WISE - - Carson-Newman scored the game's first 52 points en route to handing UVA Wise its worst home loss since 2016 with a 52-7 South Atlantic Conference triumph at Smith Stadium Saturday.

Carson-Newman (5-5, 4-4 SAC) opened the game with a bang as William Johnson III intercepted the opening pass of the game and returned it for a touchdown. UVA Wise (2-8, 1-7 SAC) never recovered as Dane Damron's team crossed midfield just once in the first 30 minutes while the visitors built the large halftime bulge.

Tyler Curtis had a 6-yard touchdown run while Zane Whitson fired a pair of touchdown passes for CN in the opening half. The Eagles scored their second defensive touchdown of the half when Major Williams scooped and scored from 40 yards out at the 7:29 mark of the second quarter to make it 35-0.

Andrew Sybert connected on a 22-yard field goal with 85 seconds to play in the half to provide the halftime margin of 38-0.

Whitson found Cade Meeks for a 19-yard touchdown with 11:20 in the third quarter before Don Bradley caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Ja'Laun Walton in the fourth quarter to account for the Eagles' points.

UVA Wise's lone score came with 8:50 to play when Jaevon Gillespie scored from the 2-yard line to cap a 37-yard scoring drive.

Whitson finished with 188 passing yards with Mekhi Brown leading the CN defense with 10 tackles.

The Cavs received eight tackles and a sack from Patrick Taylor.

Damron's team wraps up the regular season next Saturday at home against Wingate 12 p.m.