WISE - - Fans coming to Saturday's game against West Liberty University will be admitted free of charge if they wear red. The promotion is part of the College's Red Out Game to further celebrate Homecoming 2017.
As for the game, both teams enter with 2-1 records after each team was engaged in a defensive slugfest last week. UVa-Wise dropped a 7-0 decsion at Concord University while West Liberty enters after posting a 9-6 home win over the University of Charleston.
UVa-Wise dominated most statistical categories in its loss but, the team was unable to overcome four turnovers and 16 penalties. The decisive blow came when Jeremiah Johnson picked off a pass and raced 36 yards for the game's only touchdown with 6:35 to play in the contest.
Defense ruled the game as the Cavaliers limited the Mountain Lions to 131 yards of total offense, including a 1.8 yards per rush average on 34 rushing attempts. Overall, UVa-Wise posted eight tackles for loss and four sacks in the contest. Senior
Ed Kargbo led th way six solo tackles as part of a seven tackle game.
Concord was led by Jeremiah Johnson who added an interception in the end zone, in addition to his intereception return touchdown. Johnson also had a pass break up and three tackles as the Mountain Lions posted their first win of 2017.
For the Cavs to be successful against the Hilltopers,
Dane Damron's crew will have to clean up penalites. Last week, UVa-Wise was penalized 16 times for 162 yards. The penalties played a pivotal role in the contest as UVa-Wise had a touchdown wiped off the board due to an offensive holding penalty before later a pair of chop block penalties put the team in a first and 40 situation.
In its last meeting against West Liberty, UVa-Wise blocked a potential game-winning field goal late in the game to seal a 28-27 win. Running back
Carlton Griffith had a career-high 156 yards in the win while adding two touchdowns. The Ft. Belvoir, Va. native averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 25 rushes in the win. Overall, the Cavs outgained the 'Toppers 500 to 256 in total yards. In addition to Griffith's big day,
Javonte Latney gained 48 yards as part of an offense that posted 246 rushing yards.
West Liberty standout Osman Kargbo left his stamp on last year's meeting. The return man took a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown to give the 'Toppers a 28-27 lead in the third quarter. This season, Kargbo leads his team with 12 catches for 167 yards while averaging 28 yards per kickoff return.
One area UVa-Wise has excelled in throughout the early going is timoe of possession. The Cavs lead the Mountain East Conference and rank 12th among all NCAA Division II schools with an average time of possesion of 34:35. In the early going, the team has won the time of possesion battle in each of the season's first three contests.
Next week, UVa-Wise pays visit to Fairmont State University Saturday while West Liberty returns home to battle Notre Dame College in a Thursday kickoff.
