LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama football team snapped a seven-game losing streak against Delta State as UWA (4-3, 2-2 Gulf South Conference) upset No. 22 Delta State 34-14 on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Tiger Stadium. The victory marked the first win over the Statesmen (3-3, 2-2 GSC) in Livingston, Ala. since 1993 and gave UWA Head Coach Bobby Wallace his 97th win at a GSC school.
The Tigers wasted no time getting on the board as Terry Allen returned the opening kickoff 95 yards. The Huntsville, Ala.-native's return is the fourth longest kickoff return in school history.
After Eric Hendricks forced a fumble of DSU quarterback Garrett DeWitt, which was recovered by Tariq Ali,
Deon Williams gave the Red and White a 14-0 lead with 10:36 remaining in the first quarter. Williams', a Tuscaloosa, Ala.-product scored from four yards out, capping a six play, 45 yard drive. The score was the first of two for Williams on the night.
Brock Sharp extended the Tigers' lead to 17-0 with a 41 yard field goal, capping a 69 yard drive that erased six minutes off the clock and Williams added his second TD of the game, a one yard dash with 9:42 left before the half, to lift UWA up 24-0. The Tigers closed out the first half scoring with a 24 yard field goal from Sharp to close the first half.
DeWitt put the Statesmen on the board with a two-yard rush, capping a seven play, 59 yard drive. The Statesmen recovered their onside kick attempt following the DSU TD and marched 59 yards in seven plays to pull within 27-14 with just under seven and a half remaining in the contest. The drive was capped by a Trevar Deed 50 yard reception from DeWitt.
The Statesmen attempted a second onside kick, but the return was scooped up by UWA's Randy Lowery and returned 38 yards for the final TD of the game.
J. D. Douglas paced the Tiger defense in tackles with 16. Ali finished the night with 10 tackles and two interceptions to go along with his fumble recovery on the Statesmen's first offensive series. The two INTs by Ali halted DSU drives in Tiger territory.
The Tigers finished the night with 296 total yards.
West Alabama concludes a season-long, three-game homestand on Saturday, Oct. 17 against the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. The game will be aired on FOX Sports, WSLY 104.9-FM and at athletics.uwa.edu. UWA will also provide a live video stream at athletics.uwa.edu courtesy of the B2 Network.
