Football Preview | Game 9 | UWA vs. Florida Tech

WEST ALABAMA (5-3, 2-3) vs FLORIDA TECH (6-2, 3-2)
10.27.18 l Tiger Stadium | Livingston, Ala. | 4 p.m. ET l ESPN 104.9 | ESPN3

THE SERIES
This is the sixth meeting between the Tigers and the Panthers. FIT leads 3-2.

WEST ALABAMA
West Alabama is 5-3 overall, 2-3 in GSC play.

FLORIDA TECH
Florida Tech is 6-2 overall, 3-2 in league play.

THE COACHES
Brett Gilliland is 34-20 in his fifth season at UWA, his fifth as a head coach. Steve Englehart is 37-27 in his sixth year at Florida Tech, 63-41 in his 10th year as a head coach.

COVERAGE
TV: http://www.espn.com/watch/
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2EHAWLY
Radio: ESPN 104.9
Twitter: @UWAAthletics

HOMECOMING
It's Homecoming for West Alabama. The Tigers are 3-1 in Homecoming games under coach Brett Gilliland.

THREE ON TV
This is the third time this season that UWA is featured on the Florida Space Coast GSC-TV Game of the Week on ESPN3. The Tigers are 1-1 on the ESPN platform.

IT'S ALL PLAYOFFS NOW
With three losses, every game is a "playoff game" if UWA is to qualify for the NCAA Division II postseason. A fourth loss would almost certainly eliminate the Tigers from consideration.

LAST TWO
FIT won last year's game, 41-39, on Oct. 21, 2017 at Florida Tech. West Alabama won the last meeting at Tiger Stadium between the Tigers and Panthers, 45-35, on Oct. 20, 2016.

GILLILAND vs. FIT, ENGLEHART vs. UWA
UWA head coach Brett Gilliland is 1-3 against Florida Tech. FIT head coach Steve Englehart is 3-2 against West Alabama.

IN TIGHT GAMES
West Alabama is 3-2 in games decided by five points or less this season. Florida Tech is 2-0.

TIGERS IN THE RED ZONE
In 28 trips to the red zone West Alabama has come away with points 24 times, with 18 of those being touchdowns. Of the four times with no points, one was a lost fumble and one was a kneel-down to end the game.

69 TO PASS BRETT
Tiger quarterback Harry Satterwhite needs 69 yards passing to move past his head coach Brett Gilliland to third on the Tiger career passing yards list.

BACK TO BACK CENTURY MARKS
With seven receptions for 106 yards at West Georgia, Tiger slot receiver Christian Saulsberry has surpassed the 100-yard receiving mark in each of the Tigers last two games. Saulsberry has caught 17 passes for 228 yards over the last two games.

JUST 3.2
The West Alabama defense allows just 3.2 yards per rush, tops in the GSC. The Tigers also averaged 5.8 tackles for loss (-18 ypg). Defensive end Jordan Jones leads the Tigers with 10 tackles for loss.

TOP 2 TFL
This game features the top two tacklers for loss in the GSC. UWA's Jordan Jones is second with 10 and FIT defensive end Adonis Davis leads the league with 12.

ROGERS CLIMBING RUSHING CHARTS
UWA running back Tyler Rogers is needs just three rushing touchdowns to become the all-all-time leader at UWA. Gary Johnston (09-13) had 28. Rogers needs just 34 yards rushing to move past Johnston into seventh place all-time, 46 yards to move into sixth past Jackie O'Neal (73-76) and 102 to become the fifth-leading career rusher at UWA, eclipsing Ricky Austin (73-75).

RED AND WHITE AT HOME
Red jerseys and white pants seem to be the preferred uniform combination at home this season. UWA is 2-0 in that combo.

UNIFORM COMBINATIONS RECORD
Red Jersey, Red Pants: 1-1
Red Jersey, White Pants: 2-0
Red Jersey, Black Pants: 0-1
White Jersey, Red Pants: 1-0
White Jersey, White Pants: 0-1
White Jersey, Black Pants: 1-0

STARTING AFTER KICKOFF
West Alabama's average starting field position following an opponent's kickoff is its own 32 yard line. Conversely, Tiger opponents have been starting at their own 22.

