ATLANTA, Ga. – After holding a 21-3 halftime lead, the West Alabama football team used a late stop in the red zone to preserve the 24-16 season opening road win at Morehouse on Saturday night inside B.T. Harvey Stadium.
Morehouse opened the scoring in the second half converting a fourth down into a 30-yard touchdown to trim the UWA lead to 11. The Tigers pushed the lead back to 14 early in the fourth quarter when Gabriel Dunkle connected on a 40-yard field goal with just 11 minutes to play in the game.
Things then got interesting from there. Faced with another fourth down at the UWA 28, the Maroon Tigers went for it again and found the end zone with a 28-yard TD strike to make it a 24-16 game. Jamarvis Turner was able to get through the line and block the ensuing extra point try to keep it an eight-point separation.
With just over two minutes to play, West Alabama looked to run out the clock to seal the victory. After forcing MC to use their final two timeouts of the half, the Tigers were faced with a fourth-and-two at their own 45. UWA decided to go for it, but Morehouse was able to stop the play for no gain turning the ball over on downs with 52 seconds left.
The Maroon Tigers moved the ball down to the 13 and had just one play left with four seconds on the clock. Dual-threat quarterback Derrach West took the shotgun snap and originally looked to throw before trying to find the end zone on the ground. West made it to the five-yard line when Trevon Stanford made the stop to end the game and secure the eight-point victory.
Early on, Morehouse took advantage of an interception and turned it into three points four minutes later for the 3-0 lead. The UWA defense came up with a big stop on second down on the drive, with Stanford stopping the slant pass at the one. The next down turned into a five-yard loss on a stop by Trevonte Carter which forced the 23-yard field goal.
The Tigers answered back and ended up leading the rest of the way. In what would turn out to be a 16 play, 75-yard drive, UWA would have to make a big call on fourth-and-goal at the two. Tucker Melton, making his first start at quarterback for UWA, hit tight end Caeleb Bass across the middle for the touchdown and a 7-3 lead late in the opening quarter after Dunkle converted the extra point.
After the defense forced a quick three-and-out, Melton capped a quick five play, 50-yard drive that took just over a minute off the clock and ended with a Melton to Ta'Bryious Webb 23-yard TD strike for the 14-3 lead early in the second quarter.
UWA kept the big plays going later in the half. With Morehouse backed up at their own seven and faced with a third down, West took the snap and didn't see a streaking TJ Newell coming untouched from his blind side. Newell was able to hit West just outside of the end zone and it would turn into a strip-sack. Terrance Monroe recovered and took the ball to the Morehouse five. Demetrius Battle took over from there rushing three yards and then the final two yards for the score and a 21-3 lead.
UWA held a 302-254 edge in total yards, including 186 yards through the air. The Tigers were 3-3 on red zone chances, 8-18 on third downs and added five sacks.
Melton went 22-38 for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Darius Nalls caught seven passes for 57 yards. John Hilbert added four catches for 31 yards. Khris Binion tallied two catches for 30 yards and Webb had two catches for 23 yards and added a receiving touchdown. Battle rushed 19 times for 67 yards and added a score. Webb picked up 40 more yards on the ground on 10 carries.
Shamar Lewis paced the defense with seven tackles (five solo) and added a tackle for loss. Lamar Gray also added seven tackles (all solo). Stanford had five tackles (four solo) and a pass breakup. Carter had three tackles (all for loss), which included two sacks.
West completed 17-29 for 156 yards and two touchdowns to lead Morehouse. West rushed for 14 times and 72 yards. Earnest Davis added 47 yards on the ground on 15 carries. Delan Tolliver caught four passes for 52 yards and a score. Keenan Anunay added three catches for 42 yards and a score.
Daylon Land had a big game on defense with 13 tackles (11 solo), along with three tackles for loss and a sack.
UWA has now won seven straight games away from Livingston and have won six straight season openers.
The Tigers will remain on the road this coming week as they will travel to Birmingham to face Miles College on Saturday, Sep. 10 with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
