Staff report

WISE, Va. — Catawba freshman Mike Geter accepted UVA Wise’s kickoff at his 3-yard line. The Indians needed a big play and Geter was determined to make it.

And he did. He returned the kick 97 yards for a touchdown, only to see a flag (for holding) nullify most of an exciting return.

It was that kind of day for the Catawba Indians. They were close. They were right there, they put up numbers, but UVA Wise won 31-28 in a scintillating South Atlantic Conference opener.

The victory was the first at home and in the SAC for new UVA Wise head coach Gary Bass, a former Catawba offensive lineman who got his coaching start as an East Rowan assistant.

Freshman Jake Crabtree’s 24-yard field goal with 3:43 remaining provided the  margin of victory for the Cavaliers (2-1,1-0).

Catawba (1-2, 0-1) still had a glimmer of hope right down to the final snap, as Jordan Mitchell was on the receiving end of a 43-yard pass play from Preston Brown, but two UVA Wise defenders brought him to the ground on the UVA Wise 37 with no time left.

Catawba stuffed stat sheets with impressive numbers, including 499 total yards and 305 passing yards, but UVA Wise won the turnover battle 2-0, and that made the difference. One of those Catawba turnovers was a strip/sack/fumble that created a vital defensive TD for the home team.

Marquece Williams had a rushing TD to cap Catawba’s first possession, and UVA Wise, which got two passing TDs and 266 yards from Jake Corcren, responded for 7-7.

Catawba went up 14-7 on a huge play, as back LJ Turner took a pass from Brown 84 yards.

UVA Wose got the next two scores, the last one of the first half and the first one of the second half to lead 21-14.

Turner’s 26-yard scoring run for the Indians made it 21-all.

Catawba had a second-down play from its 24-yard line when Brown was hit and sacked by Kenneth Long. When the ball came loose, Da’Jon Barnes scooped it at the 18 and scored for a 28-21 lead with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

Geter ran back the kickoff all the way, but the holding flag forced Catawba to drive for its points. Catawba made it 28-all on Williams’ second rushing TD with 8:33 left in the game.

But that was the last tie. UVA Wise got the field goal it needed and the stops it needed down the stretch at Carl Smith Stadium.

Turner and Williams combined for 194 rushing yards.

Evan Simons had 12 tackles for the Indians. He forced a fumble, but Catawba couldn’t recover it. Jamal Boyd and Deno Wardlow made 10 tackles.

Catawba finally plays a home game next Saturday. Carson-Newman will visit.