Football Game Preview – UWA (6-2) at Valdosta State (5-2)

Twitter: @UWAathletics Facebook: UWAathletics

RADIO COVERAGE
The game can be heard in the Twin States on ESPN 104.9, www.espn1049.com or via the ESPN1049 App. Lee Tracey and Robert Upchurch will handle the call.

ESPN3 TV COVERAGE
Saturday's game between West Alabama and Valdosta State is the lone Division II contest included in this weekend's 11-game ESPN College Extra service schedule which can be found here. The game will be available on one of the eight channel options on the following list of channels: DIRECTV 788-795 (channel 790), AT&T U-verse 614-621 (channel 616) and Verizon FiOS 321-328 (channel 323). The contest is still available on ESPN3 clicking here or using the WatchESPN app.

THE SERIES
This is the 34th meeting between the Tigers and Blazers, with Valdosta State holding a 29-4 lead in the series. The Tigers and Blazers have split the last six meetings.

WEST ALABAMA
West Alabama is 6-2. The Tigers are 2-2 in Gulf South Conference play after a 41-38 win at Delta State last week.

VALDOSTA STATE
Valdosta State is 5-2 overall, 2-2 in the GSC after defeating Shorter on the road last week.

THE COACHES
Brett Gilliland is 11-8 in his second season at UWA, his second as a head coach. David Dean is 65-23 in his eighth year at Valdosta State, his eighth as a head coach.

TIGERS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Valdosta State, ranked No. 24 in the AFCA Division II poll, is the third national ranked team that UWA will have faced in 2015 and the second in as many weeks. The Tigers are 1-1 against ranked teams, losing to West Georgia and defeating Delta State on the road last week.

LAST MEETING BETWEEN UWA AND VSU
Valdosta State held off a late UWA rally to defeat the Tigers, 24-17 Oct. 30, 2014 in Livingston. Trailing for the entire second half, UWA cut the VSU lead to 24-17 with 1:51 to play on a 22-yard scoring pass from Kyle Caldwell to Daryl Collins. With three timeouts left, UWA elected to kick deep and play defense. The Tigers forced a three-and-out from the Blazers. Following the punt, UWA started on its own 30-yard line with no timeouts and drove to the VSU 37 before Donatello Brown intercepted Caldwell in the endzone as time expired.

GRANT NEEDS ONE TO TIE, TWO TO OWN
UWA kicker Mark Grant needs just one point to tie and two to become the all-time scoring leader at UWA. Grants game-winning field goal at Delta State gives him 179 career points and moved him past his coach Ryne Smith into second. Mitch Warfield (05-08) holds the record with 180 points.

HARRY GSC FRESHMAN OF WEEK AGAIN
For the third time in a month QB Harry Satterwhite has earned GSC Freshman of the Week honors, this time for his performance in the Tigers' 41-38 come-from-behind victory at Delta State. In just his second start as UWA's QB, Satterwhite completed 25-of-41 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He sparked the Tigers' fourth-quarter, 18-point comeback, tossing all three of his scoring strikes in the game's final nine minutes.

TWO FOR TY
For the second time this season Tyreek Hill has been named GSC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance at Delta State. The senior recorded 307 all-purpose yards, including 175 yards in the return game. He reeled-off three kickoff returns for 92 yards, but made his biggest impact on punt returns, posting four returns for 83 yards headlined by a 78-yarder for a touchdown in the second quarter. Hill has two punt return TDs and two kickoff return scores this year.

2015 PLAYER HONORS
Week 1 - CB Chris Davis, GSC Defensive Player of the Week
Week 2 - QB Dezmon Huntley, GSC Freshman of the Week
Week 4 - KR Tyreek Hill, GSC Special Teams Player of the Week
Week 5 - QB Harry Satterwhite, GSC Freshman of the Week
Week 7 - QB Harry Satterwhite, GSC Freshman of the Week
Week 8 - QB Harry Satterwhite, GSC Freshman of the Week
Week 8 - KR Tyreek Hill, GSC Special Teams Player of the Week

UNIFORM COMBINATIONS RECORD
Red Jersey, Red Pants: 3-1
White Jersey, Red Pants: 3-1
Tiger Paw Helmet: 4-0
New Tiger Logo Helmet: 2-2

FOURTH QUARTER HEROES
The fourth quarter has been UWA's best all season long. After scoring 24 points in the final period last week at Delta State, the Tigers have scored 97 points in the final 15 minutes (12.1 pg). Coming into last week's game Delta State had allowed just seven points in the fourth quarter all season long.

HARRY IN THE 4TH
Since getting his opportunity in the second half of the West Georgia game and becoming the UWA starter two games ago, redshirt freshman quarterback Harry Satterwhite has thrown six of his nine touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.

GET BETTER AGAINST BIG PLAYS
In last week's game Delta State scored four touchdowns on plays of 50 yards or better. The Tigers gave up 238 yards on those four plays, 39% of the Statesmen total offense for the game.

SHARING THE WEALTH
In last week's win at Delta State 12 different Tiger offensive players touched the football on either a pass or run.

WINNING TUURNOVER MARGIN
UWA leads the GSC in turnover margin at +8. Valdosta State is also one of just three team on the plus side of the ledger at +3.

RED ZONE D
UWA also leads the GSC in red zone defense, allowing just seven TDs and 11 scores in 17 visits.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#4 Kyle Caldwell: QB; 5' 7"; Senior

#2 Daryl Collins: WR; 6' 0"; Senior

#6 Chris Davis: CB; 5' 9"; Senior

#46 Mark Grant: PK; 5' 7"; Junior

#15 Harry Satterwhite: QB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

#11 Tyreek Hill: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#4 Kyle Caldwell
: 5' 7"; Senior
: QB

#2 Daryl Collins
: 6' 0"; Senior
: WR

#6 Chris Davis
: 5' 9"; Senior
: CB

#46 Mark Grant
: 5' 7"; Junior
: PK

#15 Harry Satterwhite
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: QB

#11 Tyreek Hill
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB