ROME, Ga. – With a 72.2 pass completion percentage, senior quarterback Jack McDaniels connected with receivers 26 times for 262 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 44-7 victory over Shorter University.
With McDaniels taking charge, the Tigers offense saw 496 total yards (209 rushing and 287 passing) with 26 first downs. McDaniels favorite target during the competition was Tyriq Martin. The Goose Creek, S.C. native had nine receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown.
On the ground, Demetrius Battle led the run game to average 6.7 yards per run. With 15 carries for 100 yards, Battle found the endzone twice for touchdowns.
The D-Block held firm against the Shorter offense and made big plays to keep the Hawks from scoring. Charvez Embry blocked a crucial field goal, Shamar Lewis caught an interception for 14 yards, and Undraez Lilly, Michael Anderson, and Michael Sharpley had sacks for losses.
UWA's defense held Shorter to just 228 yards and 10 first downs. Christopher Terrell had five solo tackles and one tackle assist, leading the team, while Schdarren Archie had four tackles and three tackle assists.
The Tigers overcame an unsteady first quarter, sprinkled with several miscues, including an interception and a fumble recovered by the Hawks.
With the 44-7 victory over Shorter, West Alabama takes a 6-0 season start for the first time in program history and a 3-0 start in conference play since 2017.
Just a minute after the start of the second quarter, West Alabama finally found its rhythm and started the first scoring drive of the competition. It took the Tigers 4:44, 12 plays, and 69 yards to make it to the endzone. The ball spent most of that time in the air with McDaniels finding receiver Tyriq Martin for two passes for 10 yards. The drive ended on a 21-yard pass o Bayley Blanchard for a touchdown and point-after by Gabriel Dunkle to give the Tigers a 7-0 advantage with 9:16 left in the first half.
Shorter made three plays on the next drive before Shamar Lewis intercepted a pass from Hawk quarterback Aeneas Dennis and returned it for 14 yards. The Tiger offense took over at the 47-yard line but could not capitalize on the Hawk's miscue. UWA punted after three short plays.
The ball changed possessions three times before Shorter started a campaign that put them in perfect position for a field goal attempt. Tiger defensive tackle Charvez Embry blocked the kick, and Trevon Stanford returned it for 41 yards. UWA offense took over. McDaniels completed a 26-yard pass to Deyon Hill, and Demetrius Battle ended the campaign with a 2-yard carry into the endzone. Dunkle scored the point after, and the Tigers extended its lead to 14-0 with just seven seconds left in the half.
West Alabama made quick work of the first possession in the second half. After kickoff and a 37-yard return by Bry Webb, the Tigers started the campaign on their 41-yard line. On a second-down and six, McDaniels connected with Blanchard for an 18-yard pass. Battle added four with a run, and then McDaniels found Martin for 14 yards. Completing the effort, Battle ran for 23 yards and a touchdown, with Dunkle collecting the point after. UWA moved to 21-0 over Shorter with 13:03 left in the period.
Another Shorter punt returned the ball to West Alabama on its 32-yard line to begin another scoring drive. With a mix of ground and air play, the Tigers covered 68 yards in 7 plays and 2:40. In the campaign, running back James Smith, III had a 17-yard carry, and McDaniels found Martin for a 31-yard touchdown. Unfortunately, the point after was no good, but the Tigers maintained their lead with a score of 27-0 with 7:39 left in the third quarter.
Shorter's next drive also ends in a punt, and the Tigers took the opportunity to score again. Starting the drive on their 45-yard line, McDaniels kept the ball for a 22-yard carry, and Battle rushed for 10. McDaniels connected with Martin for seven yards and Smith for 17 and another touchdown. The point after was good, and the score moved to 34-0 with 4:44 left in the period.
The Hawks finally made it on the board in the third. After a 29-yard kickoff by Tiger kicker Trey Sullivan, West Alabama had an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gave Shorter an additional 15 yards. On the very next play, Hawk quarterback Aeneas Dennis connected with John Dietl for a 32-yard touchdown. Nick Pope added the point after to cut West Alabama's lead to 34-7 with 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
West Alabama took first possession of the fourth quarter. After several attempts to make it into the endzone, the Tigers were in a fourth and three situation and elected to kick a field goal. Dunkle stuck the 22-yarder for the three points to give UWA a 30-point lead over the Hawks, 37-7 with 13:01 left in the game.
UWA covered the short 45 yards after a shallow punt to the endzone in six plays in 2:10 seconds in the game's final scoring drive. The campaign ended with a 15-yard carry by Bry Webb and the PAT, and the Tigers extended their lead to 44-7 with 9:23 left to play. The remaining minutes went scoreless to give West Alabama the win.
West Alabama will bring the game home for the first time in three weeks when they host top-10 ranked GSC rival Valdosta State. The Tigers will face Blazers during UWA's annual Hall of Fame Day at 1 p.m. inside Tiger Stadium. 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees will be recognized during the competition.
