NEWBERRY, S.C. - - Newberry held UVa-Wise to 112 yards of total offense en route to a 30-7 Homecoming victory at Stetzler Field Saturday. The Wolves' defense forced the Cavaliers to punt (11) as many times as the guests gained a first down in the contest. The win improved Newberry to 2-2 in South Atlantic Conference play and evened the Wolves home record at 2-2 on the year.
UVa-Wise (1-5, 0-4 SAC) scored the opening points of the game. Junior Demetrius Mann returned a Newberry (2-4, 2-2 SAC) punt to the 28-yard line to give the visitors their best field position of the day.
Six plays later, Garrett Cropp scored on a fourth and one play from three yards out, Daryian Basco booted the extra point giving Dane Damron's squad a 7-0 lead with 2:07 to play in the first quarter.
Things would quickly turn south for the Cavs. Newberry would answer with a 5-play, 78-yard drive that culminated with a 5-yard Tylik Johnson touchdown run to tie the game.
The Wolves would take a lead they would not relinquish when Cade Ruff caped a 9-play, 70-yard drive with a 13 yard touchdown run on a reverse on a third and goal play.
The hosts would score once more before intermission when Colton Bailey hooked up with Brentley Allen on a 14-yard touchdown connection.
Newberry's defense dominated the first half by outgaining UVa-Wise in yardage 213-to-55.
Defense was the story of the third quarter as the Cavs and Wolves traded punts. Newberry tallied just three first downs in the third quarter while registering 46 yards of offense. Meanwhile, the Cavs were held to two first downs and 18 yards of offense.
The hosts finally put the game away with less than a minute to play when Shea Rodgers booted a 43-yard field goal to make it a 24-7 contest. The Wolves added a score on a pick six on the game's final play to provide the final margin.
Defensive back AJ Felton Jr. did make history in the loss when he blocked a Rodgers field goal attempt. It was Felton's third blocked kick of the season tying the UVa-Wise single-season record.
Fellow defensive back Marcus Tarrer recorded a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss as part of an 11 tackle performance.
As a unit, the Cavs defense made 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
UVa-Wise returns to play next Saturday at home against Tusculum in a 1 p.m. kickoff.
