GREENWOOD, S.C. - - UVA Wise scored on offense, defense and special teams en route to a 28-13 triumph over Erskine College to secure the program's first South Atlantic Conference win of the season at J.W. Babb Stadium Saturday.
Erskine (2-6, 0-6 SAC) jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a UVA Wise (2-6, 1-5 SAC) turnover and a big play. The Cavaliers turned the ball over on their own 13-yard line and three plays later Kevon Catoe darted in from the 1-yard line for the first points of the day to put the Flying Fleet on top at the 8:24 mark of the opening quarter.
The hosts extended the lead to two scores when Will Hiller booted a 19-yard field goal after a 44-yard run by Bryce Jeffcoat. It was a missed opportunity for Erskine who ran eight plays inside the UVA Wise 10-yard line thanks to a penalty. Shap Boyd's squad would be stopped on a total of six consecutive plays from inside the 3-yard line.
UVA Wise would drive inside the Erskine 10-yard line and be on the cusp of getting the game back within a score when Erskine would fall on a fumble at its own 7-yard line to end the threat.
After a 3-and-out, the Cavs special teams unit would make a big play. A.J. Stewart would bust through the Fleet line and block a punt out of the back of the end zone for a safety, cutting the deficit to 10-2.
Following the free kick, Dane Damron's team would matriculate the ball down the field on a 14-play scoring drive. The drive was capped on a fourth down touchdown reception by Joey Vandyke, the two point conversion failed leaving the score 10-8.
UVA Wise's defense would stand tall in the opening moments of the third quarter as a strip sack by Joel Burgess preceded a 37-yard interception pick six by Patrick Taylor. Taylor's big play would put the visitors in front for good.
Trailing 14-10, Erskine would attempt a fake punt from the UVA Wise 49-yard line only to see Trevor Morris stay home and make the play, leaving the Fleet short of the yard to gain and turning the ball over on downs.
A 12-play scoring drive would be capped by Julian Edwards who scored from the 4-yard line. The subsequent conversion kick by Kellan Dalton left UVA Wise in front 21-10.
Hiller would get the lead back to one score with his second field goal of the day, a 37-yarder with 2:42 to play in the third quarter.
It would be as close as the Fleet would get. Â Jakoby Johnson would put the exclamation point on the win when he scored from 28 yards out to provide the final margin of 28-13.
Johnson finished the game with 95 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries while Juwan Dent was 15-for-29 for 117 yards and a score through the air.
The Cavs' defense was led by Burgess who tallied six solo stops, including the sack.
The win stopped a six-game losing streak for UVA Wise and also marked a record breaking moment. Punter Drew Vermillion became the school's all-time leader in punt yardage as his 231 punt yards in the game giving him 8,057 for his career to surpass former record holder Dean Hogan.
Erskine was limited to 213 total yards in the loss, including just 78 rushing yards.
Quarterback Jeffcoat was the team's leading rusher with 44 yards.
Next week, UVA Wise returns home to square off with Mars Hill in what will be the final home game of the season for the Cavs. Kickoff from Carl Smith Stadium is slated for 12 p.m.
