JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - - Host Carson Newman University scored 42 unanswered points and rushed for 464 yards in a 42-7 South Atlantic Conference football victory over UVa-Wise at Burke – Tarr Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Eagles limited the Cavaliers to just 195 yards of total offense for the game, including just 71 in the second half en route to the school's first league win of the season.
Things started well for UVa-Wise (1-2, 0-2 SAC) as Shaheim Revel hauled in the first touchdown pass of his collegiate career, a 22-yard strike from Garrett Cropp to give the Cavs a 7-0 lead with 4:28 to play in the opening quarter.
From there, it was all Carson-Newman (2-1, 1-1 SAC) as the hosts scored three unanswered first half touchdowns to take a 21-7 lead to intermission. Quarterback Derrick Evans completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Romain Kelly to tie the game before Evans scored on a 7-yard touchdown and Marcus Williams found the end zone with a 54-yard touchdown gallop.
The Eagles put the game away in the third quarter as Evans hooked up with Braxton Westfield for his second touchdown pass of the game to make it a 28-7 contest. The following Carson-Newman possession would consume over eight minutes and span 18 plays before Troy Dendy capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Dendy added an 18-yard touchdown scamper to complete the day's scoring in the fourth quarter.
Three UVa-Wise quarterbacks in the game, including freshman Lendon Redwine who saw his first collegiate action. Logan Jenkins had an interception in the loss while Buster Henderson posted nine tackles.
Evans gained 137 yards on the ground while passing for 74 yards. Four Eagles finished with at least 50 rushing yards as Marcus Williams gained 75 yards on three carries, Toot Johnson tallied 68 yards on 12 carries and Dendy picked up 53 yards on six rushes.
The Cavs were not penalized in the game and freshman punter Drew Vermillion continued to excel. Vermillion averaged 43.6 yards per punt on eight punts with two sailing over 50 yards. The freshman booted a season-long 68 yarder at one point and had two punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Next week, the Cavs will travel to nationally ranked Lenoir-Rhyne in a 2 p.m. kickoff.
