WILSON, NC – UVA Wise Football jumped out to a first half lead with 21 points in the second quarter and held on late earning their fourth victory of the season, 24-21 on a chilly Saturday night at Barton College. Ultimately, two fourth-quarter defensive stands and a little bit of luck, with the Barton potential game-tying field goal hitting off of the left upright, propelled UVA Wise to the win, doubling their season win total from 2023 in Head Coach
Gary Bass' first year at the helm of the program.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 24, Barton 21
Records: UVA Wise 4-6 (2-5 SAC); Barton 3-8 (2-6 SAC)
Location: Wilson, NC | Truist Stadium
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Both teams traded defensive stands throughout the first quarter. Early in the 2
nd quarter Barton recovered a UVA Wise fumble, but were unable to take advantage of the short field, as the UVA Wise defense held Barton to a missed field goal attempt.
-At 9:45 of the second quarter, the Cavs took over on their own 20-yard line and methodically moved down the field. Behind four
Cooper Wick completions and four
Dejauvis Dozier carries, the Cavaliers scored their first of three second quarter touchdowns, by way of a 1-yard Dozier touchdown run.
-Barton immediately answered with a quick five-play touchdown drive to tie the game at seven, it would be the Bulldogs only touchdown of the first half.
-The Cavs immediately answered on the ensuing drive, as
Cooper Wick found
Seth Fischbach for 45 yards. After a Dozier 13-yard run, Wick found Tight End
Isaiah Boyd for a 17-yard touchdown.
-On the next Barton drive,
Da'Jon Barnes intercepted Barton QB Al Lee at the UVA Wise 46-yard line. The Cavs took advantage of the short field, as
Dejauvis Dozier scored his second touchdown of the night capping off the seven-play scoring drive, giving UVA Wise a 21-7 halftime advantage.
-The only scoring of the third quarter came on a
Jordan Crabtree 23-yard field goal, following yet another Cavalier takeaway, as Barton muffed a punt on their own 18-yardline.
-Barton scored touchdowns on their first two drives of the fourth quarter cutting the Cavalier lead to 24-21 with 9:00 remaining in the contest.
-The Cavalier defense bent but refused to break, Raaphell Mayes came up with a huge tackle for loss as he sniffed out a fourth down Barton reverse pass attempt, taking down Barton WR Davon Adams for a 14-yard loss.
-Barton had one final chance after the Two-Minute Timeout, but the Cavalier defense dug deep to hold the Bulldogs to a game-tying field goal attempt, which rattled off the left upright securing the win for the Cavs.
WISE UP
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Cooper Wick completed 18 passes on 31 attempts for 223 yards and a touchdown.
-
Dejauvis Dozier rushed 12 times for 69 and two touchdowns, finishing his freshman season with five touchdowns.
-
Seth Fischbach hauled in six passes for 91 yards, while
DJ Powell added four receptions for 72 yards.
-In what might be the only meeting between the former player and coach,
Gary Bass defeated his former Catawba College Head Coach and current Barton College Head Coach Chip Hester. Barton's South Atlantic Conference associate football membership status concluded after the game, as they head to Conference Carolinas for the 2025 season.
UP NEXT
-UVA Wise finishes the season 4-6 (4-5 V. NCAA DII Competition) doubling their 2023 win total in the inaugural season of the
Gary Bass era.
-The coaching staff will hit the recruiting trail looking to capitalize on the momentum of their first season at UVA Wise.
-For the players, Spring Ball will begin in March and culminate with the Annual Spring Game in April, stay tuned to uvawisecavs.com for updates.
-The Cavs will open the 2025 campaign in August, continuing their regional rivalry hosting former Mountain East Conference foe Concord University.
