#22 Patriots Take #9 Cavs in Overtime for Second-Straight Season

November 3, 2007
Game Stats

Wise, Va. – For the second season in a row, the 22nd-ranked University of the Cumberlands came back late and went on to prevail over the ninth-rated University of Virginia’s College at Wise in overtime. The Patriots’ Ricky Walker edged into the endzone from three yards for the game-winning score for the 41-38 overtime win over the Cavs.

The two teams move into a three-way tie at the top of the Mid-South East Divison at 3-1 with Georgetown. UVa-Wise drops to 8-2 while Cumberlands moves to 7-2. Cumberlands prevailed, 40-34, in overtime of the 2006 edition of the series in Williamsburg, Ky.

For UVa-Wise, quarterback Randy Hippeard ( Stafford, Va/Colonial Forge) completed 28 of 45 passes for 392 yards and two touchdowns to set a new school record with 3,233 passing yards on the year. Wideout Jason Lovett (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) caught eight passes for 127 yards and a score while Aric Evans (Cincinnati, OH/Taft), who had a 41-yard scoring catch, and Matt Barbour (Brookneal, Va./Wm. Campbell) pulled in five balls apiece for 98 and 65 yards. Running back Ra’Shad Morgan ( Chesterfield, Va./Meadowbrook) returned to the lineup to run for 65 yards on 21 carries and two scores and caught seven passes for 40 yards.

Ben Robertson ( Morehead City, NC/West Carteret) posted 19 tackles and a tackle for loss for the Cavs’ defense. James Haley ( Gladys, Va./Wm. Campbell) returned a fumble 68 yards for a score to go with 17 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Reggie Dorsainvil ( Va. Beach, Va./ Salem) contributed 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and forced a fumble. Gio Watford (Cofield, NC/West Carteret) had 13 stops.

Fullback Ricky Walker ran for 125 yards on 26 attempts with two scores to pace the Patriots. Moses Cochran added 73 yards on 19 tries. Quarterback Rod Mason accounted for 61 rushing yards on 15 carries with a touchdown. Chris Honeycutt had 12 tackles and a sack on defense. Alex Wright added eight stops, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Trailing 35-17 with 11:22 left in the game, Cumberlands’ Rod Mason engineered a 13-play, 43-yard scoring drive. Mason would eventually plunge into the endzone from four yards to cut the margin to 35-25. The Patriots recovered the onsides kick and took the ball on a 10-play, 40-yard drive to pull to within 35-32 with 2:21 on the clock.

The Cavs’ offense could not take advantage of a Keith McBride interception at the home one-yardline after a second Cumberlands successful onsides kick. On third-and-five, Hippeard’s pass fell just short to Evans to force a punt. The Patiots drove to the Cavs’ 18-yardline before Hunter Meade connected on the game-tying 35-yard field goal, 35-35, as time expired in the game.

In overtime, UVa-Wise could not convert on a third-and-one from the four-yardline. Lance Ayers came on for a 23-yard field line to go ahead 38-35.

Cumberlands converted on two third down plays to set up a first and goal from the UVa-Wise three-yardline. Walker went into the endzone off the right side for the game-winning points and 41-38 overtime final.

Cumberlands outgained UVa-Wise by the slim 489 to 457 yards but ran 36 more offensive plays.

UVa-Wise will complete its 2007 regular season at West Virginia Tech next Saturday, November 10 th for a 1:30 p.m. kick-off and hopeful NAIA Championship Series playoff birth.