Bristol Herald Courier
WISE "? The University of Virginia's College at Wise's football team went 8-3 last fall and put up some impressive numbers along the way.
The Highland Cavaliers averaged 40.4 points per game, were one of the top offensive teams in the NAIA and set a handful of new school records. Running back Ra'Shad Morgan and quarterback Randy Hippeard both racked up impressive statistics in UVa.-Wise's high-powered offense.
"We have a lot of fun," Morgan said. "There are just so many weapons that it takes some of the pressure off my back. We're just a bunch of guys out here having fun and making plays."
Morgan and Hippeard are both back this season for more fun. The Cavs are ranked 22nd nationally in the latest NAIA poll and have a serious shot at the playoffs for the first time since 1996.
"There is a different feel," UVa.-Wise coach Bruce Wasem said. "Our expectations are the same as they were last year, but the difference is we have a little higher confidence that we can achieve those."
Morgan will be a key cog in UVa.-Wise's attack. The 5-foot-10, 208-pound senior from Chesterfield, Va. rushed for 1,657 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. He's been pegged by several sources as a preseason All-American.
However, Morgan is just part of the offensive equation that causes problems for opposing defenses. Hippeard threw for 3,100 yards and 25 scores last season. The junior tossed touchdowns to six different receivers.
"Some of the defenses were really going eight in the box against me at times last year," Morgan said. "But my offensive line did a great job and of course my quarterbacks and receivers did a great job making plays, so that kind of opened things up."
Hippeard will benefit from a deep core of wide receivers led by returnees Matt Barbour (48 catches, 729 yards, four touchdowns) and Aric Evans (41 catches, 832 yards, 11 touchdowns).
The offensive line lost several key contributors, but 6-foot-1, 309-pound senior Henry Potter is one of the top blockers in the Mid-South Conference. Meanwhile, Richlands High School graduate Brandon Gayheart will get some playing time at tight end after transferring from Morehead (N.C.) State.
While the offense was busy visiting the end zone last season, the defense struggled at times. The Highland Cavaliers allowed 27.5 points and more than 300 yards of total offense per game.
"We definitely feel like this is a challenge for us this year," UVa.-Wise linebacker Ben Robertson said. "We feel if we're going to have a championship year, it's going to be on the defense and we're ready to take on that pressure. When you're practicing against one of the top offensive teams in the nation it can only help,"
A big help for the defense will be that UVa.-Wise returns Robertson and a host of other starters. Robertson was in on a team-high 66 tackles last season.
"Last year we had a lot of young guys playing and this year we have a lot of veterans," Robertson said. "This is probably the fastest defense we've had since I've been here. I feel like mentally, we're way ahead of the game right now. It makes it a lot easier when you have veterans playing."
Linebacker Chas Johnson (60 tackles), defensive end Reggie Dorsainvil (56 tackles, eight sacks, one interception) and defensive back Matt Gular (51 tackles, two interceptions) are also back for the defensive unit.
If UVa.-Wise is to return to the postseason, it will have a tough time getting there. The schedule includes a non-conference contest with Concord (W.Va.), while the Cavs will play two of the Mid-South's powers in consecutive weeks to close out September.
The team hosts Georgetown (ranked eighth nationally in the preseason) on Sept. 22 and the next week travels to sixth-ranked Bethel (Tenn.).
Wasem knows that it will take his team's best effort, but he will be aided by Morgan, Hippeard and that high-octane offense.
"No. 1 our defense has to be better and No. 2 we've got to be more focused than we were last year," Wasem said when asked what would be the keys for his team to be successful this year. "Not to say that we weren't focused last year, but if we're going to succeed we have to focus week-to-week."
Bookmarks