FOUR OVER 20
UWA has four kickoff returners averaging at least 21 yards per return, led by Christian Saulsberry at a league-leading 30.2 yards per return. The Tigers average 27.6 yards per kickoff return.

BIRDMAN
With 14 tackles last week at West Georgia, Tiger linebacker Terry "Birdman" Samuel took over the team lead with 63 total tackles. He is third in the league. Florida Tech's J.T. Hassell has 82 tackles to lead the GSC.

5 OF 10
Five of the top 10 tacklers in the Gulf South Conference are playing in this game:
1 .FIT linebacker J.T. Hassell is first with 82 tackles.
3. UWA linebacker Terry Samuel with 63.
6. UWA safety Tavarius Hutchinson with 56.
8. FIT defensive end Adonis Davis with 52.
T10. UWA defensive end Jordan Jones.

PERMANENT CAPTAINS
The Tiger team has voted and the following players have been honored by being named permanent captains for the 2018 season. Quarterback Harry Satterwhite and linebacker Terry Samuel have been voted as permanent captains by their teammates for the second consecutive year. Joining them this season are defensive end Darius Ellis and tight end Qua Boyd.

HARRY BACK ON TOP
UWA quarterback Harry Satterwhite has returned to the top of the passing yards per game charts for the GSC. The senior from Mobile, Alabama is averaging 258.4 yards per game.

FIRST WR START FOR SETH
Senior Seth Knott, a veteran of Tiger special teams for the past four years, picked up his first start at wide receiver last week at West Georgia. The Prattville product caught a 28-yard pass on the game's first play and finished with two catches for 30 yards.

TIGERS AT HOME
West Alabama is 3-1 at Tiger Stadium this season with wins over Lenoir-Rhyne, Miles and Delta State. The lone loss came at the hands of Valdosta State.

PANTHERS ON THE ROAD
Florida Tech is 3-1 on the road this season, with victories coming at Benedict, Wingate and West Florida. The Panthers lost at West Georgia.

UWA RECORD BREAKDOWN
Overall: 5-3
GSC: 2-3
Home: 3-1
Road: 2-2
Day: 3-1
Night: 2-2
Aug: 1-0
Sept: 2-2
Oct: 2-1
Nov: 0-0
Score First: 1-2
Lead After 1st Quarter: 2-1
Trail After 1st Quarter: 2-1
Tied After 1st Quarter: 1-1
Lead At Half: 4-0
Trail At Half: 0-3
Tied At Half: 1-0
Lead After 3rd Quarter: 2-1
Trail After 3rd Quarter: 1-2
Tied After 3rd Quarter: 2-0
1-5 Points: 3-2
6-10 Points: 0-0
11-19 Points: 1-0
20-29 Points: 0-0
30 or More Points: 1-1
Overtime: 0-0
GSC Home: 1-1
GSC Road: 1-2
ESPN3: 1-1

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Players Mentioned

#18 Qua Boyd: TE; 6' 5"; Senior

#10 Darius Ellis: DE; 5' 10"; Senior

#7 Tavarius Hutchinson: DB; 5' 10"; Junior

#42 Jordan Jones: LB; 6' 2"; Junior

#28 Tyler Rogers: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#14 Terry Samuel: LB; 6' 2"; Senior

#15 Harry Satterwhite: QB; 6' 1"; Senior

#2 Christian Saulsberry: WR; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#18 Qua Boyd
: 6' 5"; Senior
: TE

#10 Darius Ellis
: 5' 10"; Senior
: DE

#7 Tavarius Hutchinson
: 5' 10"; Junior
: DB

#42 Jordan Jones
: 6' 2"; Junior
: LB

#28 Tyler Rogers
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#14 Terry Samuel
: 6' 2"; Senior
: LB

#15 Harry Satterwhite
: 6' 1"; Senior
: QB

#2 Christian Saulsberry
: 5' 8"; Junior
: WR