Gunslinger Hippeard Takes UVa-Wise Past No. Greenville in Big Way

September 1, 2007
Game Stats

Tigerville, SC – Gunslinging quarterback Randy Hippeard directed what has to be the wildest comeback and game in the 17-year history of UVa-Wise football history. Hippeard helped the Cavs score 41 second half points, erase a 14-point deficit and two touchdowns in the final 1:11 of the game for a 61-55 victory Saturday night.

Trailing 55-48 with 2:42 left in the game, Hippeard went four for four, all to Jason Lovett, for 60 of the drives 72 yards to pull to within 55-54. The quarterback two-point conversion pass was intercepted by North Greenville's Donovan Davis at the goal line.

Cavs' Nate Bryant kicked an on-sides kick through the right two lines of the Crusaders' hands team and wide out Aric Evans fell on the ball for the visitors. UVa-Wise took over at its own 46-yard line. Hippeard hit Brad Ricker for passes of 21 and five yards and then Matt Barbour for 25 yards to the home three-yard line. The ball was handed off to All-American running back Ra'Shad Morgan who scampered through the left side for the final three yards to take it to 61-55 with 22 seconds.

North Greenville (0-1) completed a 21-yard pass to the UVa-Wise (2-0) 30-yard line before its next pass took the rest of the time off the clock to end the game.

Hippeard set three school single game records with 32 completions, 564 yards passing and six touchdowns through the air. The junior (Stafford, Va/Colonial Forge) connected on 20 of 26 passes in the deciding second half for 358 yards. He had three targets set career-best marks on the night. Evans grabbed six passes for 212 yards and three scores, Barbour pulled in 10 passes for 179 yards and one TD and Lovett had nine catches for 122 yards and two scores.

Morgan had a tough night runnning as he ran 24 times for 61 yards but did have two touchdowns. Linebacker Ben Robertson led the defense with 10 tackles while Brandon Moore and Chad Hooker finished with eight and seven stops.

Crusader running back Matt Moore had a career night with 267 yards rushing on 21 carries and four scores.

After trailing 20-14 early in the second quarter, North Greenville scored 20 unaswered points the rest of the half including 13 points in the final 1:57 for a 34-20 score at intermission.

UVa-Wise was able to get back into the contest in the third stanza. The Cavs scored on its first second half possession and outscored the host 12-0 in the third quarter to make it 34-32 to set up the wild fourth quarter.

The Cavs return to action for their third contest of the season against Concord (WV) College next Saturday night, September 8th for a 7:00 p.m. kick-off.