The University of Virginia's College at Wise Athletics

WISE -- UVA Wise answered a Carson-Newman opening drive score with a one-play, seven-second touchdown drive following an Eagle fumble in the first quarter, but were unable to add to that total as C-N grounded out 500 yards of rushing to defeat the Highland Cavaliers 42-7 Saturday evening.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 7, Carson-Newman 42
Records: UVA Wise (0-4, 0-2 South Atlantic Conference); C-N (4-0, 2-0 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | Carl Smith Stadium

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
- Carson-Newman opened with a 10-play, 65-yard drive, finishing it on Kayden McCoy's 5-yard touchdown run before Bennett Smith's PAT made it 7-0.
- After the Highland Cavaliers' first possession reached the Carson-Newman 38 and ended with a punt to the 6, Jalin Edwards forced and recovered a fumble at the 9; one play later, McCalan Beason found Elijah Thompson for a 9-yard touchdown, and Ryder Lawson's PAT tied it 7-7 at 6:21.
- Carson-Newman answered with an eight-play, 60-yard drive capped by Justin Johnson's 5-yard touchdown run, and Smith's PAT put the visitors ahead 14-7 with 2:21 left in the quarter.
- The Cavs punted on their final possession of the quarter before Nathan Kelley stopped Johnson for a 3-yard loss on the last play, leaving the score 14-7 after the first quarter.
 
Second Quarter
- Jalen Pickens dropped Jaden Jones for a 4-yard loss to stop Carson-Newman's drive, and Thomas Sapp later pinned the Eagles at their 2 with a 41-yard punt.
- The Cavaliers put together a 12-play possession from their 30, with Evan Kennedy converting fourth-and-1 at the Carson-Newman 34, but the drive ended on downs at the 24 after a penalty gave the Highland Cavaliers another fourth-down chance.
- Carson-Newman answered with a 76-yard drive, using Kayden McCoy's 57-yard run to reach the Cavs' 9 before Justin Johnson scored from 11 yards out and Bennett Smith's PAT made it 21-7.
- Beason hit Tre'mell Washington for 20 yards on the final Cavaliers possession, but Isaiah Cane intercepted a pass at the Carson-Newman 10 on the last play before halftime.
 
Third Quarter
- Daniel Thomas converted third-and-2 with a 4-yard run on the Cavs' opening possession, but the drive stalled after back-to-back incompletions and Sapp punted.
- Carson-Newman put together a 13-play, 77-yard drive, converting three third downs before Justin Johnson scored on a 1-yard run at 6:21. Bennett Smith's extra point made it 28-7.
- The Cavaliers moved 69 yards on the next drive, including Beason's 38-yard completion to Thomas McCoy, but the Cavaliers turned it over on downs at the Carson-Newman 6.
- Carson-Newman took over there, picked up two first downs and carried the ball to its own 34 as the quarter ended with the Eagles ahead 28-7.
 
Fourth Quarter
- Carson-Newman opened the quarter with Josiah Edwards' 66-yard touchdown run, and Bennett Smith's extra point made it 35-7 at 14:48.
- Max Hammer's 59-yard punt backed Carson-Newman up at its 5, but the Eagles put together a 15-play, 95-yard drive that included a 39-yard run by Jerome Newland and Dayshawn Brown's 17-yard fourth-down run.
- Brown finished that drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, and Smith's kick pushed the score to 42-7 at 3:16.
- The Cavaliers' final possession included a 13-yard completion from Beason to Elijah Thompson before Carson-Newman took over and closed out the 42-7 final.

GETTING WISE
- McCalan Beason was 13-for-25 in passing for 125 yards and a touchdown.
- Daniel Thomas had 13 carries for 60 yards.
- Thomas McCoy had three receptions for 57 yards.
- Elijah Thompson had three receptions for 21 yards and a touchdown.
- Jalin Edwards had three tackles and forced a fumble, which he recovered.
- Isaiah McGuffin had nine tackles
- Carson-Newman had zero passing yards for the game. The last team to have less than 50 yards passing against UVA Wise was Catawba, who had 41 on Nov.16, 2021. The zero yards are definitely a school record in the program's NCAA era, and might be an overall school record as available records from 1991-2012 don't show any other time that has happened.

UP NEXT
The Highland Cavaliers travel to Wingate, N.C., to face Wingate next Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Irwin Belk Stadium.
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