WISE - - UVa-Wise will make one of its longest trips of the season Saturday when the team faces Fairmont State in a 2 p.m. kickoff. Still in search of their first win,
Dewey Lusk's team will face an opponent they defeated in 2014. The Cavaliers ended last season with 24-21
victory over the Falcons, thanks to a game-winning field goal on the game's final play.
After picking up just three wins last season, Fairmont State enters Saturday with a 3-3 record. The Falcons enter the game playing their best ball in several seasons. Coach Jason Woodman's club has won three of its last four games. A week ago, the team dropped a 38-31 road decision to a Charleston squad that has just one loss in 2015.
Quarterback Cooper Hibbs has played as well as anyone in the MEC through the first six games of the season. Hibbs has passed for 1,445 yards and 12 touchdowns without throwing an interception. The signal caller has also gained 102 yards on the ground while rushing for a pair of touchdowns. When he goes to the air, his favorite target has been Fabian Guerra. A First-Team All-MEC performer as a sophomore, the Miami, Fla. native has caught 38 passes for 517 yards and five scores as a junior. In last year's meeting, Guerra caught seven passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Marcus Porter anchors the Fairmont State defense. The linebacker has three of the team's eight interceptions while also leading the team with 44 tackles. While team's have struggled in the passing game against the Falcons, Fairmont State has allowed 14 rushing touchdowns and 147.7 rushing yards per game, thus far.
For UVa-Wise, putting four quarters together continues to be the goal. The Cavs were outscored 30-0 after the first quarter last week as the team was unable to hold a home lead for the fourth time this season. Tailback
Carlton Griffith had his strongest game of the season, however. The sophomore rushed for 41 yards and touchdown while catching 10 passes for 81 yards. His 122 yards of total offense was a season-high.
Timmy Meador had a career-day on defense. The Roanoke, Va. product registered 13 tackles while teammate
Zachary Blair had his sixth consecutive double digit tackle game with 11 stops.
This is a familiar position for UVa-Wise, the team started 2014 with an identical 0-7 record before winning two of the final four contests.
Following Saturday's game, the Cavs will play two of the final three games of the year at Carl Smith Stadium.
