@UVaWiseCavs 2017 UVA-WISE UVaWiseCavs FOOTBALL GAME NOTES /UVaWiseAthletics /Highland Cavalier Athletics MEDIA INFORMATION Radio WDIC Radio(92.1 FM) 2017 PRESEASON INFORMATION Steve Curran play-by-play) Audio www.wdicradio.com STORYLINES - THE 2017 SEASON Video www.uvawisecavs.com • Dane Damron will look to guide UVa-Wise to back-to-back winning seasons in his second Twitter @UVaWiseCavs/@UVaWise_FB season at the helm of the program. The Cavaliers last tallied consecutive winning years when Bruce Wasem led the squad to back-to-back over .500 records in the 2007 and 2008 #GoCavsGo campaigns. Facebook Highland Cavalier Athletics • With eight returning starters on defense, UVa-Wise will look to continue its momentum Instagram @UVaWiseCavs allowing just 2.9 yards per carry and 100.1 yards per game. from• Second-year last season offensive against the coordinator run. Shap Klay Boyd's Koester unit finished returns seconda plethora in the of playmakersMEC in run ondefense, the - GAME WEEK MEDIA ers Jacob and James Cousins are also back for their senior seasons. Quarterback Brycen Lee Interviews: All interviews with UVa-Wise coaches and players must be arranged through the athletic offensivereturns for side his of second the ball. year Four-year behind center starter after Carlton throwing Griffith for is 2,306 back atyards tailback and 13 while touchdowns receiv - as a redshirt freshman. emailmedia atrelations [email protected] office. Contact for athletic interviews. media relaThe UVa-Wisetions director locker Darrell room Ely and at training (276) 376-0188 room are closed or by Returning Award Winners to the media at all times. Phone numbers of student- athletes will not be released to the media. RB Carlton Griffith (5-9, 185, Sr.) Practices: All UVa-Wise practices are closed. If - you require practice footage or quotes following a gained a career-high 714 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior. Carried the ball 23 times for a All-MEC career-high Honorable 156 yards Mention while in adding 2016. twoHas touchdownsled team in rushing in win inat eachWest of Liberty. the last three seasons, relations. practice, please contact the office of athletic media DB Ed Kargbo (5-11, 211, Sr.) Credentials: Credentials are required for all UVa- - Wise football games. For credentials, please contact - tions, added 50 tackles, seven pass break ups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. [email protected] at least 48 hours prior to kickoff. -All-MEC Honorable Mention in 2016. Led team and finished second in league with five intercep the athletic media relations office by email Stadium. at sport Please park outside of upper lot behind the stadium. 2017 SCHEDULE Media parking is limited at Carl Smith QUICK FACTS ABOUT UVA-WISE August 31 UVa-Wise at Glenville State 7 P.M. Location Wise, Va. UVa-Wise claimed its first ever victory over Glenville State with a 26-17 win in Wise last September. Founded 1954 September 7 West virginia state at uva-wise 7 P.M. Enrollment 2,010 Each of the first four meetings between the schools TMhave been decided by eight points or fewer. Affiliation NCAA Division II September 14 uva-wise at concord 7 P.M. Conference Mountain East UVa-Wise forced three turnovers and rushed for 152 yards in last year's 30-19 win over Concord. Colors Red and Gray September 23 west liberty at uva-wise 1:30 P.M. Nickname Highland Cavaliers The Cavs blocked a game-winning field goal attempt to upend the 'Toppers 28-27 in 2016. Chancellor Donna P. Henry, Ph.D Faculty Athletic Representative Tom Costa, Ph.D September 30 uva-wise at fairmont state 2 P.M. Athletic Director Kendall Rainey, Ph.D Fairmont State qualified for last year's Super Region I playoffs after going 10-1 in the regular season. Athletic Department Phone (276) 328-0206 october 7 urbana at uva-wise 12 P.M. Mailing Address One College Ave Behind 387 passing yards by Brycen Lee, UVa-Wise registered a season-high 39 points in a 39-36 win over Urbana last October. Greear Gymnasium october 14 uva-wise at west virginia wesleyan 12 P.M. Wise, Va. 24293 The Bobcats will have to replace MEC Offensive Player of the Year Michael Anderson who gained 193 yards against the Cavs last year. www.uvawisecavs.com Athletics Web Site october 21 Charleston at uva-wise 1 P.M. Despite finishing with -30 rushing yards, Charleston claimed a 17-10 win over UVa-Wise in last year's season finale. october 28 uva-wise at virginia - lynchburg 1 P.M. In UVa-Wise's lone non-conference affair, the Cavs will play the Dragons for the first time in school history. november 4 uva-wise at notre dame college 12 P.M. The Falcons return one of the MEC's premier players in Malik