Football Preview | Game 2 | at Tusculum

#20 WEST ALABAMA (1-0) at TUSCULUM (0-1)
Sept. 14, 2019 l Pioneer Field | Greenville, Tenn. | 6 p.m. EDT l ESPN 104.9

THE SERIES
This is the first meeting between the Pioneers and Tigers.

WEST ALABAMA
West Alabama is 1-0 after a season opening 35-18 win over Limestone.

TUSCULUM
Tusculum is 0-1 after losing 24-10 at Delta State to open the season.

THE COACHES
Brett Gilliland is 38-21 in his sixth season at UWA. Jerry Odom is 14-18 in his fourth season at Tusculum.

COVERAGE
Radio: ESPN 104.9: Robert Upchurch & Will Atkinson handle the call. Live video is available on the Tusculum Athletics YouTube page.

ON THE ROAD
This is the road opener for the Tigers. West Alabama was 3-3 on the road last season.

ROAD OPENERS UNDER GILLILAND
West Alabama is 5-1 in road openers under head coach Brett Gilliland.
2014    won at Stillman 44-20
2015    won at Miles College 13-10
2016    lost at North Greenville 24-23
2017    won at Lenoir-Rhyne 46-7
2018    won at Limestone 16-13
2019    Tigers at Tusculum

QUA 8TH WITH 100 OR MORE
With three receptions last week against Limestone, Tiger All-American tight end Qua Boyd became just the eighth player in UWA football history have more than 100 career catches. His 1,276 receiving yards is seventh all-time.

GAINES GSC & D2FOOTBALL.COM SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
West Alabama punter Zach Gaines earned GSC and D2Football.com special teams player of the week for his performance in the Tigers 35-18 victory over Limestone College to open the season. He punted 10 times, averaging 46.7 yards per punt, which leads the conference after one week. He had three punts of 50 or more yards and dropped four punts inside the Limestone 20-yard line. This is the first GSC weekly honor for Gaines, who is a two-time All-GSC selection.

GAINES ON THE CAREER BOARD
One game into his senior season Tiger punter Zach Gaines is first on the UWA career list for total punts (142) and average yards per punt (42.71). He is second all-time in total yards punted with 6,065.

CLIMB TO 20 & 24 IN POLLS
The Tigers jumped four spots to No.20 in the American Football Coaches Association poll after last week's win over Limestone. D2Football.com has UWA at No. 24.

HOF HONORS SEPT. 28 AT TUSKEGEE GAME
Michael Flynn, Jerry Smith and Gerald Worsham have been selected for induction into the University of West Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame. Flynn played basketball, Worsham football and Smith is credited with starting the UWA track/cross country programs. The trio will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Annual National Alumni Association Meeting on Sept. 28, 2018. They will also serve as honorary game captains at the football game that evening against Tuskegee University and be recognized at halftime as well.

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

PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
Junior receiver Bayley Blanchard picked up where he left off in his All-GSC sophomore season with a pair of TD catches against Limestone last week. Blanchard, along with Miles Kelly of Florida Tech and John Hurst of West Georgia are tied for the league lead after one game with five receptions.

POINTS FOR 89
Bayley Blanchard also is tied for the league lead in points scored per game at 12.0 and touchdowns with two.

FIVE TV/DIGITAL PLATFORM EXPOSURES
West Alabama is slated to play on TV/digital video format five times this season. The Tigers will be on ESPN3 three times, twice on the GSC-TV Game of the Week and once on the Division II National Game of the week. The Tigers will also play on ESPN+ at Delta State as part of the GSC package. The game at Valdosta State next week will be a regional broadcast as part of College Football Down South.

THE LEGEND
Tiger cornerback Jordan "Legend" Graddy is tied for fourth in the GSC with nine total tackles. The last name is pronounced Graydee, but you can call him Legend.

JACK AND CHRISTIAN
Tiger QB Jack McDaniels comes into week two second in the GSC in total offense at 277.0 yards, while receiver/kick returner Christian Saulsberry is seconding in all-purpose yards at 139.0.

WHITE ON WHITE?
Good chance the Tigers are suiting up this weekend in white jerseys and white pants. 2019 record in white on white — 0-1. Maybe rethink the decision … 2-0 in white on black.

SOCIALLY SPEAKING
Twitter: @UWAathletics
Facebook: UWAAthletics
Instagram: uwaathletics

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

NEXT WEEK
UWA opens GSC play at Valdosta State on Sept. 21.Kickoff is at 6 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised regionally on College Football Down South.

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Players Mentioned

#89 Bayley Blanchard: WR; 6' 1"; Junior

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

#17 Zach Gaines: P; 6' 1"; Senior

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

#7 Jack McDaniels: QB; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#89 Bayley Blanchard
: 6' 1"; Junior
: WR

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

#17 Zach Gaines
: 6' 1"; Senior
: P

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

#7 Jack McDaniels
: 6' 2"; Junior
: QB