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Brett Gilliland
Joe Chance
31
Winner West Alabama UWA 6-2 , 4-2
14
North Greenville NGU 4-5 , 1-4
Winner
West Alabama UWA
6-2 , 4-2
31
Final
14
North Greenville NGU
4-5 , 1-4
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UWA West Alabama 3 21 7 0 31
NGU North Greenville 0 0 7 7 14

Game Recap: #22 Football |

UWA Gets Back on Track in Tigerville

TIGERVILLE, S.C. – What is the remedy for a streak of Tigers who need to stop a two-game losing streak? Load them up on three busses and take them to Tigerville, of course.
 
West Alabama got back on track Saturday, dominating both sides of the line of scrimmage on the way to a 31-14 Gulf South Conference football victory over North Greenville at Younts Stadium on the NGU campus.
 
West Alabama improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the GSC, keeping its NCAA Division II postseason hopes alive. North Greenville dropped to 4-5 and 1-4, losing to the Tigers for the first time ever at Younts Stadium.
 
"We were really good in the first half and got started fast," UWA head coach Brett Gilliland said. "We came out and handled the hangover from the last two weeks, plus the long trip to Tigerville."
 
West Alabama opened the scoring on a 44-yard field goal off the left foot of Gabe Dunkle with 8:22 showing on the first quarter clock. The kick capped a 13-play, 54-yard drive. The Tigers were forced to settle for three when Tyriq Martin dropped a wide open would-be touchdown pass in the NGU end zone from Jack McDaniels three plays earlier.
 
Martin would redeem himself with 53 seconds left in the first half, hauling in a 37-yard scoring pass from McDaniels. Martin finished with a game-high six receptions for 70 yards. Darius Nalls also had six catches for 52 yards.
 
Martin credited his good day and strong season to this point to his Sponge Bob socks that he wears in every game.
 
"It's just me being myself. They make me feel confident," Martin said. "Like today, we got our confidence and swag back."
 
The Tigers stretched the lead to 10-0 on a 19-yard scoring pass from McDaniels to Bayley Blanchard and a Dunkle PAT with 13:08 left in the first half.
 
West Alabama stretched its advantage to 17-0 with 2:31 left in the first half on a 6-yard touchdown toss to Caeleb Bass. Dunkle's point after was good. Bass had three receptions for 24 yards.
 
UWA dominated the first half, piling up 337 yards total offense while limiting the Crusaders to just 42. The Tigers ended up with 406 yards while limiting NGU to 186. The Tigers converted 7-of-16 third down conversion attempts and both fourth down tries it attempted.
 
"Outside of the first drive we really executed well in the first half," McDaniels said. "Now we need to learn to keep our foot on our opponents' throat when we get them down."
 
McDaniels completed 19-of-33 passes for 214 yards and three TDs. NGU signal caller Kaelan Riley was 16-of-32 for 148 yards and two scores.
 
McDaniels' third TD pass was to Bayley Blanchard early in the second quarter, Blanchard finished with two grabs for 42 yards.
 
West Alabama didn't waste any time adding to its lead in the second half. Jeremiah Boyd scooped and scored on an incomplete backwards pass on North Greenville's first play from scrimmage, going 5 yards for a Tiger touchdown with just eight seconds expired in the third period. Dunkle's PAT made it 31-0 Tigers.
 
"I knew it was coming and I didn't think he would throw it," Boyd said. "I just picked it up and ran. I never heard a whistle and we are taught to play through the whistle."
 
In addition to the fumble recovery for the score, Boyd also collected two quarterback sacks (-17), made four tackles and broke up a pass. Josh Hatcher led West Alabama tacklers with nine, seven solo and was credited with half a sack. Undraez Lilly and Shamar Lewis had six tackles each.
 
"I like this feeling," Hatcher said following the game. "We were a lot more determined to keep grinding and stay disciplined."
 
North Greenville put its first points on the board with 8:13 left in the third quarter, cutting the UWA lead to 31-7,  when Riley connected with Christian Bruce on an 8-yard fade two plays after Eddie Martin intercepted McDaniels at the Tiger 28 yard line.  Colin Kathu added the extra point.
 
Riley and Bruce hooked up on another fade for a score, this one from 11 yards, to cut the Tiger lead to 31-14 with 10:30 left in the game. Kathu's point after was good.
 
After North Greenville's second touchdown the Tigers went to work on the ground game and bled the clock dry to clinch the win in its final road game of the season.
 
Bry Webb led UWA rushers with a career-best 79 yards on 11 carries. Demetrius Battle ran for 72 yards on 15 trips.
 
"I need to give a shout out to our offensive line," Webb said. "They help me running with aggressiveness and anger, but my mom fuels that more than anyone else. She always keeps me competing."
 
Dre Williams led NGU rushers with 70 yards on 21 carries. He also caught five passes for 14 yards to lead the Crusaders in that statistic as well.
 
West Alabama closes the regular season by hosting West Florida Saturday and Mississippi College Nov. 13. Both kickoffs are set for 1 p.m.
 
 
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