Ninth-Ranked Cavs Hold on Against Bulldogs, Take East Lead

October 27, 2007
Game Stats

Barbourville, Ky. – Ninth-ranked UVa-Wise saw host Union College mount a big 34-point second half charge and had to hold on for a 42-37 victory Mid-South East Division victory.

The Highland Cavaliers equaled its season victories from a year as they went to 8-1 on the season. The team more importantly secured the top spot in the Mid-South East by itself at 3-0 after Georgetown defeated the University of the Cumberlands on the road to take both teams to 2-1 in the league. Union dropped to 2-7 and 0-3 in the East.

UVa-Wise scored touchdowns on each of its first six possessions, all five of the first half and opened the second half with the final, to open a 42-3 lead. Union rode two visitor fumbles on punt and then a kick-off to trigger a momentum change and post 34-unanswered points. The Cavs recovered the Bulldogs onsides kick with 1:49 left in the game before fullback Bruce McMullen ran four times for 31 yards to seal the 42-37 win.

With All-American running back Ra’Shad Morgan sidelined for the game, quarterback Randy Hippeard shouldered the load. The junior completed 28 of 49 passes for 434 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. The signal-caller’s top target, Jason Lovett had a season record-setting day. Lovett pulled in 10 passes for 135 yards and four scores. The sophomore wide out set UVa-Wise season records for receptions (60), receiving yards (860) and receiving touchdowns (15). Matt Barbour had a 100-yard day of his own with six catches for 117 yards while Aric Evans grabbed four balls for 82 yards.

Linebackers Gio Watford and Ben Robertson were the UVa-Wise top stoppers. Watford recorded 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, forced a fumble and had two pass breakups while Robertson had 13 stops, a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. Defensive end Reggie Dorsainvil sacked the Bulldog quarterback three times for 16 yards, had two quarterback hurries and eight tackles. Kevin White and Jerry Bentley both added a sack each while Jamal Potter and Ryan Vanover snatched key interceptions in the second half.

The Highland Cavaliers’ offense could not be stopped in the first half. The unit had 37 offensive plays for 328 yards and five scores. The five scoring drives were 66, 80, 65, 79 and 68 yards. Hippeard hit Evans from nine yards and Lovett three times from two, 42 and seven yards while Jyron Barclay burst into the endzone from seven yards.

UVa-Wise put its last points on the board to open the third quarter. After a botched onsides Bulldog kick-off, Hippeard hit Lovett from 29 yards to make the score 42-3.

Union cut the margin to 42-17 after the fumbled punt and kick-off. The Bulldogs held the Cavs on downs at the home 19-yardline on the next possession and drove 81 yards to make it 42-24. Union turned another UVa-Wise turnover on downs into a score at 13:00 minutes left in the game for a 42-30 tally.

The Cavs defense stepped up on the next two Bulldog possessions as Potter and Vanover picked off quarterback Joey Waters in UVa-Wise territory to thwart drives. Waters threw his third score of the day on the next drive for the final Bulldog points with 1:50 left on the clock before the Cavs recovered the onsides kick and ran out the clock.

Union’s Waters completed 33 of 57 attempts for 434 yards and three scores. Kyle Callahan pulled in eight balls for 149 yards and a score while Shawn Kelly had seven catches for 90 yards and two scores. Terence Pollock ran for 111 yards on 24 rushes and two touchdowns of his own. The Bulldogs outgained the Cavs 565-494.

UVa-Wise will host the University of the Cumberlands next Saturday, November 3 rd for Senior Day in a key Mid-South East contest starting at 1:30 p.m.