LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Football team used a dominant fourth quarter to clinch a 27-17 win over the Fort Valley State Wildcats at Legion Field on Saturday evening.

West Alabama (1-0, 0-0 GSC) outscored Fort Valley State (0-1, 0-0 SIAC) 14-3 in the final quarter, leading to Head Coach Scott Cochran registering his first career Head Coaching win on Saturday. 

"Excited to get my first win and to do it in this historic stadium," said Cochran. "In the midst of adversity during the game, we didn't blink. I thought that was cool because that's what we're trying to teach them."

The Wildcats began the 2025 season with the ball and quickly made their way into Tiger territory after a 58 yard run from Saadiq Teel. After giving up an explosive play, UWA's defense settled in and held FVSU off the scoreboard as the Wildcats missed a 34-yard Field Goal to keep the game scoreless. Moments later, Spencer Arceneaux and the West Alabama offense took the field for the first time. Arceneaux spread the ball around, completing passes to Dearrius Nelson, TD Parker, Houston Johnson, and Robert Ellis, making for a surgical drive. While the Tigers moved down the field, their drive stalled in the redzone as Elijah Guyton buried a 30-yard Field Goal to give the Tigers a three-point lead. Later in the quarter, the Wildcats put the ball in the end zone as Demetri Simmons rushed for a 12 yard Touchdown, putting West Alabama in a 7-3 deficit at the end of the first quarter.

To begin the second quarter, UWA's offense marched down the field off the strength of runs from Arceneaux, Brayden Jenkins, and Ryan Peppins. West Alabama made their way into the redzone after a 23-yard reception from Houston Johnson, leading to Tyler Smith scoring the first touchdown of the season for the Tigers courtesy of a three-yard rushing touchdown. For the remainder of the quarter, West Alabama's defense completely halted Fort Valley State's offensive efforts, forcing a pair of punts. With 36 seconds left in the half, Guyton connected on his second field goal to give UWA a 13-7 lead as the teams went into the break.

West Alabama outgained Fort Valley State, 152-132 in the first half, holding the Wildcats to just 39 passing yards.

The momentum flipped in favor of the Wildcats in the third quarter. To begin the quarter, Devonte Harris caught an interception, giving the ball back to UWA. After the interception, the Tigers moved the ball with relative ease and put themselves into position to extend their lead, until Fort Valley State's Daymond Polite blocked Guyton's 37-yard Field Goal attempt which was returned for an 80-yard touchdown. Now trailing 14-13, Arceneaux threw an interception on the following drive. Working with a short field, West Alabama's defense held the Wildcats to a Field Goal, making it a 17-13 game in favor of FVSU.

Fort Valley State's Field Goal marked the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The Tigers took back control of game in the fourth. It began with the running game for UWA as they rushed for 50 yards on their first drive in the quarter which was capped off with Arceneaux finding the end zone on the ground from seven yards out. Now up 20-17, UWA's defense forced FVSU's offense to go three-and-out, giving the ball right back to a West Alabama offense that found their stride. On the first play of the drive, Jenkins broke loose for a 40-yard touchdown run, extending the Tigers' lead to 27-17. Up 10 with 5:22 left to play, UWA forced another FVSU punt, virtually putting the game away after a dominant final quarter. 

West Alabama outgained Fort Valley State, 333-217. The Tigers gained 201 of those yards on the ground, while also holding the Wildcats to 77 passing yards. 

Individually, Arceneaux accumulated 184 total yards, while Jenkins recorded 88 yards on the ground along with a touchdown on 16 carries. Defensively, Marquis Robinson and Travon Nunn led the way with six tackles while Harris recorded his interception. 

"I'm grateful for the win, but we have a lot of work to do," Cochran concluded. 

West Alabama will take their 1-0 to Chowan next weekend as they're set for a 12:00 p.m. CST matchup in Murfreesboro, North Carolina against the Hawks.