WISE - - Coming off its first win of the season, UVa-Wise will try to string together back-to-back wins when the team visits West Liberty University Saturday.
A week ago, the Cavaliers erupted for 625 yards of total offense in a 35-20 win against Concord University. Freshman
Tanner Bernard completed 24-of-30 pass attempts while throwing for 290 yards and three touchdowns in the game while senior
Kaian Duverger hauled in eight receptions for 173 yards and three touchdowns. In the backfield, sophomore
Jamorya Cousin ran for a career-high 231 yards on 25 carries to become the first back in nearly four years to post consecutive 100-yard rushing performances.
UVa-Wise also turned in a stellar defensive performance as linebacker
Buster Henderson tallied 4.5 tackles for loss en route to MEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Overall, the Cavs limited the Mountain Lions to 251 yards of offense and enter this weekend as the league's top ranked defense. Through three games opponents are averaging just 282 yards of offense per game against the unit.
Saturday's contest will pit the league's top ranked defense against the league's lowest ranked offense. West Liberty enters play averaging 288.7 yards per game. The number is skewed after last week's performance against Charleston; in the game, the Hilltoppers finished with -35 rushing yards while tallying just 157 yards in a 24-10 defeat.
West Liberty has been led by its pass defense which ranks second in the league, holding opponents to 184 yards per game through the air. Junior Joshua Ojo leads the league with three interceptions and has returned one of his picks for six in the early going. As a unit, the 'Toppers have picked off a MEC best five passes which has helped offset some of the team's offensive woes.
The Cavs enter the game as the league leaders in tackles for loss with 31 while West Liberty has allowed 15 sacks in the first three weeks.
The 'Toppers have had success early in special teams play. Return man Osman Kargbo is averaging over 16 yards a punt return to rank second in the league while place kicker Owen Rozanc is a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts with all four attempts coming greater than 30 yards.
A win would allow UVa-Wise to leave the MEC with three consecutive wins against West Liberty while posting its second consecutive road win against the 'Toppers on their homecoming game.
Next week, UVa-Wise will return home to face Fairmont State for its own homecoming game.
