CLINTON, Miss. - The University of West Alabama Football team continued their perfect season on Saturday, by shutting out Mississippi College, 26-0, in Clinton.

West Alabama (5-0, 2-0 GSC) out-gained Mississippi College (0-6, 0-4 GSC) 328-143 and converted 23 first downs, while holding the Choctaws to nine in route to their first shutout since September 10, 2022 when they blanked Miles College, 31-0.

"I am proud of our guys and coaches for how we handled being off for two weeks and coming on the road to play," said head coach Brett Gilliland. "They threw some things at our defense that they have not done all year and I was really proud of how our defensive staff and players handled it."

FIRST HALF
After not playing in 21 full days, the UWA offense dealt with a bit of rust to begin as they were flagged for a delay of game before their first offensive play. The Tigers then went three-and-out, having to punt from near their own end zone. Like they've done all season, the Tigers' defense clamped down and didn't allow MC to score even with great opening field position. The West Alabama offense found their rhythm at the end of the first quarter, moving the ball with relative ease behind the running of Devontae Causey. The Tiger offense got stagnant once they hit the red zone though, resulting in Elijah Guyton putting through a 33-yard field goal to get UWA on the board first. 

Neither team could move the ball in the second quarter until around the six minute mark where West Alabama began to pull away from Mississippi College. Spencer Arceneaux and Caeleb Bass capped off a 13-play, 90-yard drive by connecting on a 19-yard touchdown, extending UWA's lead to 9-0. The Tigers' defense kept the Choctaws' offense at bay, forcing another MC punt, setting the stage for West Alabama to run their two-minute offense. UWA's two-minute drill was ran to perfection as Arceneaux and the Tigers marched down the field and ended with Causey punching in a two-yard touchdown to send West Alabama to the locker room up 16-0.

UWA out-gained MC 201-84 in the first half and moved the chains 11 more times than the Choctaws, leading to their dominant 16-0 lead at the break. Discipline was also an issue for Mississippi College as they committed eight penalties for 79 yards, with more than half of those being after the play unnecessary roughness calls and pass interference penalties.

SECOND HALF
It was much of the same in the third quarter as West Alabama's defense stifled Mississippi College's option heavy offense. The Tigers held the Choctaws to 21 total yards in the quarter while Arceneaux and the UWA offense added to their lead. The junior Quarterback finished off a six-play, 60-yard drive with a 10-yard rushing Touchdown, pushing West Alabama's lead out to 23-0 at the end of the third.

In the fourth, Guyton drilled his second Field Goal of the game, extending the lead to 26-0. After the Field Goal, Coach Gilliland emptied his bench as the Tigers cruised to a 26-0 shutout win over the Choctaws.

Delawrence Butler recorded a game and career-high 13 tackles while Bry Jenkins and Causey combined for 128 rushing yards on 25 carries.

"Any GSC win on the road is a good win and we are thrilled to get back to a normal routine this week," Gilliland continued. "Lots of football left to play this year and we will continue to take it one week at a time and work to improve in all phases."

West Alabama will continue their road slate next Saturday, traveling to Cleveland, Mississippi for a 4:00 p.m. contest against No.19 Delta State.