Box Score

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama football team improves to 3-0 on the season after a historic 80-0 victory over North American University Thursday night.
 
Despite a 40-minute lightning delay, the Tigers offense and defense held firm to record the largest marginal victory in program history. Compared to conference records, UWA is tied in the Gulf South Conference for third in points scored in a single game and second for PATs converted in a single game with 11.
 
The Tigers 80 points were primarily scored through the run game, with senior running back Demetrius Battles scoring three of UWAs 11 touchdowns. The Birmingham, Ala. native, fondly known as Eight Ball, led West Alabama in rushing yards with 170 yards on 10 carries.  

Also racking up the rushing yards, Ta'Bryious Webb recorded 89 on 10 carries, while James Smith, III had 57 on 11 carries for two touchdowns. On the ground, West Alabama rushed for a total of 314 yards.  

Starting quarterback Jack McDaniels connected on 14 of 21 passes for 232 yards. McDaniels main target was Smiley Martin, who had a big game in his own right. The Goose Creek, S.C. native, led the Tigers with 90 yards receiving on five catches. He also scored one touchdown.  

UWA ended the game with 559 yards of total offense, compared to just 213 for NAU.  

Defensive back Shamar Lewis led the Tigers with six tackles on defense, while Ricky Chatman had five and one tackle for a loss.
 
Linebacker Michael Anderson made waves with three tackles, one force fumble, a fumble return for 48 yards, and a touchdown.  

North American University won the toss and deferred to the second half, giving UWA the game's first possession.  

The Tigers started a little shaky with a sack that resulted in a fumble recovered by NAU. The tables turned in the next play with Josh Hatcher intercepting the ball and returning it for five yards.  

The ball would change hands two more times before West Alabama made any real progress on the scoreboard. The drive started with a long incomplete pass, but it did not stop the Tigers momentum. On the next down, James Smith, III rushed for two, and on a third and ten, Jack McDaniels completed a 27-yard pass to Bayley Blanchard for the first down. On the next play, Smith covered the three yards to the end zone for his third touchdown of the season. Gabriel Dunkle added the PAT, and UWA grabbed an early 7-0 lead with 8:18 still left in the first period.  

After the Stallions turned the ball over on downs, West Alabama made short work of the next drive. In two plays and 36 seconds, the Tigers covered 67 yards to score. In the first play of the scrimmage, McDaniels completed a four-yard pass to Smiley Martin. In the second play, McDaniels connected with Martin again for a 63-yard pass and touchdown, followed by a Dunkle PAT, giving UWA a 14-0 lead with 6:28 left in the first quarter.  

After a North American punt, West Alabama started another scoring drive on the Stallion 48-yard line. The campaign was punctuated by a 37-yard pass from McDaniels to Dalton McKenzie for a touchdown. PAT was good, extending the Tiger lead to 21-0 with 4:07 left in the first quarter. 

In the next North American possession, UWA linebacker Ricky Chatman forced a fumble, and Shamar Lewis recovered to take control at the Stallions 28-yard line. West Alabama turned the opportunity into another scoring effort. In 40 seconds, McDaniels rushed for eight yards to score, and Dunkle landed the point after, and the score moved to 28-0 with 3:11 left in the quarter.  

Another North American possession resulted in a recovered fumble by Lewis, putting the Tigers on the Stallions 40-yard line. West Alabama did not make it to the end zone on this drive, but Dunkle landed a 30-yard field goal for three extra points for a score of 31-0 with 1:02 still in the first quarter.  

The Tigers took second possession of the second quarter, and less than a minute into the period, UWA would score again. On the first play, Demetrius Battle rushed for a 69-yard touchdown. Dunkle's PAT was good, and the score was 38-0, with 14:02 left before the half.  

The next three possessions would end in scoreless drives before West Alabama put together a good drive with just over six minutes left in the second quarter. In 1:27, the Tigers put together a combination of running and passing to cover yards. The possession ended with a 22-yard pass from McDaniels to Ta'Bryious Webb for the TD. Dunkle made the PAT for a score of 45-0, with 5:16 left in the half.  

After a UWA punt, North American took possession on its own 13-yard line. The Stallions made good progress but fumbled on a third and eight, and Michael Anderson recovered the fumble and ran it in for a touchdown. The Tigers got the extra point to extend their lead to 52-0 with 3:09 left before the half.  

North American returned the possession to West Alabama after a punt. The Tigers continued their assault on the ground. Smith picked up 15 yards and then 11 yards to put UWA on the North American 10. McDaniels and Martin picked up seven yards in the air, and Smith ended the drive on a 3-yard rushing touchdown. Dunkle added the extra point for a 59-0 advantage with less than a minute left before halftime.  

Returning from the half, the officials and the coaches decided to switch to 12- minute quarters. The Stallions had first possession, and after six plays for only 15 yards, North American punted the ball to the Tigers. 

West Alabama started its first drive of the second half on the Stallions 33. Battle marched the ball down the field, rushing for 21 yards on the first down and gaining 33 on the third down for a touchdown. Kevin Butcher landed his first PAT of the season to put the score at 66-0. 

The ball exchanged sides three times, and North American received the ball on a touchback to have it placed on its own 20-yard line. After three plays, the Stallions were forced to punt, and sophomore Kristopher Binion returned it 19 yards for a West Alabama touchdown. Butcher's PAT was good for a score of 73-0 with 58 seconds left in the third.  

West Alabama took second possession in the fourth quarter. The Tigers kept the ball on the ground for nine plays and 91 yards. Battle ended the drive with a 14-yard rushing touchdown and a PAT from Butcher. UWA extends its lead to 80-0 with under five minutes to play for its last score of the game.  

The Tigers will have nine days to prepare for conference play before taking on its first GSC opponent on the road. UWA will travel to Clinton, Miss., on Saturday, Sept. 25, to face Mississippi College. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.