WISE, Va. — Cooper Wick passed for 369 yards and three touchdowns to lead UVA Wise to a 35-27 South Atlantic Conference win over visiting Tusculum Saturday afternoon at Carl Smith Stadium.
The Highland Cavaliers (3-5, 2-4 SAC) snap a four-game losing streak, while also ending a four-game skid against the Pioneers (1-7, 1-6 SAC).
The two teams combined for over 900 yards offensively as Tusculum outgained UVA Wise by a 461-456 margin.
The Cavaliers recorded 28 first downs on the afternoon and went 10-of-14 on its third down conversions. TU went 3-of-11 on third down but were a perfect 3-of-3 on its fourth down tries.
Tusculum’s Jojo Restall led all players with a career-high 172 rushing yards which are the 13th most ever by a Pioneer. Restall highlighted a TU ground attack which accounted for a season-best 343 rushing yards.
Defensively, the Pioneers were led by Rashad Watson who posted a career-high 12 tackles including one for loss with a pass break-up. Ian Hubbert added a season-best nine stops to go along with four pass break-ups which are tied for the sixth-most by a Pioneer in a game.
Tusculum linebacker Earnest Johnson achieved a personal milestone on Saturday as he recorded his 200th career tackle, becoming the 21st Pioneer to join that exclusive club. He finished the game with seven tackles.
The Pioneers took the opening possession and on the second play from scrimmage, Restall rambled for a 69-yard run to the Wise 3. AJ Hill would punch it in from there with his three-yard touchdown 1:19 into the contest. John Aiden Pittman‘s kick made it 7-0 in favor of the Pioneers.
The Cavs responded with a 73-yard, six-play drive which was capped off by an Ian Scammell seven-yard TD run. Jordan Crabtree’s extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 11:43 left in the quarter.
Later in the period, Wick completed a 23-yard strike to Dejauvis Dozier as the Cavaliers took their first lead of the day at 14-7 with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, Tusculum defensive back Corey Radcliff forced a fumble and recovered it as the Wise 28. TU took advantage of the miscue and six plays later, Ethan Stinnett scored on a five-yard sweep to the left side for a touchdown to even the score at 14-14 with 5:38 before halftime.
Both teams would have two possessions each in the final five minutes of the quarter but neither would threaten as the Pioneers and Cavs went to the locker room.
UVA Wise took the opening kickoff of the second half and went 70 yards in nine plays while converting three first downs and ended the drive with Brady Dalton’s three-yard TD toss from Wick as the Cavs regained the lead at 21-14 at the 11:09 mark of the quarter.
The Pioneers answered quickly as Restall recorded his second big run of the game, this one covering 67 yards while scoring his fourth TD of the season as Tusculum tied the game at 21-21 with 10:07 left.
UVA Wise would only need three plays to answered as Wick completed passes for 12 and 19 yards to Seth Fischbach to get to the TU 32. Wick followed with a 32-yard TD pass to DJ Powell as the Cavaliers led once again at 28-21 with 9:02 left in the third.
Tusculum was looking to answer again and drove to the shadow of the UVA Wise end zone thanks to a 25-yard pass from Matthew Palazzo to tight end Reginald Hunter to get to the Wise 3. Restall ran to the right side but was stopped at the one yard-line by Nicola Sturgill who forced a fumble and was recovered by RaaPhee Mayes of UVA Wise at the 1:50 mark of the third.
The Cavaliers marched the length of the field going 99 yards, converting six first downs on the drive including twice on third down. Scammell made it 35-21 with his 18-yard touchdown run with 13:13 left in the contest.
Tusculum would not give up as the Pioneers responded with a 10-play, 70-yard scoring drive, culminating with Palazzo’s 13-yard scoring strike to Ashton Hagans. Pittman’s kick was no good as TU trailed 35-27 with 8:14 left in the game.
The Tusculum defense came through with a stop in the ensuing possession as Wise was forced to punt as the Pioneers took over at the TU 31 with 5:20 remaining.
Tusculum would go three-and-out and would be forced to punt themselves as Stefaan Forbes got off a 55-yarder and was down at the Wise 13 with 4:16 left.
UVA Wise converted a pair of key first downs, both coming on third down as the Cavs held onto the football for the rest of the game to seal the victory.
Wick finished the game going 27-of-39 and was not sacked the entire afternoon. Wick completed passes to nine different receivers including game-best seven catches for 83 yards by Greeneville tight end Dorien Goddard.
Palazzo went 9-of-18 for 118 yards while also rushing for 37 yards on 11 carries.
Scammel led the Cavaliers with his 84 rushing yards on 19 carries including two touchdowns.
Forbes averaged 41.8 yards on his four punt attempts including two inside the 20 yard-line.
Tusculum was penalized 11 times for 75 yards while UVA Wise was whistled only three times for 21 yards. TU held the ball for 33:36 including 11:44 in the second quarter alone.
The Pioneers return home next Saturday when they host arch-rival Carson-Newman for a 1 p.m. contest. It is TU’s Homecoming Game as well as Senior Day.