Grove who led the league with 3,292 yards of total offense last year. november 11 Shepherd at UVa-Wise 12 P.M. Shepherd has claimed back-to-back MEC and Super Region I titles. The Rams have won 20 straight MEC games. WWW.UVAWISECAvs.COM SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA'S TEAM season Preview 2016 TEAM STATS Optimism abounds around the football program at UVa-Wise. A year after posting a 6-5 Category Avg. MEC Rank Scoring Offense 21.8 10th record and the program's first winning record since 2008, second-year head coach Dane Rushing Offense 112.1 9th Damron'swere picked crew fourth returns in this 14 year'sstarters preseason for the 2017 coaches' season. poll. The five-win improvement in 2016 Scoring Defense 32.3 10th caught the attention of coaches throughout the Mountain East Conference as the Cavaliers Replacing Zachary Blair, the all-time NCAA Division II leader in tackles for loss, would be a Rushing Defense 100.1 2nd tall order for any defense but second-year defensive coordinator Shap Boyd has a wealth of Pass Offense 229.9 7th talent to choose from. Total Offense 342.0 9th Pass Defense 280.6 10th Total Defense 380.7 8th Kickoff Returns 22.0 6th Boyd's unit returns a quartet of seniors in Michael Tarrer (6-2, 245), Anas Elkattan (6-4, 241), Ian Kemp (6-4, 264) and Ben Funny (5-11, 251) who had at least one sack in 2016 -as Punt Returns 0.7 11th a member of the defensive line. Norfolk State University transfer Ernest Holden (6-2, 230) Net Punting 30.0 11th should also pay dividends up front. Nickelback Ed Kargbo (5-11, 211) returns after earn Turnover Margin 0.18 8th ing All-MEC Honorable Mention status as a junior last season while fellow senior Torrey Sacks 25 6th Johnson (6-2, 219), junior Dylan Giovine (6-0, 213), sophomores Marus Tarrer (5-8, 183), per game. Sacks Allowed 34 10th DeMarcus Ramsey (6-0, 220) and Jason Hoskins (6-0, 190) will battle for playing time to round out a front seven that ranked second in the MEC in rushing defense at 100.1 yards Time of Possession 29:32 8th In the secondary, senior Maurice Watkins (5-11, 177) and sophomore Buster Henderson (6-1, 185) return at strong safety. Watkins tallied 54 tackles and nine pass break ups while Henderson posted 43 stops and a forced fumble in his freshman campaign. After sitting out last season, Kwadwo Diawuo (5-10, 174) will make his much anticipated debut at free safety. The Norfolk State transfer has impressed coaches in practices since arriving in Wise last fall. Fellow NCAA Division I transfer Marquis Hamilton (5-10, 193) will also see time at free safety. The Marshall University transfer did not play last year after walking on for the Thundering Herd. At corner, Freeport, Bahamas product Josh Saunders (6-2, 187), senior Andre Hamilton (5-8, 183), Eastern Kentucky University transfer- Demetriustions on the Mann roster. (5-9, 162), sophomore K'Jon Coley (5-10, 157), Slippery Rock University transfer Steven Hill (5-11, 180) and Coastal Carolina University transfer Bryce Farris (5-11, 175) will battle for time in what figures to be one of the deeper posi in rushing in each of the last three seasons and posted a career-high 714 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago. Fellow senior Eight starters return on offense, including senior tailback Carlton Griffith (5-9, 185). The Ft. Belvoir, Va. native has led the Cavs- downs as a junior. Five quarterbacks are on this year's roster and the incumbent at starter is redshirt sophomore Brycen Lee Javonte Latney (6-1, 230) will also see time in the backfield after carrying the ball 91 times for 377 yards and a pair of touch (6-5,coaches 180). will The look Mayo, to reduce Fla. product the 33 passedsacks allowed for 2,306 last yards fall. Toand do 13 so, touchdowns the coaching in staff his first has broughtseason in in Wise. a pair Offensive of junior coordinator college Klay Koester and offensive line coach Mike Compton will look to keep Lee more upright this season as the pair of second-year transfersbe in the rotation.in Will Pendegraph (6-3, 305) and Donovon Lynch (6-4, 310). Juniors Roberto Baird (6-3, 302), Connor Patton (6-4, 271), Chase Cluesman (6-0, 274) and Will White (6-3, 278) join sophomore Landon Mance (6-2, 282) as returners who should Senior brothers Jacob and James Cousins are back at wide receiver while fellow senior Cedrick Watkins also returns. The Cous- ins' brothers accounted for 70 receptions, 1,111 yards and 10 scores last season. Junior college transfer Kaian Duverger (6-6, 205) should pose mismatch probelms on the outside with his size while freshmen Jordan Jeter (6-2, 180) and Chris Thaxton (5-10, 170) are expected to battle for playing time.