RELATED LINKS: UWA Postgame Press Conference
LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama football team used a fourth quarter score by
Dearrius Nelson to squeak out a 10-7 victory over the Mississippi College Choctaws in a Gulf South Conference contest on Saturday night.
With the victory, UWA gets back to the .500 mark with a 2-2 record and 1-1 in GSC play. MC falls to 1-3 and 0-2 in league play.
For West Alabama, it was the 350th win in program history. UWA football started in 1938.
"As a team, we found out to win the game and came out victorious. We don't ever apologize for wins around here because in the Gulf South Conference, wins are hard to come by. I thought our guys did a great job in the fourth quarter to find out the plays we needed to win the game," said head coach
Brett Gilliland.
A true stalemate in the first 15 minutes, the Choctaws had an opportunity to dent the scoreboard first with under eight minutes remaining in the opening period. After the drive stalled at the UWA 32-yard-line, MC sent the kicking team out and a 50-yard field goal by Ben Pledger that went wide right.
The punts kept coming after that until the 11:10 mark in the second stanza. After an interception by David Brown IV, the Choctaws started the ensuing drive at the UWA 17-yard-line. On the next play from scrimmage, Ron Craten found the end zone for the rushing score.
UWA did respond after allowing the touchdown. A 30-yard field goal by
Elijah Guyton made it a 7-3 score that would hold up until the halftime whistle.
The defenses stood tall on both sidelines. A combined 121 yards of total offense was established in the first 30 minutes, led by UWA's 71.
Bry Webb had 28 of the team's 71 yards in the period on the ground.
UWA had a big play on special teams in the third quarter. Late in the period, with the Choctaws staring at a fourth down and needed four yards for a first down, Houston Smith had a problem in the answer of
Travon Nunn as he picked up the interception.
The ensuing UWA drive stalled out at the end of the third period, and the Choctaws got the ball back. Following a punt and a defensive stop by the Choctaws' defense, the Tigers needed 57 yards for a score. Four plays later,
Darius Nalls got the home team into the red zone with a 15-yard reception from Melton.
Three plays later, following two rushing plays by Webb and a penalty, Melton struck gold with
Dearrius Nelson for the 14-yard touchdown to flip the score in favor of West Alabama 10-7.
"Our offensive line came through for us," said Nelson. "Bry [Webb] ran the ball down their throat to help us get in that situation. I was given the opportunity to come in at the last minute, and I am thankful that Tucker [Melton| trusted me to make the play."
MC attempted to even the game on its next possession, by Pledger's 44-yard attempt was similar to his first, wide right.
Despite a miscue by the UWA offense giving the ball back to the Choctaws, the defense had one last stand in the name of
Davonchae Bryant and
Davonta Jackson, who put quarterback Cameron Davis down for a loss as the Choctaws. Eventually turning the ball over on downs with 18 seconds remaining, leaving victory formation for Melton and the Tigers as they picked up their first GSC win of 2023.
"We stayed disciplined in our gaps and stuck to the game plan. From there, the dominos fell right there," said Bryant.
In the 50th meeting all-time between the schools, West Alabama now has the 28-20-2 advantage.
Mississippi College, coming in as one of the top-10 offenses on the ground in Division II, was only able to gain 109 yards on the ground. Keeping with the average, UWA allowed an average of 101 yards per game on the ground entering Saturday's contest.
Bry Webb led all rushers with 169 yards on 29 carries.
Tucker Melton had a touchdown reception going 9-of-15 for 104 yards.
Dearrius Nelson totaled 93 all-purpose yards on the evening, led by 52 kick return yards.
Davonchae Bryant led the defense with eight tackles, followed by
Davonta Jackson who were each credited with the sack at the end of the game.
Travon Nunn added an interception and five stops.
For Mississippi College, Cameron Davis threw for 134 yards on 13-of-28 for a team that was forced to throw more often than they wanted to. Ron Craten led the running game with 64 yards on 18 carries.
The schedule becomes more challenging for West Alabama next week, as Delta State comes to Livingston for Hall of Fame Weekend. The preseason favorites in the GSC are ranked eighth in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and sixth in the D2football.com polls.
"Coach [Todd] Cooley has done a great job with that program. They are coming off a championship last season and are flying high. It's always big games against them. We need to have a great week of practice starting right now. We like big games, and that is what this conference is built around," added Gilliland.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. next Saturday between the Tigers and the Statesmen from Tiger Stadium. Join us prior to kick off as we induct the UWA Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
