WISE – The UVA Wise football team scored first and held a lead after the first quarter, but key turnovers would come back to haunt the team in a 31-17 South Atlantic Conference loss to Mars Hill
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: Mars Hill 31, UVA Wise 17
Records: UVA Wise (2-5, 1-4 SAC); Mars Hill (3-3, 3-2 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | Beaty-Richmond Field at Carl Smith Stadium
HOW IT HAPPENED
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DJ Powell's 38-yard return on the opening kickoff set up a 13-play Highland Cavalier drive that stalled just inside the red zone, but a 38-yard field goal by Jake Crabtree gave the Cavs the 3-0 lead.
- Midway through the quarter Mars Hill would drive 63 yards on nine plays and score on a catch by Izaiah Jean-Baptiste at the one-yard line. After the ensuing kickoff resulted in a touchback, UVA Wise's
Ian Scammell ran it right up the middle and scampered 75 yards for the touchdown and the 10-7 lead for the Cavs.
- MHU's next drive spanned the quarter break and resulted in a Lion touchdown from a four-yard run by Jon Gullette. On the next drive the Cavs would move down the field with a ten-play drive only to have a potential touchdown pass picked off at the goal line by Tristan Rankin. The Lions scored ten plays later from a quarterback keeper by JR Martin to give MHU the 21-10 lead. On their next possession they would add to the lead with a 33-yard field goal as time expired to take the 24-10 lead to the locker room.
- The Cavs cut the lead to 24-17 late in the third quarter on a 54-yard touchdown run by
Dejauvis Dozier.
- UVA Wise forced the Lions to punt, but another turnover led to another score by the Lions with 1:40 left in the game and they held on for the 31-17 win.
GAME NOTES
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Ian Scammell led the Cavs in rushing with a career high 117 yards from 15 carries. His 75-yard touchdown run was also a career high.
Dejauvis Dozier chipped in 68 yards from 11 carries and a touchdown.
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Dorien Goddard led the receiving corps with five catches for 42 yards.
- Quarterback
Cooper Wick was 17-32 for 166 passing yards.
- MHU's JR Martin had a big day as he went 22-26 for 311 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 15 times for 41 yards and another touchdown.
- Beau DeBerry had seven catches for 116 yards receiving, while Jean-Baptiste had five receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown.
- Gullette accounted for the other rushing touchdown by the Lions as he had 76 yards from 23 carries.
UP NEXT
UVA Wise will host their final home game next week when Tusculum University makes the short trip from Greeneville, Tennessee, for a 2 p.m. kickoff on the Beaty-Richmond Field. It will also be Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day at Carl Smith Stadium.
