Cavs Take Control in Second Half Over Golden Bears

October 28, 2006
Game Stats

Wise, VA – After committing three turnovers with two in the redzone in the first half, the Highland Cavaliers scored two times in the opening four minutes of the third quarter to overpower the Golden Bears Saturday afternoon. The University of Virginia’s College at Wise ran 63 yards for a touchdown to begin the third and Matt Hutchings returned a fumble 43 yards to take control over West Virginia Tech in a 45-6 gridiron victory.

With the win, 24th-ranked UVA-Wise records its first seven-win (7-2) in 10 years since going 10-1 for the 1996 season. The win keeps the Cavs in second place in the Mid-South East Division at 2-1. West Virginia Tech dropped its 24th-straight contest to fall to 0-9 overall and 0-3 in the league.

The Highland Cavalier defense had a solid outing by holding the Golden Bears to 202 yards of total offense, tying the least amount allowed this season, producing five sacks and intercepting four passes. Middle linebacker Ben Robertson (Morehead City, NC) had the best game of his career according to UVA-Wise head coach Bruce Wasem. Robertson posted 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack. Free safety Brandon Moore (Bristow, VA/Stonewall Jackson) picked off a career-high three passes to go with three tackles. Defensive end Reggie Dorsainvil (Virginia Beach, VA/Salem) added six stops, a sack, his eighth of the year, and forced the fumble that was returned for a score. Offensive tackle/nose tackle Henry Potter (Virginia Beach, VA/Salem) played both ways at some points on the day where he had a tackle for loss and a sack on his two tackles. Matt Hutchings (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hill) returned a fumble 43 yards while Matt Gular (Hampton, VA/Kecoughtan) intercepted and returned it 32 yards.

Offensively, the NAIA’s leading rusher Ra’Shad Morgan (Chesterfield, VA/Meadowbrook) rumbled for 198 yards on 36 carries and found the endzone three times from six, eight and three yards. Freshman Antonio Terry (Union Hall, VA/Franklin County) added the day’s final score on a 46-yard scoring burst for his only carry. Even though he struggled on the day, quarterback Randy Hippeard (Stafford, VA/Colonial Forge) passed for 143 yards, enough to break the UVA-Wise single season passing yards record. He has 2,593 yards overtaking David Nara’s 2,550 passing yards from 1994. Aric Evans (Cincinnati, OH/Taft) caught the lone touchdown pass and only toss of the day from QB Brad Robbins (Big Stone Gap, VA/Powell Valley) covering 50 yards. Kicker Ray Damm (Fredericksburg, VA/Stafford) set the new kick scoring season record with nine points to give him 62 on the year, with a 23-yard field goal and six extra points.

Leading 3-0 at the half, UVA-Wise ran the ball eight consecutive plays for 63 yards, with Morgan running for 56 of those yards including an 18-yarder before plunging in from six yards to make it 10-0. On West Virginia Tech’s ensuing second play, Dorsainvil hit QB Demetrius Randolph forced a fumble after three yards that Hutchings scooped up to run 43 yards to make it 17-0 in the opening four minutes of the third frame.

Morgan capped a 69-yard drive late in the third quarter with an eight-yard touchdown for a 24-0 tally. The junior running back added a third score in the team’s first fourth quarter possession before the Robbins to Evans 50-yard bomb with 5:03 left to make it 38-0.

The Golden Bears found the endzone against the Cavs’ second unit with 2:32 to play on a Corey Mccan touchdown. Terry took the handoff on the next UVA-Wise play to run 46 yards down the left sideline to complete the scoring for the 45-6 final.

UVA-Wise will trek to the University of the Cumberlands for a 1:30 p.m. contest next Saturday, November 4th.

-Go Cavs-