WISE - - Javonte Latney rushed for 62 yards on 11 carries and caught three passes for 37 yards as UVa-Wise won its third consecutive Senior Day with a 24-19 victory over Urbana University at Carl Smith Stadium Saturday. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Cavaliers who lost the first eight games of the season.

Saturday's game marked the fifth consecutive home game UVa-Wise (1-8, 1-7) jumped out to a lead. Cedrick Watkins got the scoring going when he caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Lewis with 4:18 to play in the opening quarter. Trent Martin's point after was good to give Coach Dewey Lusk's squad a 7-0 advantage.

The early lead for the Cavs was due in large part to the defense. Urbana (2-7, 1-7) mustered just 11 yards of total offense in the first period.

Lewis was involved in the team's second touchdown of the game when he capped a six-play, 21-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown on a quarterback keeper. Martin's second extra point of the day extended the lead to 14-0.  The drive was boosted by a short field as Maurice Watkins picked off an Eric Pelfrey pass on a third down and 10 play for the Blue Knights.

Lewis' strong first half continued when he hooked up with James Cousins on a 25-yard touchdown connection with 1:02 to play in the second quarter. Martin's third conversion kick of the half sent the Cavs to intermission in front 21-0.

The six-play, 66-yard drive was highlighted by Latney who tallied 41 yards on the drive; the tailback had a 15 yard reception on the drive that moved the ball to the Blue Knights' 25-yard line.

Urbana got its offense going on the team's first offensive possession of the second half. Cedric Presley supplied the bulk of the offense on the drive. The running back picked up 18 of his team-high 51 rushing yards on the drive. His final carry put the Blue Knights on the Cavs' 17-yard line. Pelfrey then found Trevon Saunders for a 17-yard touchdown, the PAT was blocked leaving the score 21-6.

UVa-Wise responded as Lewis found Terrence Younger for a 24-yard completion on a third down and four play from the Urbana 36 to keep the drive alive. The play set Martin up for a 28-yard field goal, pushing the lead to 24-6.

Down by 18, Urbana continued to fight. Pelfrey engineered a six-play, 34-yard scoring drive that took just 2:26 off the clock. The quarterback scored from 1-yard out and Ross Snodgrass made the extra point to cut the lead to 24-13 with 2:25 to play in the third period.

UVa-Wise appeared to be on the cusp of putting the game out of reach with just over 10 minutes to go in the contest when Urbana's D'Gary Wallace picked off a pass at the Blue Knights' 5-yard line.

On the next play from scrimmage, Saunders hauled in a one-handed reception and raced 95 yards for a touchdown. The attempted two-point conversion was no good, leaving the score 24-19 with 10:09 to play.

After each team traded punts, the Cavs would be forced to punt again as a Lewis completion to Camryn Little came up short of the first down marker.

Following the punt, Urbana took over on its own 35-yard line down by five.  Pelfrey found Saunders on the drive's first play for 15 yards, moving the ball to mid-field. A negative-yardage play on first down and a short completion to Saunders on second down gave the Blue Knights a third and five opportunity from the Cavs' 45-yard line.

Pelfrey would try to hit Saunders on the play but the pass would be overthrown, leaving Urbana with a fourth and five. On the fourth down play, Zachary Blair forced Pelfrey out of the pocket into an errant pass, turning the ball over on downs to UVa-Wise.

Latney would pick up 23 yards on the first play of the ensuing drive but, it would be the only first down the Cavs would collect, giving the Blue Knights one final shot at victory.

Starting from its own 18-yard line, Urbana would move the ball to their own 38-yard line before an incomplete pass on fourth down gave UVa-Wise the win.

Latney's effort led a 135-yard rushing attack for a Cavs offense that accumulated 405 yards of total offense. Lusk's team was seven of 16 on third down chances while winning the turnover battle three-to-one.

Lewis passed for 270 yards on 20 completions, adding two touchdowns. Younger had a team-high 76 receiving yards on five receptions. The five receptions moved the former William Campbell High School standout into second all-time in receptions at the College with 175.

Wallace entered as the Mountain East Conference leader in tackles and the linebacker proved why Saturday. He posted a game-high 19 tackles to give him 137 on the year.

Saunders was the offensive standout for Urbana as he finished with 175 receiving yards on seven catches.

Blair led the UVa-Wise defense with nine tackles, three for loss and a blocked kick.

Younger, Marcus Jones, Dustin McGill, Jose Urrutia and Jason Candeto were honored prior to kickoff in Senior Day ceremonies. The seniors are the first to play as active NCAA Division II members.

Next up for the Cavs is a trip to Buckhannon, West Virginia to face the Bobcats of West Virginia Wesleyan next Saturday.