WISE - - Tusculum overcame four turnovers and two scoreless trips to the red zone to upend UVa-Wise 21-19 in South Atlantic Conference football action at Carl Smith Stadium Saturday. The Pioneers limited the Cavaliers to just 3-of-17 on third down and registered six sacks in the road triumph.

Tusculum (2-5, 2-3 SAC) struck first as Bryce Moore fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to Tory Ponder to cap a 3-play, 54-yard drive to go in front 7-0 with 11:06 to play in the first quarter.

The UVa-Wise (1-6, 0-5 SAC) defense provided a spark later in the quarter when junior Demetrius Mann picked off a Moore pass. Mann's play set the stage for a 2-play, 33-yard drive that featured a 25-yard run by Terrence Lambert and an 8-yard scoring jaunt by Garrett Cropp. The extra point was no good leaving the score 7-6.

Dane Damron's team would spend the rest of the afternoon chasing that point. The Pioneers pushed the lead to eight with 12:15 to play in the first half when Moore hooked up with Ajay Belanger on a 35-yard touchdown pass. The conversion kick made it a 14-6 contest.

The remainder of the game in many ways was a day of missed chances for UVa-Wise.

Rodney Hudson's first career interception thwarted a Pioneers' drive inside the Cavs' 35-yard line but, the UVa-Wise offense would be unable to mount any offense punting the ball back after a 3-and-out.

A possession later, senior Bryce Harty stopped a Tusculum drive with a sack on a 4th-and-6 play from the Cavs' 30-yard line.

Following the sack, UVa-Wise closed the half with its best drive of the half. J'Quan Anderson scored with eight seconds to go in the half to culminate an 8-play, 67-yard drive. The two point try failed, sending the teams to halftime at 14-12.

Following a 15-yard touchdown scamper by Moore at the 9:58 mark of the third quarter Tusculum led 21-12.

The two score lead would prove to be insurmountable as the UVa-Wise offense would mount just 19 yards in the third quarter.

While the offense was struggling, the Cavs defense continued to make big plays. With Tusculum on the UVa-Wise 4-yard line, Veronta Jones would force a fumble with teammate Chavon Fields recovering it and returning it 66 yards to the Pioneers' 33-yard line.

Following a 3-and-out, AJ Felton Jr. made another big play for the defense as he intercepted Moore giving the ball back to the offense with 4:01 in the third quarter.

After both teams traded punts, the game moved to the fourth quarter.

Tusculum would be on the verge of a score but a botched field goal attempt kept the Pioneers off the board with 5:58 to play.

UVa-Wise would be forced to punt but again Tusculum would be unable to generate any offense punting it away with 4:03 remaining.

The Cavs would go on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that finished with a Shaheim Revel touchdown run, the extra point made it a 21-19 game with 1:32 remaining.

UVa-Wise would try an onside kick but it would be unsuccessful with Tusculum recovering and running out the clock to preserve the win.

It was the eleventh all-time meeting between the two schools; Tusculum's win made the all-time series 6-to-5 in favor of UVa-Wise.

Jordon Shippy led the way for the Pioneers by gaining 127 rushing yards on 29 carries while adding 52 receiving yards on three catches.

Veronta Jones finished with a career-high 10 tackles to tie Austin Hicks for game-high tackles honors.

Next week, UVa-Wise visits nationally ranked Wingate in a 6 p.m. kickoff.