WISE, Va. – The Emory & Henry Football Team (8-3, 6-3 SAC) put an emphasis on the 2025 regular season Saturday afternoon, dominating the University of Virginia's College at Wise (1-9, 1-8 SAC) in Southwest Virginia Bowl VIII. The Wasps jumped on the Cavaliers early, posting 28 first-quarter points, and poured it on late by outscoring the home team 35-0 in the second half on their way to a 70-13 demolition of their Southwest Virginia rivals. The 57-point margin of victory is the largest in the eight-game history of the matchup and the largest for the Wasps in the modern era. It is also the first time E&H has put up 70 points in a contest since defeating Guilford 70-27 during the 2018 season.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 70, UVA Wise 13
LOCATION – Wise, Virginia
VENUE – Carl Smith Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (8-3, 6-3 SAC); Shaw (1-9, 1-8 SAC)
How It Happened
The Cavaliers received to begin the game and moved the ball 55 yards on 10 plays, but turned it over when senior cornerback Chendrick Cann (Pinellas Park, Fla.) snagged a pass intended for a Wise receiver to give the Wasps their first turnover of the game.
Emory & Henry wasted no time, as they marched 80 yards on just five plays and junior running back Rudolph Paul (Douglasville, Ga.) found the end zone on the ground from 30 yards out to put E&H on top 7-0. The Wasps' defense got in on the action on the ensuing Wise possession when junior defensive lineman Ean Rhea (Glade Spring, Va.) sacked the Wise quarterback and forced a fumble which was scooped up by sophomore defensive lineman Connor Roberts (Bluefield, Va.). Roberts rumbled 12 yards to paydirt to give the Wasps a 14-0 advantage.
The Cavaliers broke through on the scoreboard with the next possession as they moved 75 yards on nine plays and McCalan Beason found DJ Powell for a six-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 14-7. The Wasps had an immediate answer when junior quarterback Cole Lambert (Abingdon, Va.) hit sophomore wide receiver Tristan Stitt (Indian Trail, N.C.), who outran the Cavalier defense to the end zone for a 77-yard score to make it 21-7.
Wise was forced to punt on their following possession and a 16-yard return by the SAC's leading return man Cam Peoples (Reidsville, N.C.) set the Wasps up at the Wise 28. Emory & Henry rounded out the first stanza with a 13-yard touchdown rush by Peoples and the rout was on as the Wasps led 28-7 after one.
Emory & Henry scored again with their next turn with the pigskin, driving 52 yards on eight plays over 4:16 of game time. Senior running back Jordan Jackson (Richmond, Va.) capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown jaunt to push the Wasps' advantage out to 35-7. Wise answered on the next drive, moving 75 yards in 10 plays and Evan Kennedy found the end zone on the ground from three yards away to cut the margin to 35-13, where it would stand at the half. That would be the last points of the contest for the Cavaliers.
The Wasps scored again in the third quarter, driving 57 yards on eight plays and Jackson plunged into the end zone for a two-yard score to push the lead back out to 42-13. The E&H defense forced a turnover on downs on the Cavaliers' following possession and the offense continued to fire on all cylinders. Lambert found redshirt sophomore wide receiver Parker Prioleau (Radford, Va.) for a 41-yard touchdown heave to give the Wasps a 49-13 advantage.
Emory & Henry was not done as they poured it on in the fourth quarter. The Wasp offense marched down the field once more and Jackson ripped off a 35-yard touchdown run for his third score of the game, his second three-score game of the season, and a 56-13 lead. The Cavaliers turned the ball over yet again with their next turn with the ball when junior defensive lineman Jacobi Wheeler (Milwaukee, Wis.) forced a fumble that was recovered by freshman defensive lineman Chris Pinder (Durham, N.C.). E&H immediately took advantage as Lambert hooked up with Peoples from 18 yards out to run the score to 63-13. Paul put the icing on the victory for the Wasps with just over two minutes remaining as he found paydirt once again, this time from just one yard out to send the game to its final at 70-13.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
Lambert was 13-for-24 through the air for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson rushed for 143 yards on 18 carries and a trio of scores, giving him 19 rushing touchdowns for the year. His big day on the ground also put him at 1102 for the season and over 100 yards per game to lead the South Atlantic Conference in both categories. Paul added a career-high 80 yards and two scores on the ground.
Stitt led the receiving corps with 85 yards on a pair of catches for one touchdown. Peoples finished with five receptions for 67 yards and a score, while Prioleau recorded three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown of his own.
Defensively, senior linebacker Kasey Branch (Waynesboro, Va.) had a team-high nine stops while redshirt freshman linebacker Greg Mason (Fredericksburg, Va.) added eight tackles. Rhea had eight stops of his own while adding one sack, one forced fumble and three quarterback hurries. Rhea finishes the regular season as the SAC leader in sacks with 12 overall. Senior defensive back Tyreon Porter (Charlotte, N.C.) recorded seven tackles and a pass breakup.
Senior kicker Trace Butcher (Dacula, Ga.) was a perfect 10-for-10 on PATs to tie the program record for a single game.
UVA Wise Individual Leaders
Beason threw for 224 yards on 20-for-46 passing with a touchdown and an interception, while leading the Cavaliers with 30 yards on the ground on 12 attempts. Kennedy recorded 29 yards on 11 totes.
Peyton McClanahan led Wise with 102 yards receiving on six receptions. Kahlil Jones had 55 yards on two catches, while Powell finished with 33 yards on five catches and a score.
Elijah Matthews led the defensive effort for the Cavaliers with eight tackles. Braylon Henry made seven tackles while Landon Goeller had six stops.
A Deeper Look
Emory & Henry finished with a season-high 572 yards of total offense on 60 plays, including rushing for 282 yards on 34 attempts and passing for a season-high 290 net yards. The 572 total yards is the most for the Wasps since putting up 652 yards in a 66-13 win over Guilford during the 2021 campaign. The Cavaliers managed 303 yards on 81 plays from scrimmage.
The Wasps were 5-for-11 (45%) on third-down attempts while Wise converted just 38% (8-for-21) on third down.
E&H converted 60% (3-for-5) on fourth down, compared to 1-for-3 (33%) for the Cavaliers.
Up Next
Emory & Henry, who sits ninth in the most recent edition of the Super Region 2 regional rankings, will now await the NCAA Division II Selection Show to see if they are selected as an at-large team for the playoffs. The selection show is scheduled for Sunday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.
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