Box Score WISE - - On "Senior Day 2013", it was the seniors that excelled as UVa-Wise won its second consecutive game at Smith Stadium by defeating West Liberty University 24-13 on Saturday.  Senior James Long set the single-season reception record at UVa-Wise while fellow senior Vernon Payne had a 34-yard interception return for touchdown to seal the game late in the fourth quarter.

The Hilltoppers (3-7, 3-5 MEC) jumped out to an early 6-0 lead as Bryan Arbes connected on a pair of field goals in the first 10 minutes of the contest.  The two scoring drives by West Liberty combined to go 100 yards on 19 plays while consuming over seven minutes of clock.

With 1:28 to go in the opening quarter, the Cavaliers (2-8, 2-6 MEC) cracked the scoreboard when Cullen LaVoi found Long for a 46-yard touchdown to tie the contest.  The reception by Long gave him 75 on the season to establish a new single-season reception record at UVa-Wise.  Senior Paul Melshen added the point after to give the Cavaliers a 7-6 lead. 

The lead would be short lived as West Liberty put together a 10-play, 78-yard drive to surge ahead.  Quarterback Dylan Lagarde found Dylan Potts for a 24-yard touchdown pass to finish off the scoring drive, Arbes was good on the extra point to give the visitors a 13-7 lead.

UVa-Wise would draw to within three at intermission as Melshen booted a 30-yard field goal with 5:34 to play in the half to cap a 13-play, 57-yard scoring drive. 

Trailing 13-10 to start the second half, the Cavalier defense locked down the Hilltoppers over the game's final two quarters.  West Liberty managed just two first downs in the second half while being limited to just 94 yards, 40 of which came on the game's final drive, in addition to being shutout in the half.

The UVa-Wise offense took advantage of the superb defensive play in the fourth quarter.  After failing to score in the third quarter, LaVoi checked out of a play at the line of scrimmage and found Terrance Younger on a nine-yard touchdown pass to give the Cavs a lead it would not relinquish.  Melshen's point after made the score 17-13 with 13:41 to play.

A four point lead would be all the defense would need as the unit forced three consecutive punts to send the contest to its final four minutes.  West Liberty would get a final shot at a comeback win when UVa-Wise was forced to punt.  Starting from its own 30 yard line, the Hilltoppers were flagged for holding on first down and failed to move the ball on either first or second down.  The third down play sealed the visitors fate as Payne picked off Lagarde's pass and raced 34 yards to the end zone.  The touchdown and subsequent extra point gave UVa-Wise its biggest lead of the season and the final margin of victory, 24-13.

Senior Christian DeJarnette had a strong day on defense posting a season-high eight stops for the Cavs while LaVoi rushed for 84 yards to aid the team to a season-high 142 rushing yards.  Long's 84 receiving yards moved him to within 22 yards of the single-season all-purpose yardage record at UVa-Wise with one game to play.  Former Cav Ra'Shad Morgan currently holds the record with 1,961 yards.

Potts led all players with nine catches for 139 yards, in addition to his touchdown.  As a team, West Liberty was limited to just 3.1 yards per rush.  The Hilltoppers were penalized nine times for 105 yards in the loss, including five personal penalties.

The Cavs will conclude the 2013 regular season next Saturday when the team travels to Fairmont State.  Game time is 1 pm and you can hear the action on www.uvawisecavs.com