Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Malone Gamer
Joe Chance
7
Malone MAL 3-8 , 0-2
56
Winner West Alabama UWA 7-4 , 6-2
Malone MAL
3-8 , 0-2
7
Final
56
West Alabama UWA
7-4 , 6-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MAL Malone 7 0 0 0 7
UWA West Alabama 21 7 21 7 56

Game Recap: #17 Football |

West Alabama Hammers Malone, 56-7, Waits on Committee

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – West Alabama did what it needed to do, methodically hammering Malone University, 56-7, Saturday at Tiger Stadium in a Division II football matchup.
 
Now all the Tigers can do is wait on the NCAA Super 2 Regional Committee to decide whether at 7-4 (7-3 vs DII) Coach Brett Gilliland's club deserves a spot in the 2015 NCAA Division II Football Playoffs.
 
Two teams ahead of the Tigers in this week's regional rankings lost on Saturday. Virginia State defeated Tuskegee, 45-35, and Newberry beat Wingate, 27-22. The NCAA Division II Football Selection Show will air Sunday at 4 PM CST on NCAA.com. To view the selection show go HERE.
 
 "In my opinion, our resume is good enough, but tomorrow will tell the tale," Gilliland said. "For this group of players, especially this senior class, I would love to see them get the opportunity to play again."
 
Tiger quarterback Austin Grammer was blunter about his team's playoff possibilities.
 
"It kind of sucks that it is in the committee's hands and not ours, but we are responsible for that," the senior from Tuscaloosa said. "I have my fingers crossed. I just kind of blinked and here it is, the end of my senior year.
 
"I told my dad before the game what a blessing this university and this football team has been to me," Grammer, one of 11 seniors honored in the pregame, said. "I have never felt a bond with a team and a place like I have here."
 
If it was his last game, Grammer went out in style, completing 22-of-28 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 12 yards and another touchdown. He ended Saturday's game just eight completions shy of the UWA single season record.
 
Grammer's favorite target, receiver Donta Armstrong, hauled in scoring passes of 26 and 22 yards among his 12 receptions for 104 yards. For good measure he also returned a punt 72 yards for a TD. Armstrong ended the game with 91 receptions, just six shy of breaking Gerald Gales record from 2002.
 
"Donta and Austin have a great thing together," Gilliland said. "Both of them had the kind of day we have come to expect of them. That punt return by Donta was special. He is a slippery player."
 
Eight different receivers caught passes, including CJ Savage for 7 yards and a TD and Tray Fletcher for 65 yards and a touchdown. Savage also put the Tigers on the board on the opening kickoff with a scoop and score from 21 yards out after Robert Myers forced Jordan Johnson fumble.
 
Davonta Parker-Johnson ran for 102 yards on just six carries, scoring the final touchdown of the game on a 3-yard plunge with 8:48 to play. Parker picked up the bulk of his yardage on a career-high 64-yard run in the first half that set up Grammer's scoring toss to Savage.
 
"The offensive line did a great job all day," Parker-Johnson said. "When I got to the 50 (yard line) on that long run it was over with. I had to start pulling out the moves then."
 
Malone's lone score came on a 1-yard run by Matt Blasiole to tie the game at 7-7 with 10:43 left in the first quarter. The Pioneers managed just 207 total yards for the game, while West Alabama rang up 454 yards.
 
"We knew we had to leave it all on the line today," Tiger safety Felix Woods said. "We just went out and had fun playing a base defense and doing our job."
 
Defensive end Jherron Jones had four solo tackles and five assists in his last game at Tiger Stadium, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Ken Hibbler had 2 solo stops and five assists, plus intercepting a pass to stop a Malone scoring threat. Darius Ellis had seven stops and recorded his 10 ½ sack. Camarcus Williams also had two solo tackles and five assists.
 
"All week long the coaches had warned us about the wheel route," Hibbler said. "He overthrew it and I was there to make the interception."
 
Damon Williams had nine carries for 52 yards to lead Malone rushers. Three Pioneer quarterbacks combined to complete 10-of-19 for 78 yards. Isaiah Wilson had four receptions for 44 yards.

 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Darius  Ellis

#19 Darius Ellis

B
5' 10"
Sophomore
Jherron Jones

#5 Jherron Jones

DL
5' 11"
Senior
Robert  Myers

#21 Robert Myers

RB
5' 11"
Junior
CJ Savage

#5 CJ Savage

WR
5' 9"
Sophomore
Felix Woods

#38 Felix Woods

SS
5' 11"
Senior
Donta Armstrong

#17 Donta Armstrong

WR
5' 10"
Junior
Tra Fletcher

#3 Tra Fletcher

WR
5' 9"
Junior
Austin Grammer

#1 Austin Grammer

QB
6' 2"
Senior
Ken Hibbler

#22 Ken Hibbler

DB
6' 2"
Junior
Camarcus Williams

#98 Camarcus Williams

DL
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Darius  Ellis

#19 Darius Ellis

5' 10"
Sophomore
B
Jherron Jones

#5 Jherron Jones

5' 11"
Senior
DL
Robert  Myers

#21 Robert Myers

5' 11"
Junior
RB
CJ Savage

#5 CJ Savage

5' 9"
Sophomore
WR
Felix Woods

#38 Felix Woods

5' 11"
Senior
SS
Donta Armstrong

#17 Donta Armstrong

5' 10"
Junior
WR
Tra Fletcher

#3 Tra Fletcher

5' 9"
Junior
WR
Austin Grammer

#1 Austin Grammer

6' 2"
Senior
QB
Ken Hibbler

#22 Ken Hibbler

6' 2"
Junior
DB
Camarcus Williams

#98 Camarcus Williams

6' 1"
Freshman
DL