WISE – With the annual Red & Gray Game coming up on April 27, UVA Wise football head coach Gary Bass and his staff have announced the team's 2024 schedule. The schedule features five home games and a meeting with a local Division I FCS opponent. Nine of the eleven games will be South Atlantic Conference games.
The Highland Cavaliers will open the Gary Bass era with a short trip down US 23 to square off with the FCS Division I Bucs of East Tennessee State University on Sept. 7 in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Bucs finished 3-8 last season and 2-6 in the Southern Conference. This will be the second meeting between the two schools, who last met on Sept. 11, 2021.
Another short trip is on hand on Sept. 14 when the Cavs travel to face former Mountain East Conference rival Concord University in Athens, West Virginia. This will be the eleventh meeting between the two schools and the first since 2018.
The first home game of the Gary Bass era will kick off on Sept. 21 at 2:00 p.m. at Carl Smith Stadium against the new head coach's alma mater, Catawba College. The home opener will also be the first SAC game of the season for UVA Wise. This will be the third meeting between the Cavs and the Catawba Indians, with the Cavs holding a 2-0 record in the series. Being the home opener for football, it will also be Lelia Maude Richmond Day, which commemorates the school's long-time "Number One Fan" for her support of UVA Wise athletics.
A trip to Newberry, South Carolina is next on Sept. 28 as the Cavs face the Newberry Wolves at Setzler Field. The Wolves captured the 37-14 victory over UVA Wise last season in Wise.
The squad will begin a two-game home stand on Oct. 12 when Wingate comes to Wise. They met in Wise last season, with the Bulldogs taking home the win.
Homecoming 2024 will take place on Oct. 12 as the Cavs welcome Anderson University. This will be the first meeting between the two programs as Anderson is in their first year of competition. Homecoming will be the first of five consecutive SAC Mountain Division matchups.
The Cavs will travel to Jefferson City, Tennessee on Oct. 19 for a meeting with Carson-Newman University. The Cavs will look for revenge after dropping a contest to the Eagles last season in Wise.
UVA Wise will then play their final two home games of the regular season as they host Mars Hill University on Oct. 27 and Tusculum University on Nov. 2. This will be the eleventh meeting all-time between UVA Wise and Mars Hill.
Nov. 2 against Tusculum will be Senior Day 2024 as well as Military Appreciation Day. The Cavs are 4-4 all-time against the Pioneers at home. In addition to honoring senior members of the football team, marching band, and cheer squad, all veterans will be admitted free of charge as part of the Cavaliers Military Appreciation Day festivities.
On Nov. 9, UVA Wise and local rival Emory & Henry College will meet in Emory, Virginia for the seventh installment of the "Southwest Virginia Bowl." Marking the first ever November meeting between the two schools.
The Cavs will then close out the regular season in Wilson, North Carolina, on Nov. 16 when they face Barton College.
All home games will start at 2:00 p.m. Stay tuned to uvawisecavs.com for Fall 2024 ticketing information, and updated road kickoff times, which will be posted as they become available.
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The Cavs will play their annual Red & Gray on April 27 at 2:30 p.m. There are several events and festivities scheduled around the game as part of the team's Community Day.
The Tailgating Lot opens at 11 a.m. with a DJ, cornhole tournament, and children's activities planned for the area.
At noon, the coaching staff and players will hold a Youth Camp, followed by the game at 2:30 p.m.
