#22 Football 9/3/2019 4:22:00 PM

Football Preview | Game 1 | Tigers vs. Limestone

#24/25 WEST ALABAMA (0-0) vs LIMESTONE COLLEGE (0-0)
Sept. 7, 2019 l Tiger Stadium | Livingston, Ala. | 6 p.m. CDT l ESPN 104.9

THE SERIES
UWA leads 1-0, winning 16-13 in Gaffney, S.C. last season.

WEST ALABAMA
This is the season opener for West Alabama. The Tigers were 8-4 last season.

LIMESTONE
This is the season opener for Limestone. The Saints were 0-10 last season and have lost 12 straight.

THE COACHES
Brett Gilliland is 37-21 beginning his sixth season at UWA. Brian Turk is coaching his first game as the full-time head coach for LC. He served as interim coach for the final two games of 2018.

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

NEXT WEEK
Tigers travel to Greenville, Tenn. to face Tusculum. Game time is 5 p.m. CDT.

OPENERS UNDER GILLILAND
West Alabama is 4-1 in season openers under Brett Gilliland. The Tigers defeated Stillman to open the 2014 and 2015 seasons, lost at North Greenville in 2016 and defeated Lenoir-Rhyne the last two years.

11 OF LAST 13, PLUS 20-9
West Alabama has won 11 of its last 13 games at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers are 20–9 at home under head coach Brett Gilliland.

SAINTS AND TIGERS IN 2018
Jordan Bennett drilled a 45-yard field goal as time expired, allowing West Alabama to escape with a 16-13 win over Limestone College at The Reservation Stadium in Gaffney, South Carolina. Bennet's game-winner was his third field goal of the game and came just 2:52 after Saints kicker Griffin Martin missed from 42 yards. Limestone had a 15-yard touchdown pass negated by a holding penalty two plays before the miss. The Saints had led 13-3 before letting the lead get away.

WINNINGEST COACH IN UWA HISTORY
The win at Limestone last year made Brett Gilliland the winningest coach in UWA football history. He is currently 37-21 heading into season number six at West Alabama.

FIVE TV/DIGITAL PLATFORM EXPOSURES FOR TIGERS
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 will be a regional broadcast as part of College Football Down South.

PICKED THIRD
West Alabama was picked third by league coaches in the GSC Preseason Poll.

TOP 25
The Tigers are ranked number 24 in the American Football Coaches Association preseason poll and 25th by d2football.com. D2Sportsnet, a newcomer to Division II polling, has the Tigers ranked at No. 21.

SEVEN PRESEASON ALL-GSC PICKS
Five offensive and two defensive players from West Alabama earned preseason All-GSC honors. A preseason favorite for offensive player of the year, tight end Qua Boyd was selected by the coaches, as well as wide receivers Christian Saulsberry and Bayley Blanchard. Rounding out offensive selections were offensive tackle Brandon Anderson and center Call Dyer. Safety Tavarius Hutchinson and defense end Jordan Jones were Tiger selections from the defense.

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.

LAST SEPTEMBER
West Alabama was 3-2 last September, with losses coming to Valdosta State and North Greenville. The Tigers defeated Lenoir-Rhyne, Miles College and Limestone.

TIGERS ON THE 53
Five former Tigers made the 53-man roster for NFL teams. Seth Roberts is with the Ravens, Malcolm Butler the Titans, Dee Virgin the Lions, Tyreek Hill the Chiefs and Deon Lacey with the Dolphins.

FURLONG JOINS STAFF
Will Furlong, a former Florida State and North Alabama offensive lineman, has joined the West Alabama staff as running backs coach. Furlong replaces Deon Williams, who left for the offensive coordinator job at his alma mater, Tuscaloosa County High School.

FAMILIARITY ON STAFF
Including head coach Brett Gilliland, the Tiger coaching staff has a combined 38 years on the West Alabama football coaching staff. Defensive front coach Roberto Pinilla has been on every Gilliland staff at UWA. Defensive backs coach Ervin Jackson and tight ends coach David Thornton are coaching in their second go-around with the Tigers.

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

UWA FOOTBALL HISTORY
First Year of Football: 1938
All-Time Record: 320-426-18
All-Time GSC Record: 234-281-6
GSC Titles: 1971, 2012, 2013, 2017
NCAA Playoff Appearances: 6
NCAA Playoff Record: 4-6
Last Playoff Appearance: 2018 Lost at Bowie State, 1^st Round
National Titles Won: 1 (NAIA '71)
TV Game Record: 20-16

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Players Mentioned

#39 Jordan Bennett: K/P; 6' 0"; Senior

#75 Brandon Anderson: OL; 6' 4"; Senior

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

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

#55 Call Dyer: C; 6' 4"; Senior

#1 Tavarius Hutchinson: DB; 5' 10"; Senior

#7 Jordan Jones: LB; 6' 2"; Senior

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

Players Mentioned

#39 Jordan Bennett
: 6' 0"; Senior
: K/P

#75 Brandon Anderson
: 6' 4"; Senior
: OL

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

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

#55 Call Dyer
: 6' 4"; Senior
: C

#1 Tavarius Hutchinson
: 5' 10"; Senior
: DB

#7 Jordan Jones
: 6' 2"; Senior
: LB

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