WISE, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Football Team (3-3, 1-3 SAC) returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns as special teams highlighted a 41-24 victory over the University of Virgina's College at Wise (1-5, 0-4 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference action Saturday afternoon.
The contest was the sixth edition of the Southwest Virginia Bowl between the Wasps and Cavaliers with E&H now holding a 5-1 advantage against their rivals from the Clinch Valley.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 41, UVA Wise 24
LOCATION – Wise, Virginia
VENUE – Beaty-Richmond Field at Carl Smith Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (3-3, 1-3 SAC); UVA Wise (1-5, 0-4 SAC)
How It Happened
The first quarter saw both teams work to establish the ground game with little success before Emory & Henry took over with 2:31 on the clock. The Wasps struck quickly, going 76 yards in four plays, capped by a 65-yard touchdown run by senior J'Quan Anderson (Charlottesville, Va.).
Midway through the second, the Cavaliers tied things up at 7-7 when Jaevon Gillespie posted a 45-yard run on the first play of the drive. E&H responded on the ensuing kickoff as sophomore wide receiver Cam Peoples (Reidsville, N.C.) notched a 99-yard return for a touchdown just 12 seconds later and a 14-7 advantage.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Wasps' offense went back on the attack, going 43 yards in five plays capped by a one-yard plunge by junior running back Malikk Kennedy (Miami, Fla.) for a 21-7 lead with 3:27 to go before the break.
Wise answered by putting together a nine-play drive that covered 61 yards to close the gap to 21-14. Gillespie ran in from six yards out for his second score of the half. E&H got good field position on the ensuing kickoff thanks to another strong return by Peoples, setting up a 22-yard field goal by sophomore Trace Butcher (Dacula, Ga.) as time expired in the half for a 24-14 Wasp advantage.
Emory & Henry received the opening kickoff and wasted no time putting points on the board as sophomore defensive back Jarrell Harrison (Virginia Beach, Va.) gave the Wasps their second kickoff return for a score of the day, this time a 75-yard effort for a 31-14 lead.
UVA Wise was unable to get a first down on their next possession and gave E&H excellent field position at the 36 yardline. The Wasps used nearly four minutes of clock as they went into the end zone in seven plays as Anderson caught a two-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Kyle Short (Lebanon, Ohio), pushing the lead to 38-14.
The Cavaliers got a 34-yard field goal late in the third quarter from Kellan Dalton and saw Shyhiem Pannell highlight a six-play, 71-yard drive with a two-yard rush with 7:41 to go in the game to close the gap to 38-24.
Emory & Henry absorbed the pressure and made it a three-score game with 2:13 on the clock as Butcher converted an 18-yard field goal for what would be the 41-24 final margin. The Wasps' defense was stellar down the stretch, forcing three straight turnovers on downs as the Cavaliers gained just five yards in their final three possessions.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
Anderson ran for 109 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries to lead the E&H ground game while fifth-year running back Mykah English (Roanoke, Va.) added 27 yards on the ground.
Short was 10-for-21 through the air for 111 yards and a touchdown pass to Anderson. Redshirt freshman wideout Cam Abshire (Roanoke, Va.) had a team-best five catches for 69 yards while Peoples added two receptions for 21 yards.
Senior defensive back Addison Knicely (Mount Crawford, Va.) and junior linebacker Kaleb Lundy (Winston-Salem, N.C.) each tallied 14 tackles with Lundy notching 3.5 tackles for loss and Knicely blocking a punt. Junior defensive back Trevor Dowdell (Bluff City, Tenn.) contributed 10 stops while redshirt freshman defensive lineman Ean Rhea (Glade Spring, Va.) had six tackles and a forced fumble. Harrison added three tackles and six passes defended while sophomore defensive back Chendrick Cann (Pinellas Park, Fla.) broke up a trio of passes.
UVA Wise Individual Leaders
Gillespie scored two touchdowns on 21 attempts, piling up 144 yards on the afternoon. DaQuandre Taylor had 52 yards while Pannell finished the day with 20 yards and a score.
Jake Corkren was 12-for-30 passing for just 98 yards. Daniel Davis was the preferred receiver with three catches for 31 yards while D.J. Powell tallied 22 yards on three receptions of his own.
Defensively, Ken Hines, III had eight tackles and two pass deflections while Aydan Willis notched eight stops with two tackles for loss.
A Deeper Look
Wise outgained E&H by a 349-233 margin and led 18-11 on first downs. The Wasps, however scored 14 points on special teams and had six drives begin in Cavalier territory.
E&H was 6-for-14 (42.9%) on third down and attempted no fourth down conversions while UVA Wise was just 7-for-24 (29.1%) on third and fourth downs combined. Both teams lost one fumble.
The Cavaliers held a 31:57-28:03 lead on time of possession, but the Wasps' short field and efficient kickoff returns produced points with little need for possessing the ball.
Wise was penalized seven times for 49 yards while E&H was flagged just four times for 48 yards.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns to Fred Selfe Stadium next Saturday for a SAC battle with Mars Hill University at 1:00 p.m. The contest will serve as the highlight of Homecoming Weekend and the 50th reunion of the 1973 VSAC Championship Team.
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