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LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama football team returns from their bye week to take on Chowan University in Gulf South Conference action on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET / noon CT in Murfreesboro, North Carolina.
Live coverage is provided on our website, uwaathletics.com/live with links for live video, live audio and more.
FloSports and FloFootball will be the exclusive home for all GSC football games during the 2023 season. Fans can subscribe to the streaming service at a special GSC discounted rate, and subscriptions are able to be canceled at anytime. For more information or to signup, click here.
For each game during the 2023 season, SLYROCK 104.9 FM will provide fans an audio-only opportunity to enjoy UWA football. Will Atkinson and Layton Jackson will be on the call on your radio dial. Fans can click on the link above or download the SLYROCK app to listen on your mobile device.
PREVIEWING THE HAWKS
Chowan has yet to win a game in the 2023 season, coming in with an 0-8 record and 0-6 in GSC play.
The last two games has seen the Hawks in close affairs on the road, falling at West Georgia 35-24 and Mississippi College 38-21.
Dual threat Rashad McKee leads the Hawks with 258 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Through the air, he has averaged just under 200 yards per game with 10 touchdowns.
Noah Toster has 393 receiving yards, while Tyree Holloway adds 336 yards and four scores.
On defense, Traevon Mitchell leads the team with 10.5 tackles for a loss, six quarterback hurries a forced fumble and blocked kick.
CHOWAN SERIES HISTORY
When toe touches leather on Saturday afternoon, this will be the first time the two teams will meet on the gridiron.
After spending the last 14 seasons as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), Chowan University made the change to the Gulf South Conference (GSC) as an affiliate member for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Chowan recorded back-to-back seven-win seasons in 2021 and 2022, The seven victories are the most in program history that started back in 1993.
A full member of Conference Carolinas, the league announced that it will bring football back for the 2025-26 season. With the move, Chowan, along with North Greenville, Shorter and 2024 GSC affiliate Erksine will participate in this league.
DON'T LET THE POINTS TRICK YOU
After scoring just three points between its two non-conference games between nationally-ranked Benedict and Barton, Chowan's first season in the league has averaged 17 points in eight games and 22.5 in league games.
The Hawks have been in most of their GSC contests, including being up on Delta State and made things interesting against Valdosta State. However, the team's total offense of 276.5 has 195.2 from the air and 81.2 yards on the ground.
A RED ZONE TREAT FOR THE UWA DEFENSE
Ranked third in the GSC in red zone defense with a 66.7 percentage (12-of-18), the Tigers have allowed their opponent to find the end zone six time. That mark is good for second in GSC, trailing West Florida (5).
More impressively, three of UWA's 10 interceptions have been inside the red zone.
Against the Argos on Oct. 14, the Tigers held the young program without a touchdown in a game since their inaugural season in 2016. West Florida's last two games saw three points versus North Alabama and were shut out by West Georgia on the last weekend of the season.
KEEPING THE LAUNDRY OFF THE FIELD
UWA has two games this season where they have penelopized six times or more in a game. Despite that, the Tigers are still second in the GSC and 11th in the nation in total penalties (34) and 14th in fewest yards (325).
Opposing teams have also showed discipline when taking on West Alabama, as they have been flagged 42 times, trailing West Georgia for the fewest in the category.
In that game, it was the Wolves that were penaltized more (6) than the Tigers (3).
