#17 Football 3/12/2021 9:49:00 AM

FB Preview | Gulf Coast Challenge | UWA vs SSU | March 13, 2021

West Alabama (1-0) vs Savannah State (0-0)
Gulf Coast Challenge

THE STADIUM
Ladd-Peeples Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Due to COVID restrictions only 7,000 fans will be allowed in the 40,000 seat stadium.

TIME
4 p.m. CST

THE SERIES
This is the first game between UWA and Savannah State.

WEST ALABAMA
West Alabama is 1-0 in this short spring season. The Tigers defeated Limestone University, 27-17, last Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

SAVANNAH STATE
This is the first of a two-game spring season for the Tigers.

THE COACHES
Brett Gilliland is 44-26 in his seventh season as a head coach, all at UWA. Shawn Quinn is 7-3 heading into his second season at Savannah State.

RADIO
SLY 104.9: Robert Upchurch & Will Atkinson on the call. The Tiger Tailgate show starts at 3:45 p.m.

LIVE VIDEO FEED
The Gulf Coast Challenge does not offer a video feed for the game.

2021 UWA SPRING SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Date                 Opponent                                 Time
3/6                   Limestone                                W 27-17
3/13                 Savannah State*                       4 p.m.
*Gulf Coast Challenge Game in Mobile, Ala.

TICKETS
All tickets are general admission and are $15. Tickets can be ordered  at www.thegulfcoastchallenge.com. or obtained through Ticketmaster.

LAST WEEK
West Alabama rolled up over 500 yards of total offense and limited Limestone to less than 200 yards passing and rushing on the way to a 27-17 win over the Saints.

TIGER STADIUM RENOVATION
The UWA Board of Trustees approved the renovation of Tiger Stadium at its March 1 meeting. Construction of two new wings of the press box, a new entertainment area, new reserved seating and an academic center will begin in a couple of weeks.

CAREER GAME FOR DERRICK
UWA RB Derrick Underwood posted career rushing numbers against  over Limestone. The Homewood (Ala.) High School product ran for 148 yards on 23 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Underwood has now carried 250 times in his UWA career for 1,278 yards.

GILLILAND vs SSU
UWA head coach Brett Gilliland has never faced Savannah State.

QUINN vs. UWA
This is also the first meeting for SSVU head coach Shawn Quinn versus West Alabama.

CAREER OUTING FOR TYRIQ
UWA junior receiver Tyriq Martin had a career day in the win over Limestone, catching 10 passes for 166 yards, both top game day efforts for Martin. He was also targeted a career-high 16 times during the game.

BREAK 'EM UP
West Alabama defenders broke up 11 passes against Limestone last week, making 22 in the last two games against the Saints. Cornerback TJ Newell led the Tigers with three PBUs.

TURNOVERS
Although the Tigers failed to intercept a pass, UWA defenders did force two fumbles and recovered them both.

CLIMBING THE RECEIVING LIST
Tiger receiver Bayley Blanchard comes into the game tied for seventh on the UWA  all-time receptions list with 114. His 1,429 yards is also seventh all-time and 13 touchdowns is tied for fifth in school history.

SSU DEFENSE TOP-FLIGHT
The Tiger's defense was the No. 1 scoring defense in the SIAC during the 2019 season, defeating the top two teams in the SIAC, Albany State and Fort Valley State, by a combined 88-43 points.

HATCHER WITH 10
Linebacker Josh Hatcher lead UWA defenders in the win over Limestone with 10 total tackles, giving him 75 for his career.

ONE OF FOUR
UWA head coach Brett Gilliland is one of just four coaches in the history of Tiger football that have averaged seven or more wins over a minimum career of three seasons. Gilliland, Jim King, Micky Andrews and Will Hall are those four.

1278 ON THE UNDERWOOD ACCOUNT
The Tigers will feature all new specialists since the last time a game was played. All-American punter Zach Gaines has graduated and freshman Trey Sullivan moves into that role. Gabe Dunkle, junior transfer steps into the place kicking role.

TYRIQ GETTING CLOSE
Junior receiver Tyriq Martin is closing in on being the ninth receiver in Tiger history with 100 receptions. In just two seasons Martin already has 85 catches for 1,083 yards and 12 TDs. He needs just four receptions to move into the all-time top 10.

COACHING TOGETHER in the "Boro"
Tigers head coach Brett Gilliland and Savannah State head coach Shawn Quinn worked together in 2010-11 at Georgia Southern  in Statesboro, Georgia.

JACK CLOSNG IN ON TOP 10
UWA QB Jack McDaniels needs just 561 passing yards to move into the UWA career top 10.

UWA FOOTBALL HISTORY
First Year of Football:                1938
All-Time Record:                       327-431-18
All-Time GSC Record:                 237-286-6
GSC Titles:                                1971, 2012, 2013, 2017
NCAA Playoff Appearances:       6
NCAA Playoff Record:                4-6
Last Playoff Appearance:           2018 Lost at Bowie State, 1st Round
National Titles Won:                  1 (NAIA '71)

TOP MULLET, TOP PLAYER
Not only is UWA starting left guard Stuart Mixson one of the top linemen in D2 football, but he also sports one of the top mullets. Pull out the binocs  and focus in on No. 62 pancaking opponents while sporting the flow.

DERRICK NEEDS 426
Running back Derrick Underwood needs just 426 yards to move into the UWA all-time top 10 in rushing yards.

STATS COUNT
According to NCAA policy all stats collected in the two games that the Tigers play this spring will count toward player career records and toward career coaching records.

UWA FOOTBALL ASSISTANT COACHES

Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Steve Sisa (Virginia Tech 2001)
3rd Year at UWA

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Don Bailey (Portland State 1991)
4th Year at UWA

Tight Ends/Special Teams
David Thornton, (UAB 1995)
8th Year at UWA

Defensive Line
Roberto Pinilla, (West Georgia 1997)
6th Year at UWA

Defensive Backs
Ervin Jackson (Ohio 2008)
8th Year at UWA

Running Backs
Nate Harris (Western Carolina 2012)
1st Year at UWA

Offensive Line
Devin Myers (UWA 2016)
5th Year at UWA

/Defensive Graduate Assistant
Keeon Shaw (Liberty 2015)
1st Year at UWA

Defensive Graduate Assistant
Tim McDaniels (James Madison 2019)
1st Year at UWA

Offensive Graduate Assistant
Walter Cheevers
1^st Year at UWA

Offensive Graduate Assistant
Branson Davis (Auburn 2020)
1st Year at UWA

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#10 Josh Hatcher: LB; 6' 0"; Senior

#8 Tyriq Martin: WR; 6' 3"; Junior

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

#62 Stuart Mixson: OL; 6' 2"; Senior

#3 Derrick Underwood: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#1 TJ Newell: DB; 6' 3"; Junior

#92 Trey Sullivan: P; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#10 Josh Hatcher
: 6' 0"; Senior
: LB

#8 Tyriq Martin
: 6' 3"; Junior
: WR

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

#62 Stuart Mixson
: 6' 2"; Senior
: OL

#3 Derrick Underwood
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#1 TJ Newell
: 6' 3"; Junior
: DB

#92 Trey Sullivan
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: P