LIVINGSTON, Ala. – It's finally here. The nationally ranked University of West Alabama football team opens its 2010 campaign at 7:00 p.m. in the RockTenn Classic against Shorter University on Saturday, Aug. 28 at DHS TIger Stadium. The game will be aired on ESPN 104.9 FM. Live stats and the broadcast will also be available at www.uwaathletics.com. 

This marks the first meeting between UWA and the Hawks from Rome, Ga. and the second time that the Red and White has opened the 1953 season in Demopolis. The Tigers defeated in-state foe Jacksonville State 18-7 to start that season.

Expectations in Livingston are at the highest level they have been in nearly 35 years as UWA is ranked in the preseason national polls for the first time since 1976. The Tigers reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs a year ago for just the second time in program history and are looking to build upon that success this season.

The Red and White, which are ranked as high as 12th in two preseason publications, returns 13 starters from last year's squad including five from an offense that ranked third in the Gulf South Conference in scoring in 2009.

Head Coach Bobby Wallace will rely upon senior, quarterback Deon Williams who is back for his third and final season as UWA's signal caller. The Tuscaloosa, Ala.-native completed 197 of 335 pass attempts for 2,804 yards and 25 touchdowns during his junior campaign. He also carried the ball 112 times for 359 yards and six rushing scores.

The senior will have three main targets through the air including UWA's primary receiving threat from a season ago – junior Gerald Worsham. The wideout from Birmingham, Ala. recorded 50 catches while compiling receiving yards and three touchdowns. Williams will also look to get the ball to junior Eric McDonald and Randy Lowery. McDonald recorded three TDs last year while Lowery added a pair of scores.

Providing protection up front for the skill players are seniors Jared Porter and Justin Moore along with junior Austin Cichon. Porter and Moore both landed on the preseason All-GSC team.

The defense returns six starters but features a new defensive coordinator in Robert Henry. Henry joins the Tigers after spending five years in the same capacity at Henderson State where his 2007 unit ranked 10th nationally in total defense allowing just 267.4 yards per contest.

Among the returnees on the defensive side of the ball is Deon Lacey whose 67 total tackles was good for fourth on the squad last year. Sophomore cornerback Shontral Ford is back for his sophomore season after garnering GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year laurels. The Jackson, Miss.-native grabbed six interceptions last year including running two back for touchdowns. Garnering preseason All-GSC honors was defensive lineman Bernard Sykes who recorded 34 tackles last season.

Shorter enters the contest coming off its fourth consecutive winning season in just five years as a program and begins its sixth campaign under the direction of the 2008 Mid-South AFCA Region I Coach of the Year, Phil Jones. The Hawks went 6-5 last season while climbing as high as No. 10 in the NAIA Top 25 Poll – the highest in school history.

Senior signal caller Ben Williams returns to lead Shorter's spread option offense. Williams, a product of Marietta, Ga., has accumulated 2,500 total yards and 22 touchdowns in his two-plus seasons at SU. Williams already stands as the school's all-time record holder for passing TDs with 10 and set a Hawks' single-season record with eight passing touchdowns in 2009 while also rushing and passing for over 700 yards.