LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Football team moved to 3-0 on Saturday night after a 33-14 win over the Limestone Saints.
The UWA (3-0) defense put on a clinic, forcing three fumbles and catching three interceptions for a total of six turnovers in route to a dominant 19-point win over Limestone (1-1).
"Excited to be 3-0," said head coach Brett Gilliland. "I thought our guys handled themselves well in a lot of different situations than you're used to seeing in a normal football game. Overall, our defense scored twice in the game which is huge."
West Alabama got off to a slow start offensively, going three and out, giving the ball to the Saints who then went down the field and got on the board first with a Field Goal. In their next drive, Limestone drove down the field again before Ishmael Naylor made a huge red zone stop on fourth down, swinging the momentum in favor of the Tigers. With the first quarter coming to a close, Trevon Lambert registered a strip sack on Limestone's Dustin Noller that was recovered by Devonta Jackson who returned it 56 yards for a touchdown.
Lambert's strip sack and Jackson's return for a touchdown was the beginning of a dominant defensive night for West Alabama as a few possessions later, Naylor forced another fumble for UWA that was recovered by Uriah Ratliff. The Tigers' offense were able to capitalize off of the turnover as a long 17-play drive was capped off by an Elijah Guyton 23-yard Field Goal, putting West Alabama up 10-3. As the defense continued to perform, the Tiger offense came alive late in the second quarter. Quarterback Spencer Arceneaux threw a strike to Houston Johnson for a 32-yard touchdown before the half, sending the Tigers into the break up 17-3.
West Alabama blanked Limestone in the third quarter while Guyton buried his second Field Goal of the night to put the Tigers up 20-6.
Guyton buried another Field Goal to start the fourth quarter before Issac Williams caught his first interception of the season and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, making it 30-6 West Alabama. From there on out, UWA kept their foot on the gas, as Jackson recorded a strip sack of his own that was recovered by Cody Sigler. The Saints added a touchdown late while Guyton nailed his fourth Field Goal as West Alabama cruised to a 33-14 win.
Williams led the way for the Tigers as the Defensive Back recorded a team-high 10 tackles along with a Pick-Six. Offensively, Casey rushed for a team-high 102 yards.
"I thought we played well in spots and then we have alot of things to clean up in other spots," Gilliland concluded. "That's what this week is going to be all about. Great teams can keep improving after wins and we want to be a great team, so we have to keep improving week by week."
West Alabama will open up conference play next Saturday when they travel to Pensacola, Florida for a matchup with the West Florida Argonauts.
