WISE - - UVa-Wise will play its third consecutive Thursday game and look to go 3-0 in such games when the team visits Concord University for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Cavaliers are coming off a 34-24 win over West Virginia State where junior Donavan Montague had a pair of interceptions, a fumble recovery and an interception return touchdown to aid his team to its first 2-0 start since 2007. Concord is winless in the early going and was shutout 27-0 by the University of Charleston last week.

Dane Damron's team has used a balanced offense and an opportunistic defense to claim back-to-back victories to start the year. UVa-Wise is averaging 146 rushing yards and 298.5 passing yards per game while having forced six turnovers on defense.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brycen Lee is off to a good start in his second collegiate season. The Mayo, Fla. product has completed 42-of-70 passes for 569 yards while throwing five touchdowns. Thirteen different Cavaliers have caught a pass in the early going with junior Kain Duverger leading the way with 12 catches for 156 yards and three touchdowns.

On the ground, senior Carlton Griffith is posting 4.2 yards per carry in the early going while having already scored three touchdowns. Griffith is one of seven Cavs to have at least five rushing attempts as part of an offense that is averaging 37.5 points per game.

Marquis Hamilton and Montague have a pair of interceptions each for the UVa-Wise defense while Ed Kargbo has an interception and a team-leading 23 tackles. Linebacker Dylan Giovine has also played well, having registered 19 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks through the first two games of the year.

In addition to searching for its first win of the season, Concord will be looking to avenge a 30-19 loss in Wise last season. The Mountain Lions led 19-16 in the fourth quarter only to see the Cavs storm back for their first win in the series since 2007. Michael Tarrer led the way for the UVa-Wise defense with nine tackles and three tackles for loss in the win.

Offense has been an issue as Concord ranks last in the Mountain East Conference in scoring offense (9.0 ppg), rushing offense (39.0 ypg), pass offense (106.0 ypg) and total offense (145.0 ypg). Entering Thursday, the Mountain Lions have scored just one offensive touchdown, in addition to being shutout last week at Charleston. The defense is led by Zach Malone who has 14 solo tackles as part of a team-high 23 tackles.  In the secondary, Leesburg, Va. native Jonathan Roebuck has been a bright spot in his freshman season. Roebuck has two interceptions, including a 30-yard interception return for touchdown.

A win would allow the Cavs to enter water they have yet to enter since becoming a NCAA Division II member. The school has not started 3-0 since 2007 and has not won its first two road games of the season since 2008.  

With a loss, Concord would be off to its worst start since going winless in 2008. All-time, the Mountain Lions hold a 5-3 advantage over the Cavs. This will mark the fifth year in a row the schools have met on the gridiron after a six year hiatus in the series.

UVa-Wise will welcome West Liberty University to Smith Stadium next Saturday for Homecoming 2017 in a 1:30 p.m. kickoff while Concord University will go on the road to face Notre Dame College in a noon Saturday kickoff.