Thompson plunged into the endzone seven plays later to increase the score to 14-6 with 10:20 in the second.

The score remained 14-6 until UVA-Wise took advantage of a low punt snap and tackled the Bulldog punter Michael McNay at the Union 11-yard line. Morgan found paydirt from two yards three plays later for what would be the final of 21-6.

Callahan passed for 189 yards on 11 of 35 attempts with one score. Chambers had three catches for 76 yards. Fullback Jake Mayfield ran eight times for 61 yards. Junior Owen and Patrick O’Neal had double digit stops with 11 and 10.

-Go Cavs-