Wise, Virginia – Visiting Belhaven University totaled 526 yards, 282 of which came on the ground, en route to a 52-14 victory over UVa-Wise at Carl Smith Stadium on Saturday. Kadero Edley led the rushing attack by gaining 169 yards on 15 yards and a touchdown.
Freshman tailback Connery Swift got UVa-Wise on the board first when he darted through the line and raced to the end zone for an 84 yard touchdown run. The run was the longest of the former Wilson Memorial star's career. Paul Melshen added the point after to give the Cavs a 7-0 advantage.
One drive later, Belhaven tied the game when Kadero Edley raced up the middle on a third and nine from the Cavalier 46 yard line. The tailback went untouched en route to the end zone; James Bryan tied the game with the extra point. The Blazers defense then forced a stopped to send its offense back out on the field on its own 10 yard line. Belhaven would use 10 plays to march 90 yards to take the lead; Joshua Hawkins capped off the drive with a three yard touchdown scamper.
On the subsequent Cavalier possession, Melshen would miss a 51 yard field goal attempt to turn the ball over to the Blazers. Belhaven would score its third touchdown of the contest as Roy Williams, Jr. scored from just inside the one yard line to finish off an 11 play-65 yard drive. Bryan's point after was good to make the score 21-7 Belhaven. The Blazers would extend the lead to 24-7 when Bryan nailed a 30 yard field goal with 4:04 to go in the opening half. The first half onslaught continued one drive later; following a blocked punt, Belhaven began its final drive of the opening half in the red zone. Alex Williams' quarterback sneak into the end zone completed a five play-16 yard drive. Bryan notched his third point after of the game to make the score 31-7 in favor of the visitors heading to the halftime locker room.
Belhaven began the second half in the same manner the team completed the first half. On the Blazers first second half possession, Patrick Willis scored from one yard out to wrap up a nine play-90 yard drive that consumed over five minutes of clock. Bryan's point after attempt was successful to extend the lead to 38-31. On the following possession, UVa-Wise scored its second touchdown of the game when Culen LaVoi hooked up with Julian Stewart on a 47 yard touchdown pass; Melshen added the point after to trim the lead to 38-14.
The Blazers salted the game away mid-way through the fourth quarter when Alex Williams fired a pass to Justin Kenyon; the receiver raced 73 yards to move the ball to the Cavalier six yard line. Two plays later, Williams kept the ball and ran around left end into the end zone. Bryan added the extra point to give the Blazers a 45-14 lead. UVa-Wise fumbled on its next possession to set Belhaven up inside the red zone again. Two plays into the drive, Raymond Cotton scooted in from one yard out; Bryan's point after was successful to make the score 52-14 with 6:38 to play. Following a stalled drive by UVa-Wise, Belhaven ran out the remainder of the fourth quarter clock to leave the final score 52-14.
In the loss, freshman Connery Swift gained 126 yards on 17 carries. The former Wilson Memorial star produced the longest rush of his career with an 84 yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Through the air, Culen LaVoi completed eight of 19 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown while Julian Stewart had the first 100 reception yard gain of his career. Stewart caught two passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
With the win, Belhaven improves its record to 2-4 while UVa-Wise drops to 1-5 on the season. The Cavaliers will return to action next week when the team travels to Bluefield College next Saturday for a 6:00 PM kickoff.
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