MURFREESBORO, N.C. - The University of West Alabama football team held on for the 14-6 victory versus Chowan University in Gulf South Conference play on Saturday afternoon from Garrison Stadium.
West Alabama returns to .500 with a 4-4 overall record and 3-3 in GSC play. Chowan dropped to 0-9 and 0-7.
The first drive of the game belonged to West Alabama, as they marched down the field for a 14-play, 61-yard drive. After
Bry Webb pushed the ball up the field,
Tucker Melton found
John Hilbert for a 15-yard reception.
Advancing on in the drive, on a fourth down and three, Webb posted five yards for the first down. Three plays later,
Brayden Jenkins picked up the final 10 yards on the ground, including a six-yard touchdown run.
Chowan's first drive saw a quick spark. After a three-yard run, Demetrius Moore picked up 69 yards on a pass from Rashad McKee to flip the field from the Hawks 28-yard-line to the Tigers three-yard-line.
The Hawks were able to push the ball to the one, and on a fourth down, for a team that does not like to ensue the kicking game, the defense, led by Michael Harpley,
Devonte Harris and
Jamarcus Smith, held their ground and did not let Desman Johnson into the end zone.
After the teams traded punts into the second period,
Trey Sullivan pinned the Hawks at their own 15-yard-line with 14:15 left in the half. After a Chowan three and out and a 32-yard punt, West Alabama had decent field position at midifield.
After a holding penalty to start off the drive, UWA saw a nine-yard run by
Spencer Arceneaux and a Kris Binion 10-yard reception to put them in another fourth down and short situation. Webb got the rock and ran nine yards for the first down.
Seven plays later, UWA, after a CU illegal substitution penalty, gave the ball to Webb again for the Tigers' second touchdown of the day and a 14-0 lead.
Chowan's last two drives of the half saw them turn the ball over on downs. The first came thanks to an incomplete pass on a fourth and 10 from the UWA 23 with 6:45 left. The final drive of the half finally saw the kicking game come out for CU. A 34-yard field goal by Jose Colunga went wide left, keeping the shutout intact for UWA at the break.
The third quarter saw no points on either end, but the Hawks used a lengthy drive that started at the 4:23 mark in the third at their own 12. At the end of the 12-play drive, Colunga netted a 37-yard field goal to put the Hawks on the board, 14-3, with 14:32 left in regulation.
UWA attempted to put a drive together, but it stalled out at midfield. On the next possession for CU, they strung together another long drive, getting the ball inside the red zone to the six-yard line. After
Delawrence Butler was in coverage the previous two plays, the Hawks saw a 22-yard field goal by Colunga to make the lead 14-6 in favor of West Alabama with five minutes to go.
The Tigers had one last gasp to keep the ball in their possession to run the clock out, but they were forced to punt away with 49 seconds left.
Needing a stop, the Tigers got one, with a little help from the Chowan center. Following a nine-yard completion to Noah Toster to the CU 44, a fumble by McKee pushed the ball back 14 yards, and with fourth down looming and the clock running out,
Trevon Lambert made the biggest play of the day with the sack to steal the victory away from the Hawks.
Bry Webb recorded a touchdown and tallied 25 carries for 94 yards.
Brayden Jenkins added 26 yards on seven carries.
Devonte Harris led the defense with eight tackles and a sack, while
Jamarvis Turner had five stops, including one for a loss.
Trevon Lambert had two sacks on the day, totaling 21 yards.
Rashad McKee led the Hawks with 342 yards passing on 23-of-41. Demetrius Moore caught six passes for 137 yards.
West Alabama will return home one final time in 2023 on Saturday for Senior Day against Valdosta State. The Blazers entered this week ranked 24th in both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D2football.com polls.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Terry Bunn Field at Tiger Stadium.
