WISE – The UVA Wise football team celebrated Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day with their highest offensive output of the season as they defeated Tusculum 35-27 Saturday afternoon in a South Atlantic Conference game on the Beaty-Richmond Field.
The win snaps a four-game Cavalier losing streak and was the 150
th win in program history.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 35, Tusculum 27
Records: UVA Wise (3-5, 2-4 SAC); Tusculum (1-7, 1-6 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | Beaty-Richmond Field at Carl Smith Stadium
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Pioneers' Jojo Restall broke loose for a 69-yard run down the left sideline on the second play from scrimmage on Tusculum's opening drive, setting up the three yard touchdown run by AJ Hill on the next play.
- On the ensuing possession the Highland Cavaliers marched down the field for 73 yards in six plays, culminating in the seven-yard touchdown run up the middle by
Ian Scammell to tie the game at 7-7.
- Late in the first quarter,
Cooper Wick threw a quick pass to
Dejauvis Dozier, who then scored from 23 yards out to give the Cavs the 14-7 lead.
- The Pioneers tied the game at 14-14 with 5:38 remaining in the half when Ethan Stinnett went around the left side of the line for the five-yard touchdown. Both teams had late drives but were unable to get points from them and the score stood tied 14-14 at the half.
- The Cavaliers took the ball to open the second half. A 27-yard reception by
DJ Powell and a 16 yard catch by Dozier helped set up the three yard TD reception by
Brady Dalton. On the second play of their next drive, Tusculum's Restall broke loose for a 69-yard touchdown run that tied the game back up at 21-21.
- UVA Wise answered with a quick drive going 63 yards on three plays that took 63 seconds as Powell caught the 12-yard pass at the Pioneer 20 and took in on in for the touchdown.
- Tusculum fumbled at the one-yard line when
Nicolas Sturgill knocked the ball loose with a hard tackle and UVA Wise's
Raaphell Mayes II dove on it. The Cavs then drove the length of the field on 12 plays to take the 35-21 lead on the 18-yard run by
Ian Scammell with 13:13 remaining in the game.
- The Pioneers cut the lead to 35-27 on a pass to the right sideline that was caught inside the one-yard line by Ashton Hagans, who then fell into the endzone. The point-after kick went wide. Both teams traded a possession before the Cavs got the ball with 4:16 remaining and ran out the clock.
GETTING WISE
- The win improved the all-time series with Tusculum to 7-8 overall and 5-4 in Wise. It also broke a four-game losing streak to the Pioneers.
- The Cavaliers had their highest offensive output of the season with 456 yards of total offense. Their 369 passing yards are the most since they had 372 vs. VU-Lynchburg on Sept. 4, 2021 and the 456 yards of total offense are the most since the team had 577 vs. Ferrum on Sept. 1, 2022.
-
Cooper Wick had an impressive outing in his second start, going 27-39-0 for 369 yards and three touchdowns.
- Scammell had 84 yards and two touchdowns from 19 carries.
- Three Cavs had 75 or more receiving yards, led by Dozier's 83 on eight catches. Powell had 81 yards and a touchdown from nine catches, while
Seth Fischbach had seven receptions for 79 yards.
ABOUT TUSCULUM
- The Pioneers had 461 yards of offense – 343 from rushing and 118 in the air.
- Matthew Palazzo was 9-18 for 118 yards and a touchdown.
- Restall had 172 yards and a touchdown from 11 carries, including two runs of 69 yards.
- AJ Hill and Reginald Hunter both had 35 receiving yards from two receptions apiece.
UP NEXT
The Cavs are on the road for the rest of the season, with games at Emory & Henry and Barton to round out the 2024 campaign. First up is the Southwest Virginia Bowl matchup vs Southwest Virginia's other team when the Cavs make the trip to Washington County to face Emory & Henry next Saturday. The Wasps came into today receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll and were ranked 23
rd in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, but fell to Mars Hill 31-23.
