LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Quarterback Jack McDaniels connected 14 of 25 passes through the air for 192 yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough to stay ahead of Mississippi College. The Tigers fell 28-24 inside Tiger Stadium for their first loss against the Choctaws since 1996 to break their 10-game winning streak over MC. UWA closes the 2021 season 7-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
McDaniels found Bayley Blanchard twice for 52 yards and Owen Harper three times for 42 yards and one touchdown in the matchup. Darius Nalls also had a touchdown in the competition, picking up 34 yards on one catch.
Demetrius Battle led the ground game with 139 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.
The Tigers tallied 392 offensive yards as a team, including 192 in the air and 200 on the ground. MC racked up 490 offensive yards, including 116 in the air and 374 on the ground.
Defensively, Lamar Gray led the D-Block with eight solo tackles and one tackle for a loss. Michael Anderson and Terrance Carter had similar stats, with each having six solo tackles and two tackle assists.
As it is customary on the final home game of the season, the West Alabama football team recognized 24 seniors during the competition's pregame festivities. Colten Adam, Bayley Blanchard, Terrance Carter, Ricky Chatman, Reggie Davenport, Charvez Embry, Mike Faulkner, Sedevyn Gray, Josh Hatcher, Collin Herring, Deyon Hill, Fabion Jones, Undraez Lilly, Jack McDaniels, Dalton McKenzie, Griffin McKenzie, Stuart Mixson, Joe Oliver, Mike Roland, James Smith, III, Chris Terrell, Rakeem Terry, Derrick Underwood, and Dekota Welker were honored as they played in their final game wearing the Tiger uniform.
After winning the toss and electing to receive, the Tigers were unable to get any real movement in the first drive of the competition.
Mississippi College took possession on its 25-yard line to begin the first scoring drive. In seven plays and 3:59, the Choctaws covered 75 yards, capped by a 24-yard carry by Marcus Williams for the touchdown. Jance Riley was good for the point after, and MC took a 7-0 lead over West Alabama with 8:55 remaining in the first quarter.
A punt and a turnover on downs returned possession to West Alabama and led the teams into the second quarter. McDaniels started the UWA offense on their own 17 to connect with Blanchard for 41 yards in the opening play. Battle added eight yards on the ground, and McDaniels found Nalls for 34 yards and touchdown. Gabriel Dunkle landed the point after to tie the game at 7 with 13:19 remaining in the half.
Mississippi College answered on the next drive to retain the lead, covering 83 yards in four plays and 1:34. Williams scored his second touchdown of the game on a 15-yard carry, and the point after moved MC ahead 14-7 with 10:40 remaining in the half.
The scoring exchange continued with West Alabama's next campaign. The Tigers kept the ball on the ground for the most part, with Battle using his muscle to push through the Choctaws defense. After covering 61 yards in 7 plays, Battle punctuated the effort for a 5-yard carry and a touchdown. Dunkle added the PAT, and the teams were tied again, 14-14, with 7:47 left before the halftime break.
Another Choctaw possession resulted in another seven points for Mississippi College. After what looked like a sack, MC quarterback DeAnte Smith-Moore was able to shake loose and connect with Trent Bolder for 30 yards on a fourth and eight. Smith-Moore's quick thinking put the Choctaws in the red zone, and he completed the distance with back-to-back carries for a touchdown. The point after was good. MC pulled ahead 21-14 with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter.
As the final minutes of the half ticked off the clock, the Tigers did their best to make an endzone return. After several incomplete passes and carries that picked up minimum yardage, UWA settled for a field goal. Dunkle stuck an easy 22 yarder to add three, cutting the Choctaw lead to 21-17 at the close of the half.
Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter. A highlight of the period is a fumble recovery by senior defensive end Chris Terrell to keep MC from scoring on a first and goal.
West Alabama took second possession in the fourth quarter. Adding yardage through the air and on ground, the Tigers covered 90 yards in 12 plays in 4:15. The campaign came to a close on a 14-yard pass from McDaniels to Owen Harper for a touchdown. The PAT was good, and the Tigers took their first lead of the game 24-21 with 4:16 left to play.
The UWA lead did not hold. MC scored again on the next drive for a final score of 28-24 to close the game.
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