COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UVa.-Wise misses playoffs

Page 1C, 11-12-07

Wise misses playoffs

BY TIM HAYES

Bristol Herald Courier

A 9-2 record, a ranking of 14th in the final NAIA national poll and one of the most high-powered offenses in the nation were not enough to get the University of Virginia’s College at Wise’s football team into the playoffs.

UVa.-Wise was not among the 16 teams to garner playoff spots on Sunday afternoon when the pairings were announced by the NAIA.

"It’s pretty frustrating," UVa.-Wise coach Bruce Wasem said. "We had a great season. We lost two games and it cost us a championship, and it cost us a playoff spot … It’s disappointing more than anything. These kids have worked so hard and the seniors have done such a great job of turning things around. They went from winning three games as freshmen to eight as juniors and nine as seniors."

The Highland Cavaliers’ misfortune arose on Saturday. After they handled West Virginia Tech to the tune of a 55-14 win, the team found out that Georgetown (Ky.) had been upset by Union College.

That left the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) and Wise tied for the top spot in the Mid-South Conference’s East Division. Cumberlands got the automatic bid to the postseason due to a 41-38 overtime win against UVa.-Wise two weeks ago.

"We cost ourselves by not beating Cumberlands," Wasem said. "We always knew things were going to be iffy. As soon as I knew Union beat Georgetown, we knew everything was in jeopardy."

Cumberlands (8-2) and West Division champion Bethel (10-1) will represent the MSC in the postseason. Cumberlands features kicker Hunter Meade, a former Virginia High standout.

UVa.-Wise’s season was once again highlighted by its offensive prowess. The team averaged 49.5 points per game and was led by the trio of quarterback Randy Hippeard (3,455 passing yards, 37 touchdowns), running back Ra’Shad Morgan (1,485 rushing yards, 29 touchdowns) and wide receiver Jason Lovett (1,058 receiving yards, 17 touchdowns; two TD passes).

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