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Derrick Underwood
Trent Spruell | Trent S. Photography
36
Winner West Alabama UWA 2-0
28
Savannah State SSU 0-1
Winner
West Alabama UWA
2-0
36
Final
28
Savannah State SSU
0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UWA West Alabama 7 3 14 12 36
SSU Savannah State 7 7 14 0 28

Game Recap: #17 Football |

UWA Rallies in Fourth to Beat Savannah State in GCC

MOBILE, Ala. – West Alabama used a field goal, a safety and a touchdown pass in the in the fourth quarter while its defense stymied Savannah State, paving the way for a 36-28 victory in the third Gulf Coast Challenge at Ladd-Peebles Stadium Saturday night.
 
The two teams went back and forth for the first three quarters of play, with Savannah State taking a 28-24 lead into the final period. From there it was all West Alabama on the way to the win. 
 
The Gulf Coast Challenge is usually played in the fall, but COVID-19 restrictions pushed the game back to the spring this year. It is expected to return to its original fall schedule in the upcoming season.

"The city of Mobile wanted a game and they got one," UWA head coach Brett Gilliland said. "I was really proud of the way our guys reacted late in the game."
 
West Alabama finishes its abbreviated spring schedule with a 2-0 record, having defeated Limestone 27-17 the previous Saturday. Savannah State, 0-1, has one more game at the end of the month on its spring schedule.
 
"We always want to start fast but we didn't tonight," Gilliland said. "Still, it's not how you start, but how you finish. Thirty-six is more than 28, so we will take this and move forward with a positive mindset heading into the fall."
 
Saturday's game was played before a crowd announced at 3,499.
 
Savannah State started the scoring quickly, with D'Vonn Gibbons scoring on a 37-yard run on the game's first play from scrimmage. The point-after kick was good, putting Savannah State ahead 7-0. After missing a field goal attempt on its first possession, West Alabama returned later in the quarter to knot the game at 7-all when Derrick Underwood found the end zone from 3 yards out to cap an eight-play, 64-yard drive.
 
West Alabama took the lead 10-7 when Gabriel Dunkle connected on a 32-yard field goal at the 12:12 mark of the second period, but Savannah State regained the lead when Gibbons produced a 41-yard scoring run that capped a five-play, 75-yard drive and put SSU in front 14-10 at the half.
 
The third period offered plenty of excitement. Less than a minute into the second half Savannah State's Christon Johnson intercepted a pass and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown, putting SSU ahead by 11. West Alabama countered with a 48-yard scoring run from Underwood that cut the SSU lead to 21-17 with 13:34 left in the third quarter.
 
West Alabama moved back in front when speedster Tyriq Martin got behind defenders and hauled in a Jack McDaniels scoring pass that covered 42 yards. But Savannah State countered moments later when Einaj Carter caught a pass from Gibbons and completed a 76-yard scoring play, putting Savannah State in front 28-24.
 
Dunkle cut the Savannah State lead to one point at 28-27 when he connected on a 33-yard field goal with 13:23 left to play. West Alabama regained the lead with a safety a short time later to go in front 29-28 after Nick Ellis tackled SSU punt returner Shamarcus Poole in the endzone after he fielded the ball at the 1-yard-line moving toward the endzone. 
 
A minus-5-yard punt following a high snap by Savannah State and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty two plays later set West Alabama up on a first-and-goal situation. It parlayed the plays into a touchdown when McDaniels threw an 8-yard scoring strike to Bayley Blanchard, putting West Alabama in front 36-28.
 
A West Alabama sack on a fourth down-and-21 play ended any last-second opportunities for a comeback. West Alabama went into victory formation in erasing the remaining time on the clock for the win.
 
West Alabama accumulated 419 yards of total offense, passing  for 297. Savannah State had 300 yards, 213 on the ground. UWA racked up 25 first downs to just 12 for Savannah State.
 
McDaniels completed 28-for-49 passes for 297 yards and two scores. Derrick Underwood rushed for 92 yards and two scores on 15 carries. Bayley Blanchard led West Alabama receivers with eight receptions for 102 yards and a TD. Martin and tight end Owen Harper each caught five balls for 73 and 57 yards, respectively.
 
Josh Hatcher led UWA in tackles for the second straight game, collecting nine, including a tackle for loss. Michael Anderson followed with eight total stops, a sack and a tackle for loss. Chris Terrell had two tackles for loss among his five tackles. Ellis and Shamar Lewis each collected five stops.
 
Gibbons completed 5-for-11 passes for 87 yards and rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries. D'Angelo Durham ran for 75 yards on 17 trips. Carter had 79 yards on two receptions.
 
Walter Yates led Savannah State with 10 tackles, nine solo.
 
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