Complete Game Notes
WISE - - UVa-Wise and Chowan will meet for the first time since 2005 Saturday when the two schools begin their 2019 gridiron schedule in a 12 p.m. kick from Carl Smith Stadium.
Both teams finished 2018 with a bang, visiting Chowan won its last four games to finish 6-4 behind one of the nation's top offenses while UVa-Wise upended perennial power Shepherd University to post a 4-6 mark behind one of the nation's top defenses.
The visiting Hawks return redshirt senior tailback Tyrell Freeman who earned First-Team All-CIAA, First-Team All-Super Region II and Honorable Mention All-America status as a junior. The running back is the most prolific rusher in Chowan history as he holds the school single-game rushing record (308 yards), single-season rushing record (1,292 yards) and career rushing mark (2,305 yards). A year ago, the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder averaged 6.9 yards per carry en route to 1,292 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. His 1,292 rushing yards ranked 15th nationally among NCAA Division II rushers.
Chowan also returns its quarterback Bryce Witt off an offense that ranked sixth in NCAA Division II in total offense at 511.7 yards per game. Witt completed 62 percent of his passes last fall to finish with 2,700 yards as he was named Third-Team All-Super Region II.
Across from Chowan's potent offense will be first-year defensive coordinator Chris Cunningham's UVa-Wise defense. Cunningham served as the Cavaliers' linebackers coach last fall and inherits six returners from last season's defense that ranked top 25 nationally in six different statistical categories. Among the returners is redshirt junior Marcus Tarrer. The defensive back led UVa-Wise with 78 tackles and earned All-MEC First-Team and Third-Team Super Region I honors in the process. Tarrer is just one of several talented defensive backs returning as seniors Demetrius Mann, Marquis Hamilton and Marquis Braimer are also back in the fold.
As a unit, the Cavs allowed just 168.1 passing yards per game to rank 18th in NCAA Division II while ranking 19th in total defense at 302.6 yards allowed per game. The 2019 version could see as many as five NCAA Division I transfers on the field at one time as newcomers A.J. Felton, Austin Hicks and Drew O'Bryan join fellow transfers Mann and Rondre Knowles-Tenner on the defensive side of the ball.
The game will also be the debut of UVa-Wise first-year offensive coordinator Zach Lewis. Lewis spent last season in the same role at Alderson Broaddus where he guided the Battlers to 419.7 yards per game and top 40 ranking nationally; a year ago, the Cavs posted 326 yards per game. Lewis' unit returns five starters, including All-MEC Honorable Mention left tackle Sage McBride who made 11 starts at the position in 2018. Sophomore quarterback Tanner Bernard also returns after being thrust into duty in last season's opening contest due to multiple injuries at the position. The group should also see a boost from tailback Terrence Lambert, the Troy University standout missed all of 2018 to injury and is slated to see his first action as a Cav this Saturday.
This will be Chowan's first trip to Smith Stadium since 2005. UVa-Wise leads the all-time series 5-0 and it will mark the first meeting between the schools since the Cavs became a NCAA Division II member.
Next week, UVa-Wise travels to NCAA FCS member Tennessee Tech while Chowan plays its home opener against Alderson Broaddus.
