14th-Ranked Cavs Breeze Past Bears in Gridiron Season Finale

November 10, 2007
Game Stats

Montgomery, WV – UVa-Wise finished its 2007 gridiron season strong by breezing past West Virginia Tech. The 14th-ranked Cavs scored the first 41 points, held the Bears to 205, forced two turnovers and blocked a punt for a touchdown in a 55-14 victory.

The win gives UVa-Wise its second most wins in a season for the second year in a row. After completing 2006 with an 8-3 mark, the Cavs finished the campaign at 9-2 for the most victories in a year under sixth-year head coach Bruce Wasem. The team also will share its first Mid-South East Division title since joining the league five seasons ago with a 4-1 record.

UVa-Wise scored touchdowns on its opening four and eight of the first nine times with the ball. The Cavs outgained the Bears (1-10/0-4 Mid-South East) 439-205 yards on the afternoon.

Wide receiver Jason Lovett became the first UVa-Wise receiver to surpass 1,000 yards in a season. He pulled in six passes for 71 yards and a seven-yard score Saturday. The sophomore totaled 1,058 yards on 71 receptions and 17 touchdown catches, all three Cavs’ season records.

Running back Ra’Shad Morgan rushed 27 times for 176 yards and three scores of seven, 10 and seven yards. The three touchdowns set a new UVa-Wise season rushing touchdown record of 27 while he tied the career rushing touchdown record of 62 held by Greg Thomas (1993-96).

Wide receiver Matt Barbour needed four catches to hit the 100 career reception mark heading into the game and pulled in four grabs against the Bears for 52 yards. Hakeem Abdul-Saboor had two catches for 66 yards and a 57-yard scoring-pass while Aric Evans had three receptions for 35 yards and a seven-yard touchdown. Quarterback Randy Hippeard had a very efficient game throwing all the receivers the passes. He completed 15 of 19 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns without an interception for the third-straight game.

Nose guard Danny Hinkle produced a solid game on defense with seven stops, 2.5 tackles for loss of 11 yards and a sack of eight yards. James Haley blocked a West Virginia Tech third quarter punt and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown. Ben Robertson added six stops, 1.5 tackles for loss of nine yards and a sack of eight yards.