C

Morgan and Cavs Look to Build on Strong Season

avs Rout Brevard in Opener

August 26, 2006
Game Stats

BREVARD, NC -­ The All-American running back Ra'Shad Morgan and the University of Virginia's College at Wise posted the best campaign in a decade and will look to build upon the strong 2006 football season.
Morgan ran past opposing defenses for the most rushing yards (1,657 yards) and touchdowns (25) in school history as the Highland Cavaliers finished 8-3 and second in the Mid-South Conference East Division, the third best season in the 16-year UVa-Wise gridiron history.
Sixth-year head coach Bruce Wasem picked up the Mid-South East and Football Gazette NAIA South Region Coach of the Year honors. Wasem hopes to have the groundwork laid for the future with eight All-Mid South players returning and 58 overall veteran players back in the fold.
TOUGHER ROAD BUT
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
With 14 returning starters, the 2007 Cavs will have higher expectations on them after finishing ranked 24th in the NAIA and doubling their wins to eight. The Mid-South Conference Preseason Coaches Poll found UVa-Wise second after Georgetown College.
"Last year we were down at the bottom in the preseason ratings, this year we will now be the hunted as well as the hunter," pointed out Wasem. "Our schedule is very threatening this season and the first five games could determine if we have a chance or not. We will definitely have our work cut out for us."
The Highland Cavaliers' work will start with three NCAA Division II opponents in Brevard, North Greenville, 10-2 last year, and Concord. After a week off, UVa-Wise will host Georgetown before trekking to another NAIA playoff team Bethel College.
offense set for big numbers
The NAIA’s top offense, 485.4 yds./gm., has five all-conference players set to put up big numbers for a second time. The unit was also second in passing offense (296.5 yds/gm) and third in scoring offense (40.4 ppg)
The core group will be led by preseason All-Americans Morgan and offensive tackle Henry Potter with all-conference quarterback Randy Hippeard and wideouts Aric Evans and Matt Barbour to lead the skill positions.
MORGAN back strong for finale
Senior Ra’Shad Morgan had arguably the most impressive year by a UVa-Wise runner. The AFCA All-American first teamer rushed 306 times for a school record 1,657 yards including an astouding 289 yards versus Cumberland University. He found the endzone 25 times and totaled a new mark of 1,961 yards of total offense.
The top flight back will lead a quality group at the position. Behind Morgan for a second year, sophomore Chris Laws, 35 att for 197 yds., can provide a real spark. Redshirt sophomore Hakeem Abdul-Saboor, who will see the most time at wide out, and newcomer Jyron Barclay will be in the mix.
Senior Bruce McMullen will start at fullback while redshirt sophomore Joe Bodenheimer and junior transfer Aaron Askew round out a solid position.
hippeard general of offense
The general of the attack, Hippeard, will be directing the offense for the third year. The junior had a true breakout season in 2006 where he completed 211 of 361 passes for 3,100 yards and 25 scores. His biggest number contest came at night in Pikeville with 439 yards passing and five touchdowns.
The Cavs will again have the luxury of having two athletes that are true quarterbacks with redshirt sophomore Brad Robbins joining Hippeard. The left-hander fired three touchdowns in nine of 14 tries covering 161 yards in limited work.
super sophs pace receivers
Super sophomores Evans and Barbour will pace the receiving corps after excelling as freshmen. The all-conference duo combined to grab 89 catches for 1,561 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The 6-3 Evans set two Cavs' receiving marks with his 832 yards and 11 scores on 41 receptions. Barbour was solid in the slot with 48 grabs for 729 yards and four scores.
Junior Kyle Allen and sophomores Abdul-Saboor, Jason Lovett and Brad Ricker will round out the veterans targets.
Newcomers Adrian Ward, Sam Walker and Jay Coleman look to see receiving time.
potter leads line
Senior Henry Potter will be the foundation in a new look offensive line. The All-American will protect Hippeard’s backside at left tackle. He will be joined by sophomore Andrew Hutchings, moving from the defensive line, to right tackle.
(cont. on Pg. 16)

