Wise, V.A. – The 2007 season opener for the Brevard College Tornados football team proved to be a back-and-forth battle not only with the Cavaliers but also with the rain as it poured on and off throughout the contest.

 

The 41-23 loss, which was similar to last years final of 40-22, proved to be much closer and exciting than the score indicated as each team took turns scoring throughout most of the game.

 

The new look Tornados did not take long to make their presence known as after receiving the opening kickoff the BC offense drove 51 yards on 14 plays to take an early 6-0 lead. 

 

The 7:16 minute drive was fueled by the running game and a successful fourth down conversion attempt, as the Tornados rushed 13 times for 42 yards, including a 1-yd quarterback sneak by sophomore Colby McCoy, pushing the ball across the goal line. The drive was capped off by a good extra point attempt by freshman kicker Evan Selman.

 

After the Tornados defense stopped the Cavaliers in their opening drive, UVA Wise answered BC’s score with one of their own on their second possession as running back Ra’Shad Morgan reached the endzone on a 16-yard scamper which was followed by a successful point after attempt to knot the score up at 7-7.

 

Brevard got the ball back only to turn it right back over to the Cavaliers right before the end of the first quarter, as McCoy under threw a cutting Desmond Wilson and had his passed picked off by the Cav’s Jahmal Potter.

 

UVA Wise would take advantage of the Tornados turnover as they Morgan would find the endzone for the second time of the game early in the second quarter, capping off an eight play, 52-yard drive with a 4-yard scurry for a touchdown.

 

With UVA Wise taking the 14-7 lead after the extra point, the Tornados refused to go away as they answered the Cavs with a score of their own. 

 

After a 47-yard kickoff return by freshman Shorick Johnson down the left sideline, McCoy in the offense took the field. After a short run on first down, a 15-yard facemask penalty by a Cavaliers defender gave new life to the BC offense as the very next play McCoy kept the ball on an option play, rushing for 15-yards before getting knocked out of bounds moving the ball inside the Cavs 20-yard line. 

 

Three plays later newcomer John Taylor punched the ball into the endzone through the left side of the line from 3-yards out, cutting the Cavs lead to one. Selman then topped off the drive with a good point after attempt, tying the score up at 14-14.

 

Yet the chess match continued as UVA Wise once again answered the Tornados as Morgran rushed for his third score of the game, a 1-yard touchdown run which finished off a nine play, 41 yard drive that took a little over four minutes.

 

After a botched snap by the BC offense was recovered by the Cavaliers defense, the air appeared to be out of the storm of the Tornados offense. Yet Brevard College’s defense answered the call as on the very next play, freshman free safety Trey Wilborn picked off a Randy Hippeard pass giving new life to the Tornados sideline.

 

Backed up deep in their own territory on their own 4-yard line, McCoy hit on a big pass play to sophomore receiver Michael Turner on second down for a 54 yard completion putting the Tornados in to the Cavaliers territory.

 

Three plays later the BC offense was forced to punt as Lovelace pinned the Cavaliers inside their own 15 yard line.

 

With time winding down in the first half the Cavaliers called on Morgan once again, only his time he dropped the ball on the ground. The swarming BC defense pounced on the loose ball with linebacker ReShaun Parks making the fumble recovery on the 24-yard line with 30 seconds remaining in the game.

 

The Tornado offense would struggle to move the ball with the clock ticking down and elected to attempt a field goal with only eight seconds remaining in the half. Selman would push the ball wide left and the half would end with the UVA Wise holding a 21-14 lead.

 

UVA Wise came back after the halftime period clicking on all cylinders as Hippeard capped off a five play, 65-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Lance Ayers pushing the Cavaliers lead to 27-14. Kicker Nate Bryant added the extra point pushing the lead to two touchdowns, 28-14.

 

Yet after a back-and-forth first half the third quarter settled in as the defenses begin to take center stage as neither team was able to push the ball across the goal line. 

 

BC started off the fourth quarter with the ball and looked to quickly cut into the UVA Wise lead. With a little over 14:00 minutes remaining in the game, McCoy hit a streaking Cory Pertz down the left sideline, who made the grab over two UVA defenders at the 3-yard line. The catch set up the second touchdown run of the day for John Taylor, cutting the lead to eight points. The point after by Selman put the Tornados within reaching distance, 28-21.

 

However, UVA Wise would not give in as on their next series they drove the field, with this drive ending in a 44-yard touchdown pass from Hippeared to Matt Barbour.

 

On the point after attempt, the Tornados Joshua Durm blocked the attempt and ran it back for the two point conversion, making the score 34-23 in favor of the Cavaliers.

 

The Tornados next drive would stall at the 6:08 mark, as they would be forced to turn the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass attempt on fourth down.

 

UVA Wise Morgan would later seal the win for the Cavaliers as he broke through the BC defense for a 50-yard touchdown run, putting the game out of reach for the Tornados with 3:16 remaining in the game.

 

For the game Taylor finished with 76 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns. 

 

Pertz led the receiving core with four catches for 56 yards, while Turner had two for 56 yards, including the long play of the game for the Tornados a 54 yard pass from McCoy.

 

McCoy finished 15-32 for 218 yards with two interceptions.

 

Stanley Jones led the Tornados defense with 12 total tackles and was followed by Devin Simpson, Brandon Rawls and Travis Flynn who all had nine total tackles for the game. Simpson also collected a sack for the contest.

 

The Tornados will look to bounce back next Saturday, September 1, when they will host Shorter College at 7 p.m. in their 2007 home opener.

 

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