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Austin Grammer
Joe Chance

#17 Football

WEEK 10 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

WEST ALABAMA (6-3, 6-1) vs VALDOSTA STATE (6-2, 4-2)
Nov. 5, 2016 l Tiger Stadium | Livingston, Ala. | 2 p.m. l ESPN3 l ESPN 104.9
 
THE SERIES
This is the 36th meeting between the Tigers and the Blazers. Valdosta State leads the series 31-4.
 
WEST ALABAMA
West Alabama is 6-3 overall, 6-1 in the GSC after a 45-21 win at West Florida last week.
 
VALDOSTA STATE
Valdosta State is 6-2 overall, 4-2 in the GSC after losing 38-20 at Florida Tech last week.
 
THE COACHES
Brett Gilliland is 18-13 in his third season at UWA, his third as a head coach. Kerwin Bell is 6-2 in his first season at VSU, 72-37 in his 10th year as a college head coach.
 
COVERAGE
TV: ESPN3 http://es.pn/2erruzP
Radio: ESPN 104.9 or www.espn1049.com
Twitter: @UWAAthletics
 
MAKE IT FIVE
West Alabama is currently riding a five-game winning. The last Tiger team to win five in a row was the 2011 team. The teams from 1974, 1973, 1972 and 1969 also won five consecutive.
 
41 YEARS TO SIX GSC WINS
With the win at West Florida, this West Alabama team became the first to win six GSC games since the 1975 team.
 
GLANCE BACK AT CONSECUTIVE WINS
The school record for consecutive victories is nine, set by the 1971 NAIA National Championship Team. Seven UWA teams (2016, 2015, 2013, 1991, 1983, 1982, 1975) won four straight, six have won five straight (2016, 2011, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1969), two have won six in a row (1949, 1940) and the 1968 team won eight consecutive games.
 
CLIMBING SUPER REGION 2 RANKINGS
UWA climbed two spots to No. 5 in this week's NCAA Division II Super Region 2 Rankings. The top seven teams in the region rankings at the close of the regular season punch their ticket to the NCAA Playoffs. The Tigers (6-3, 6-1) are one of five Gulf South Conference teams in the regional top 10.

AUSTIN CLOSING IN ON BRETT
Tiger quarterback Austin Grammer is closing in on his head coach for the school record for passing attempts, which is held by Brett Gilliland, who threw 451 passes on 2002. With two regular season games to go, Grammer has attempted 355, needing to throw 48.5 over the next two games to break the record. He is 51 completions short of Gilliland's 2002 completion record of 280 in 2002.
 
AUSTIN GSC OFFENSIVE POW AGAIN
West Alabama quarterback Austin Grammer has been named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week for games played in week nine of the 2016 season. Grammer completed 41 of his 56 passes for 493 yards and three touchdowns in just three quarters of play in West Alabama's 45-21 win at West Florida. This is the second time that Grammer has won the award this season.
 
WE LIKE SUNLIGHT
UWA is 4-0 in day games this season.
 
ON ESPN3
The game against Valdosta State is the fourth for ESPN3 for the Tigers this season. UWA is 1-2 in the previous three, losing at Stephen F. Austin and at home to North Alabama before defeating West Georgia on the road.
 
PERFECT OCTOBER
Riding a five-game win streak, UWA obviously went 4-0 in October.
 
PASSING GLANCE
In its current five-game winning streak West Alabama has passed for 1,824 yards, 364.8 yards per game. Valdosta State leads the GSC in pass defense, allowing just 209.1 yards per game. The Blazers also lead the league in interceptions with 18.
 
UNIFORM COMBINATIONS RECORD
Red Jersey, Red Pants: 1-0
White Jersey, Red Pants: 1-1
White Jersey, White Pants: 1-1
Red Jersey, Black Pants: 2-0
Red Jersey, White Pants: 0-1
White Jersey, Black Pants: 1-0
 
STILL UNBEATEN IN BLACK
West Alabama is 3-0 in the black pants donated to the Tigers by former Tiger and current New England Patriot Malcolm Butler. UWA beat Mississippi College and Florida Tech in black pants and red jerseys and took care of West Georgia in black pants and white jerseys.
 
ARMSTRONG LEADING LEAGUE
Tiger receiver Donta (pronounced Dontay) leads the GSC in receptions with 71. He is also second in the league in punt returns at 14.7 yards per return. The UWA record for receptions in a season is 92 by Gerald Gales sin 2002.
 
5TH IN SUPER 2 REGION
West Alabama is fifth in the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 rankings that were released Oct. 31. The Tigers are one of five GSC teams in the regional top 10. The top seven earn a playoff berth.
 
TOTAL OFFENSE LEADER
UWA quarterback Austin Grammer leads the GSC in total offense with an average of 320.1 yards per game. The senior from Tuscaloosa is also second in the conference in passing at 306 yards per game.
 
BENNETT AMONG FG LEADERS
Tiger kicker Jordan Bennett is tied for second in the GSC with nine field goals this season. Valdosta State kicker Andrew Gray leads the league with 10.
 
RANKED OPPONENTS
Valdosta State will be the fourth nationally ranked opponent that UWA has played this year. The Tigers are 2-1 against ranked teams to this point of the year, having beaten West Georgia and Florida Tech. UWA lost to North Alabama.
 
TIGERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @UWAathletics
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UWAathletics
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Jordan Bennett

#39 Jordan Bennett

K/P
6' 0"
Sophomore
Austin Grammer

#1 Austin Grammer

QB
6' 2"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Jordan Bennett

#39 Jordan Bennett

6' 0"
Sophomore
K/P
Austin Grammer

#1 Austin Grammer

6' 2"
Senior
QB