CARROLLTON, Ga. - The University of West Alabama football team dropped a 24-6 decision to the University of West Georgia in a Gulf South Conference contest, Saturday night from University Stadium.  

In the last meeting between the two programs as Division II opponents, UWG improves to 3-2 and 2-1 in conference play, while UWA drops to 2-4 and 1-3. West Georgia will make the transition to Division I next year.  

"We continue to find ways to put ourselves in bad situations and lose critical situations, not playing team football. We played really good at times and gave ourselves a lot of chances and opportunities. We had a good week at practice, and we didn't see the outcome," said head coach Brett Gilliland.  

"The challenge now is to have more good weeks of practice, staying together and keep pounding until eventually it cracks." 

On West Georgia's opening drive, the Wolves marched down the field and used sa 38-yard pass from Cameran Brown to Wesley Kennedy for the touchdown.  

Late in the opening quarter, after teams traded punts, UWG, on a third down and deep in their own territory, saw the UWA defense come to life. Brown's pass was picked off by Uriah Ratliff. That INT gave the Tigers great field position as the game moved to the second quarter. 
 
After the Tigers saw their offensive drive stall out, Elijah Guyton connected through the uprights for a 38-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.  
 
On the next Wolves possession, a reception to Terrill Cole ended badly, as Ratliff was there again to punch the ball loose. There to pick it up was Artavious Washington who ran it back 34 yards to the UWG 30-yard-line.  
 
Unfortunately, the offense could not generate any momentum and the Tigers were forced to go back to Guyton for the field goal. Looking at a career-long 45-yard attempt, the Cullman, Alabama native converted the attempt to cut the score to 7-6 in favor of the home team.  
 
UWG was forced to punt on its next drive, but after a miscue on UWA special teams, the Wolves got the ball back at the UWA 13-yard-line. Four plays later, needing one yard to convert the first down, Brown's pass attempt fell to the turf thanks to a break up by Kel Williams.  
 
For the first time in the game, UWA had the momentum on offense, establishing a long drive. After getting some breathing room with a nine-yard carry from Bry Webb, Darius Nalls added 12 yards on a reception to put the ball at the UWA 25 yard line.  
 
Three plays later, the Wolves' defense picked off the UWA quarterback as Jordan Clark returned the ball all the way back to the endzone for the score. However, a holding penalty erased the score and pushed the Wolves back to the UWA 19.  
 
With the clock winding down in the first half, UWG moved the football down to the three-yard line. On a fourth down play, Brock Pellegrino posted the 20-yard chip shot to give West Georgia the 10-6 lead in the locker room.  
 
In the second half, after teams traded punts, West Alabama was driving on the West Georgia side of the field. On a first down play at the UWG 25, a Micah Thurman sack and a fumble recovery by Keondre Williams 55 yards for the scoop and score to put UWG up 17-6 with 2:30 left in the period.  
 
The turnovers proved to be the Achilles heel for the Tigers, as the Wolves added another fumble recovery in the fourth quarter with 11:08 to go. Following an 11-play drive, UWG added another score for the 24-6 lead.  
 
The UWA defense continued to shine on Saturday night, as they posted four tackles for a loss, a sack and an interception and a fumble recovery. Shamar Lewis led the Tigers with eight tackles, followed by Uriah Ratliff with seven.  
 
"They gave us chances to win. There's some plays and moments they went back to after the first drive. Without a doubt, they put us in good situations, but we couldn't capitalize on the other end," added Gilliland. 
 
Brayden Jenkins was the spark for West Alabama's offense in the third quarter, totaling 52 yards on 13 carries. 
 
"He's a good back. Good vision, good patience developing the play in front of him. It's good to see a young guy that comes in and able to do what he does. It's very uplifting," said Gilliland.  
 
Darius Nalls added 78 receiving yards on seven catches.  
 
Cameran Brown led the UWG offense with a 14-of-27 night with 113 yards and a touchdown. Wesley Kennedy had 40 yards on two catches and a score.  
 
MIcah Thurman had four tackles, one for a loss, along with a sack and a forced fumble.  
 
UWA will next turn their attention to another top-10 opponent in West Florida for Homecoming. The Argos are ranked sixth in the American Football Coaches this weekend seventh in the D2football.com polls.  
 
"Gilliand added, "We practiced well this week in contrast to last week. You can practice well and not see the results immediately, and you have to keep stacking those days and keep finding ways to get better in the areas we're struggling in.  
 
We got another great opponent coming in, that's GSC football. It'll be our third top-10 opponent coming into Tiger Stadium this year. It's obviously a tall task, but our team is fighting to stay together and keeping each other's backs. That's very pleasant to see." 

The Argos and the Tigers will kick off from Terry Bunn Field at Tiger Stadium at 4 p.m. next Saturday.