MARS HILL, N.C. - - Reigning South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player Of The Week JR Martin made a bid to be a repeat winner as the Mars Hill quarterback accounted for five total touchdowns in his team's 49-24 victory over UVA Wise at Meares Stadium Saturday.
Mars Hill (7-1, 6-1 SAC) scored the first 42 points of the game as Jon Gullete hauled in a 20-yard touchdown strike from Martin to get the scoring going at the 2:51 mark of the first quarter. Martin would later add a trio of rushing touchdowns in the second quarter while teammate Dexter Fitzpatrick added a 57-yard fumble recovery touchdown as part of a 28-point period for the hosts.
The Lions tacked on another score when Gullete capped a 7-play, 44-yard scoring drive with a 3-yard touchdown run with 12:02 to play in the third quarter.
UVA Wise (2-7, 1-6 SAC) would get its first points of the day when Jake Corkren found Dorien Goddard for a 24-yard touchdown pass. It was part of a solid day for Corkren who completed 17-of-23 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Martin would find Gullete for a 60-yard touchdown pass with 5:04 left in the third period for his fifth and final touchdown of the game. Following Lon Teachey's conversion kick, Mars Hill was on top 49-7.
The third-quarter scoring would come to a close when the Cavs' Jake Marcantel booted a 44-yard field goal, it was the first collegiate field goal of his career.
Zavier Lomax would find the end zone for the fourth time this season when he darted in from 40 yards out. The 40-yard run was the longest of Lomax's career and highlighted a day that saw the freshman rush for a season-best 131 yards on 20 carries.
Juwan Dent would find Jamarion Chavis from seven yards out with 2:12 to play to get UVA Wise within 25 at 49-24. The touchdown catch was the first of the Hopewell, Va. product's career.
DJ Powell had a big day catching the football in the loss, the redshirt sophomore caught eight passes for a team-high 52 yards.
Landon Honeycutt had a huge day on defense for Mars Hill. The linebacker recorded 17 tackles, the most by any player in the SAC this season while adding a strip sack.
Martin finished the day 10-of-14 through the air for 252 yards while adding 77 rushing yards on six carries. Gullette was his favorite target as the tailback caught three passes for 106 yards; the freshman added 45 rushing yards in what was the Lions' fourth consecutive victory.
The win allows Mars Hill to stay atop the SAC Mountain Division, the Lions will play Tusculum next week with the divisional title on the line in Greeneville, Tenn.
UVA Wise will finish the season with back-to-back home games to wrap up the season. Next week, Dane Damron's team entertains Carson-Newman in a 12 p.m. kickoff from Smith Stadium.
