WISE, Va. — A late goal-line stand by Newberry held off a valiant comeback effort by UVA Wise as the Highland Cavaliers lost
their South Atlantic Conference opener to the Wolves 31-24 Saturday evening on the Beaty-Richmond Field at Carl Smith Stadium.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: Newberry 31, UVA Wise 24
Records: UVA Wise (0-2, 0-1 South Atlantic Conference); Newberry (1-0, 1-0 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | Beaty-Richmond Field at Carl Smith Stadium
FIRST QUARTER
- UVA Wise opened the game with a strong offensive drive that took 5:15 off the clock, capped by
Jake Corkren's 35-yard touchdown pass to
Peyton McClanahan with 9:45 left.
- On the ensuing kickoff, Newberry's Quez Spells immediately responded with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, leveling the score at 7-7 with 9:31 remaining.
- Newberry took the lead late in the first quarter as Kenmane Brunson rushed for a 3-yard touchdown, concluding a methodical 8-play, 73-yard drive giving the visitors a 14-7 lead.
SECOND QUARTER
- UVA Wise immediately responded tying the game on a
Daniel Thomas 31-yard touchdown run for the Cavs, tying the game at 14-14 just seven seconds into the period.
Andon Rogers had a big 23-yard rush which set the stage for the Thomas touchdown.
- After the Cavalier defense forced a Newberry three-and-out, Corkren led a 15-play, 61-yard drive, highlighted by a 12-yard completion to Rogers and a 10-yard strike to
DJ Powell. A goal line stand by the Newberry defense held the Cavs to a 19-yard
Jake Marcantel field goal, providing UVA Wise with a 17-14 lead.
- Newberry quickly responded with a 6-play, 50-yard drive, capped by Burke Nettles' 24-yard field goal, tying the game at 17-17 at the half.
THIRD QUARTER
- Both teams exchanged punts to begin the second half before Newberry capitalized on their second drive, as Reed Charpia connected with Keith Desaussure for a 22-yard touchdown pass at 9:03, giving the Wolves a 24-17 lead.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Newberry's Charpia connected on a 54-yard pass to Rico Dorsey Jr., setting up a short touchdown pass to Jonah Norris at 13:17, extending their lead to 31-17.
- UVA Wise responded with a determined drive, as
Daniel Thomas rushed for 37 yards on six carries, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:47 remaining, narrowing the deficit to 31-24.
- On the ensuing possession, the Highland Cavaliers' defense held firm, forcing a punt after a three-and-out by Newberry.
- The UVA Wise offense quickly moved into the redzone, with a chance to tie the game, but were stifled at the 1-yard line as the Newberry defense forced a turnover on downs.
- The Cavs immediately forced a Newberry punt; and took over one last time on the Newberry 42-yard line with 54 seconds remaining but were unable to find the endzone before time expired.
GETTING WISE
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Daniel Thomas carried the ball 43 times for 161 yards, and two touchdowns. His 167 yards are the third-most in the program's NCAA Era (2013-present), trailing the 231 by Jamorya Cousin vs. Concord on Sept. 15, 2018. They are also the most by a Highland Cavalier in a SAC game since Jaevon Gillespie had 166 vs. Carson-Newman on Sept. 25, 2021.
- The UVA Wise defense held the Wolves to 75 yards on the ground; the second consecutive week the defense has allowed 75 or fewer rushing yards. The defense also held Newberry to just one third down conversion in the contest.
-The Cavs outgained the Wolves 459 to 276 and controlled the ball for over 37 minutes.
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Jake Corkren completed 20 of 36 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for 12 yards on seven attempts.
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Peyton McClanahan contributed three catches for 49 yards, including his first career touchdown reception.
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DJ Powell had seven receptions for a total of 67 receiving yards.
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DaCorian Jones-Montgomery,
Bryson Myers, and
Jimmie Simmons combined to lead the Cavs defense with five tackles apiece.
- Newberry moves to 3-0 in the all-time series with the win.
UP NEXT
The Cavs will travel to Salisbury, North Carolina, next Saturday to face off against Catawba in South Atlantic Conference action. The matchup is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
