CHARLESTON, W.Va. - - The University of Charleston scored 27 points in the second quarter and never trailed en route to a 30-14 win over UVa-Wise in the Golden Eagles' home opener on Saturday.

Charleston (3-0, 2-0 MEC) appeared to be on the verge of scoring on its first offensive possession of the game before quarterback Jordan Paul fumbled attempting to stretch the ball across the goal line. The Cavaliers' Zach Blair recovered the fumble, preventing the score, and giving his team the ball on the 20-yard line.

UVa-Wise (0-3, 0-3 MEC) was unable to muster any offense in the opening quarter and the visitors' defensive unit was able to prevent Charleston from scoring to send the game to the second quarter knotted at 0-0.

With 12:30 to play in the opening half, the Golden Eagles got its offense going when Marvin Elam capped off a seven-play 42-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown scamper. The point after was no good but Charleston held a lead it would not relinquish. 

Following a three-and-out by the UVa-Wise offense, Torie Wagner returned a punt 69 yards and Bret Benes nailed the point after to extend Charleston's lead to 13-0. The second quarter onslaught continued almost four minutes later when Joey Augustin scored on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Paul, Benes' point after was good to make it 20-0.

The Golden Eagles scored one final time before halftime on Elam's second rushing touchdown of the quarter. The sophomore scored on a one-yard touchdown run to finish off a seven-play 44-yard drive. The point after gave Charleston a 27-0 lead at the break.

UVa-Wise dented the scoreboard mid-way through the third quarter on a nine-yard touchdown run by Carlton Griffith, Trent Martin booted the extra point to make it 27-7 with 7:08 to play in the third quarter.

After swamping punts, Benes' connected on a 42-yard field goal to give the Golden Eagles a 30-7 lead with just under two minutes to play in the third quarter.

The Cavaliers would score one final time with 5:43 to play when Ty Ryans found Terrence Younger on a fade pattern for a 16-yard touchdown pass.  Martin's point after cut the lead to two scores at 30-14 but, coach Dewey Lusk's squad could get no closer.

Led by senior Andre Dickerson's 70 yards on 12 carries, UVa-Wise rushed for 198 yards in defeat.  After failing to force a turnover  in the first two weeks of the season, the Cavaliers forced four Golden Eagles turnovers.

Augustin led all players with 136 receiving yards on seven catches while Elam rushed for a game-high 124 yards in the win for Charleston.

UVa-Wise will be back on the road next week when the team plays at Wofford. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.