LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Alabama Football team lost their first game of the 2026 season on Saturday night, losing to the North Greenville Trailblazers 24-14.
UWA's (3-1) offensive was productive in the first half, with Luther Richesson connecting with Jaylon York and Madixx Morris for touchdowns, contributing to a 14-3 lead. In the second half, the Tigers offense didn't score and totaled 179 yards which contributed to their 10-point loss to North Greenville (3-0).
For the game, NGU outgained West Alabama, 394-385 while also forcing five UWA turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles). Offensively, North Greenville did not turn the ball over against a West Alabama defense that forced 13 turnovers coming into the contest.
UWA went 75 yards on the opening possession, converting third-and-one with Brayden Jenkins' five-yard rush and moving into Trailblazers territory on Richesson's 15-yard completion to Kaden Cupp before Richesson hit Jaylon York for a 32-yard touchdown at 11:12; Eoin Walsh's extra point made it 7-0. NGU countered with a 13-play, 73-yard drive. Quarterback Kam Montgomery converted on multiple third downs before a 15-yard run from Deshawn Tompkins put NGU on UWA's one-yard line. West Alabama's defense bent but didn't break as the Tigers held the Trailblazers to a field goal, putting the score at 7-3. West Alabama ended the first quarter, with Richesson finding Torrey Ward for a 40-yard strike as the Tigers took their four-point lead into the second.
After Richesson's completion to Ward, the Quarterback later found Morris for a 53-yard touchdown to begin the quarter, extending UWA's lead to 14-3. After NGU was backed up by a holding penalty on the ensuing return, Joseph Harper and Exavier McDowell combined on a sack to help force a punt, but the Tigers lost a fumble on its next possession at the Trailblazers' 27. NGU used the turnover to put together a 15-play, 73-yard drive, converting fourth-and-3 and later third-and-21 before Maurice Anderson scored on an eight-yard run at 3:18 to cut the score to 14-10 after the extra point. West Alabama moved from its 25 to the NGU 48 on the final drive of the second quarter, but Kaliber Hoey intercepted Richesson at the Trailblazers' 12 with 1:00 left, and the score remained 14-10 at the end of the second quarter.
North Greenville struck first in the third quarter when Montgomery hit Maurice Anderson for a 52-yard touchdown at 11:53, and Jackson Campbell's extra point put West Alabama behind 17-14. After UWA went three-and-out, NGU drove from its 27 to the Tigers' 17, but Harper stopped Montgomery for a two-yard loss on third down and Campbell missed a 35-yard field goal at 7:35 to keep the score at 17-14. After the missed field goal, West Alabama put together a great drive before Richesson was intercepted at the one-yard line. West Alabama's defense held firm after the turnover, forcing a three-and-out to end the third quarter.
West Alabama's possession that carried into the fourth quarter reached the NGU 26, helped by Richesson's 22-yard completion to Griffin McLean, before a fourth-down rush lost yardage and ended the drive on downs at the 11:58 mark. The Trailblazers drove 65 yards the other way, converting fourth-and-2 at the UWA 40 before Montgomery hit Sam Washam for 40 yards to the two. North Greenville's Tompkins punched it in from the two to put the Tigers in a 24-14 hole. Down 10, West Alabama drove into North Greenville territory until Cam Joseph fumbled after a 28-yard completion that was recovered by the Trailblazers. With time now a major factor, UWA's defense got the ball back to their offense with 3:39 left to play. The Tigers drove into the Trailblazers' territory again but another interception thrown by Richesson ended the game.
Richesson completed 17 of 33 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns and added 29 rushing yards. Jenkins rushed 14 times for 68 yards and caught one pass for six yards. Morris had two receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. Harper recorded eight tackles and half a sack.
West Alabama will be on the road next weekend for a 3:00 p.m. CST matchup against Barton College in Wilson, NC.
