CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston rallied from a 10-0 deficit at halftime to score 17 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the Cavaliers from UVa.-Wise, 17-10, on Senior Night at UC Stadium Thursday evening.
 
Charleston netted just 148 yards of total offense, including -30 yards rushing, and managed just nine first downs over the four quarters.  The offense did come up big late in the game, scoring 10 fourth quarter points to propel UC to their first win in six tries. 
 
The Golden Eagle defense played inspired as they were determined to make sure the departing seniors went out the right way, with a victory.  They held Wise to 246 total yards and forced two Cavalier turnovers, one for a score in the third quarter that seemed to swing the momentum into UC's favor.  Keon Mabin took down Wise quarterback Brycen Lee, one of Charleston's eight sacks on the evening, knocking the ball loose in the process which TJ Matrascia scooped up at the 8-yard line and headed to the endzone for a score.  Charleston was trailing 10-0 at the time of the big play by the Golden Eagle defense.
 
UC took their opening possession of the fourth quarter down to Wise's 5-yard line but couldn't punch it in for a TD.  Brett Benes made the chip shot field goal from 22 yards out that evened the score at 10-10 with just under 11 minutes to play.  After stopping the Cavaliers on their next possession, UC took over at their own 30 and 7:43 left in the game.  Charleston struck quick for what proved to be the game-winning score, after a 34-yard pass from Brant Grisel to D'Andre Brooks that set up a Marvin Elam 3-yard touchdown run. 
 
The Cavaliers would get three more possessions but time after time UC's defense had the answer, finally stopping Wise on 4^th and 28 from their own 7-yard line with 1:17 remaining.  UC got into victory formation and closed the season with a 17-10 win over the visiting Cavaliers.
 
The linebacker trio of Luke Sears, Rhakeem Stallings and Jalen Nelson seemed to be everywhere for the Golden Eagles, totaling 30 tackles, five for loss.  Stallings may have had the best overall game of his UC career with 10 tackles, three behind the line of scrimmage, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception, a pass break up, and four quarterback hurries.  Wise's offensive line had no answer for defensive end, Kahzin Daniels, as the sophomore sacked the Cavalier quarterbacks on three separate occasions. 
 
Josef Hinnant also put together a stellar game in final time suiting up for the Maroon and Gold, coming up with five tackles but more importantly breaking up three passes that came his way. 
 
Charleston finishes the 2016 season with a 3-8 overall record, and a 3-7 mark in Mountain East play.