The lone other returning starter will be junior guard Kevin Jenkins. Sophomores Adam Nicholson and Gary Black will compete for the open other spot.
Sophomore Brian Pisani had a strong spring and is penciled in at center. Black could compete at this spot as well.
solid and deep at tight end
Tight end will be solid with good depth. Senior Paul Williams is joined by three others in junior Brad Slade, sophomore Yussiff Thulla and newcomer Brandon Gayheart.
kicking battle to be a good one
The battle for kicking duties will be one to watch as two talented sophomores Lance Ayers and Nate Bryant. Ayers handled the kick-offs last year while Bryant backed up all-league Ray Damm on place-kicking.
The punting could make for some interesting concerns for opposing defenses. The duties will be handled by either quarterback, Hippeard or Robbins, with a challenge from all-state freshman Adam Williams.
Kick return duties will be taken care of by the trio of Morgan, senior Brandon Moore and sophomore Keith McBride.
Decorated trio leads “d” charge
The UVa.-Wise defense should be a much improved group with three senior All-Mid South leaders dotting the lineup in defensive end Reggie Dorsainvil, linebacker Ben Robertson and cornerback Moore.
secondary young but strong
Brandon Moore will be the veteran leader of the overall young secondary group which will be stocked with talented athletes ready to make their marks.
Moore led the Cavs with four int’s and seven breakups with 44 tackles to his credit.
Sophomores James Haley and Marvin White along with redshirt freshman Jahmal Potter will battle for the other corner spot.
Haley had 23 tackles and two tfl’s in seven games while White recorded 28 stops and five breakups his first year.
Second-year player Matt Gular will look to keep the starting free safety spot. Gular finished fifth on the team with 51 tackles, 4 tfl’s and 2 interceptions. McBride and senior transfer Chris Davenport will challenge for playing time.
Strong safety of the Cavs' 3-5 front is expected to see a familiar face return from 2005 in Bryan Tolbert. The tall and lanky senior produced 35 stops, three tfl’s and 1.5 sacks two years ago.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Vanover and true freshmen Benji Poindexter will seek to break into the lineup.
reliable robertson in middle
The reliable and key guy in the middle, Robertson, will be the middle linebacker spot for the fourth season. Even with missing the opening three contests last year, the senior tied for the team lead with 66 tackles while second with 10 tfl’s and 2.5 sacks.
Senior Chas Johnson and sophomore Chad Hooker look to return to the starting lineup. Johnson had his best season to date a year ago where he finished third on the squad with 60 stops, seven tfl’s and a sack. Hooker started to excel in his first year with 24 tackles and two tfl’s before succumbing to a knee injury.
Senior Eric Ludden will be out until the mid season due to injury and hopes to get back in the lineup.
Three other returners redshirt freshman David Saunders, senior Gio Watford and sophomore Scott Utterback look to earn a prominent linebacking spot. Newcomers Adam Sizemore and John Mathis have the potential to make a difference in the corps.
Dorsainvil back for more
The front three will have all-conference Reggie Dorsainvil who is set to build upon his solid junior year at one defensive end position. The 6-4, 250-pound senior can do it all from his end spot. He led the Cavs with 15 tfl’s, eight sacks and six forced fumbles while recording 56 tackles.
Senior Jerry Bentley and sophomore Aaron Mathis will be two returning vying for the opposite end position.
C.J. Phillips and Josh and Luke Spurlock should see time in what will be a shuttling of constant fresh athletes on the line for the defense.
The final spot, nose guard, will be another highly contested one but will see many faces rotated. Sophomores Keon and Kevin White and junior Matt Sullivan have the inside track for the job. Kevin had seven stops and Keon two as freshmen.
Sophomore transfer Mauri Wimbush and three freshman Omar Garner, Danny Hinkle and Mike Hall will add to the depth to the defensive line.

-Go Cavs-