LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Football team is set for their biggest test of the 2025 season thus far as No. 3 West Florida makes the trip to Livingston for a colossal battle at Tiger Stadium on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
No. 8 West Alabama (5-0, 0-0 GSC) comes into Saturday's matchup after a 21-day break, with their last game being on September 27 against North Greenville. The Tigers won that game, 52-44, in thrilling fashion to move to 5-0 on the year. For No. 3 West Florida (6-0, 0-0 GSC), they handled Chowan, 40-10, in Pensacola this past Saturday to move to 6-0 on the season.
Saturday's matchup between UWA and UWF is the most highly anticipated game of the year within the conference and arguably the country. The amount of storylines going into the game makes it that much more riveting. Last season, the Tigers went on the road and defeated the Argonauts, 35-33, in double overtime, marking the second consecutive win in the series for West Alabama.
The Quarterback battle that will ensue this weekend will be a major talking point heading into the matchup as Spencer Arceneaux and West Florida's Marcus Stokes stand as two of the top Quarterbacks in the country. Five games into the season, Arceneaux has totaled 19 touchdowns and 1,418 yards, while just turning the ball over once. The senior has scored four or more touchdowns in four of five games, including a career-high six touchdown performance against Barton College. Arceneaux's ability to create explosive plays while limiting turnovers is what separates him from every other Quarterback in the nation.
As for UWF's Stokes, he's scored 23 total touchdowns along with 1,888 total yards in six contests. The redshirt sophomore is currently ninth in the country with 1,780 passing yards, sixth in passing touchdowns with 18, and third in points responsible for with 140. Stokes has been near perfect in five of six games and comes into Saturday's contest after scoring a combined 10 touchdowns in West Florida's last two games.
The supporting cast for both squads is also stellar. West Alabama's offensive line has only allowed four sacks this season while helping UWA's rushing attack to 221.8 yards per game which leads the conference and ranks 17th in the country. Arceneaux, Brayden Jenkins, and Contravious Blanks leads the Tigers' rushing attack as the three combine for 11 rushing touchdowns and 845 yards. Out Wide for West Alabama, Dearrius Nelson leads the group with 14 catches, 315 yards, and four touchdowns, with 141 of those yards and three of those touchdowns coming in UWA's last outing against North Greenville. Nelson's performance led to a GSC Offensive Player of the Week selection, the first of his career. TD Parker is also emerging as one of the conference's top targets as he carries 11 catches, 248 yards, and three touchdowns on his ledger.
For West Florida, Running Back TJ Lane leads the GSC with 383 rushing yards. The redshirt sophomore is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has reached the end zone twice. Jay Sharp splits carries with Lane and brings a statline of 64 carries, 296 yards, and two touchdowns into Saturday's game. At Wide Receiver, the Argonauts possess two of the best in the league in Corey Scott and Tyree Holloway. Scott leads the league in catches and receiving yards with 32 receptions and 515 yards along with two touchdowns while Holloway sits right beneath him with 22 catches, 423 yards, and a conference-leading five receiving touchdowns.
Defensively, West Alabama is allowing 25.4 points per game and 367.6 yards. The Tigers' defensive unit is looking to bounce back after allowing 44 points to North Greenville. Marquis Robinson, JT Hooten, Michael McGregor, Devonte Harris, and Issac Williams have stood out on that side of the ball for UWA. McGregor and Hooten have been named GSC Defensive Players of the Week on different occasions this season and will need to put together big performances if they want to slow down Stokes and West Florida.
The Argonauts defense is stout, led by their captains at Linebacker, Walker Robinson and JaKobe Clinton. Robinson has registered 43 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions while Clinton carries 40.0 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks on his ledger. With Robinson and Clinton in the middle of their defense, UWF has only allowed 16.5 points and 258.2 yards per game which rank 17th and ninth in the country, respectively.
With both teams so close in talent, the game may come down to the intangibles. In terms of penalties, West Florida is one of the most penalized teams in the country with 67 penalties for 676 yards.
Saturday's highly anticipated matchup between No. 8 West Alabama and No. 3 West Florida is set for Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Before the game, West Alabama will be honoring their new Hall of Fame Class consisting of Michael Carter, Qua Boyd, Polina Hodnette, Zachary Wilson, and Dr. E. Lyle Cain.
