GSC Football Week In Review, Sept. 19
Complete Release (PDF)
Birmingham, AL—Gulf South Conference Football continued its success versus non-conference teams this past week.
The GSC posted a perfect win-loss record for the second week in a row, going 5-0 against NCAA Division II opponents.
The league also made history in this week’s AFCA national poll, placing three teams inside the Top Six for the first time since the poll was created in 2000.
No. 2 North Alabama preserved its perfect record, moving to 3-0 by upending then No. 3 Abilene Christian, 23-17, in the second game of Saturday’s Lone Star Football Festival held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX. UNA returns to Florence hosting Homecoming versus Harding.
No. 5 Valdosta State traveled to nearby in-region SIAC rival Albany State, upsetting the then No. 6 Golden Rams, 30-27. VSU remained a perfect 3-0 versus Division II in-region teams this season. The Blazers head back to Valdosta this weekend, taking on Southern Arkansas.
No. 6 Delta State (3-1) used 20 fourth-quarter points to pull away from Arkansas Tech in the Statesmen’s third road game in as many weeks. DSU remains on the road this weekend, finishing its four-game road string at Henderson State.
West Alabama (2-1) thrilled its home crowd for the second week in a row, breezing past Central State 45-7. UWA hits the road for just the second time this season, journeying west to Arkansas Tech.
West Georgia (1-1) kicked off the week by earning its first win of the season, 23-20, over in-region SIAC foe Miles in Thursday night’s GSC-TV Game of the Week. UWG remains home this Saturday, hosting Arkansas-Monticello.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
Thursday, September 15th
@ UWG 23, $Miles 20
Saturday, September 17th
!@ #4 UNA 23, #3 Abilene Christian 17
#12 VSU 30, @ #6 Albany State 27
#10 DSU 47, @ Arkansas Tech 32
@ UWA 45, Central State 7
All times Central; GSC Teams in ALL CAPS; $--GSC-TV Game of the Week (tape-delayed one hour on CSS); !--@ Cowboys Stadium (Arlington, TX)
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
Saturday, September 24th
#6 DSU @ Henderson State, 3:00 pm
Harding @ #2 UNA, 6:00 pm (HC)
Southern Arkansas @ #5 VSU, 6:00 pm
UWA @ Arkansas Tech, 6:00 pm
Arkansas-Monticello @ UWG, 6:00 pm
All times Central; GSC Teams in ALL CAPS
GSC FOOTBALL WEEK IN REVIEW
#4 NORTH ALABAMA 23, #3 ABILENE CHRISTIAN 17 (@ COWBOYS STADIUM, ARLINGTON, TX)
No. 4 North Alabama (3-0) dodged a late comeback by No. 3 Abilene Christian to post a 23-17 victory as part of the Lone Star Football Festival at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.
UNA sprinted out of the gates in the first quarter, building a 16-0 lead during the first 10 minutes of action. The Lions lit the scoreboard on the opening drive when Nathen O’Jibway connected on a 45-yard field goal at 11:20. North Alabama intercepted an ACU pass and turned the miscue into points thanks to Tristan Purifoy’s 23-yard touchdown grab at 8:58. Running back Antwan Ivey’s nine-yard scoring rush stretched the lead to 16-0 at 5:57, but the Lions missed the extra-point kick.
The second quarter belonged to the Wildcats, as they closed the gap to six points at halftime. North Alabama missed pair of field goal attempts early in the third quarter, but the defense got into the act by recording the lone points in the third frame when defensive back Janoris Jenkins recovered and returned a fumble 49 yards for a TD at 3:13. Abilene Christian cut its deficit to six with 1:42 remaining in the game, but UNA recovered the ensuing onside kick, icing the game.
Ivey led all rushers with 67 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while quarterback Lee Chapple completed 22-of-37 passes for 240 yards. With the win, the Lions increased their regular-season, non-conference winning streak to 16 games.
#12 VALDOSTA STATE 30, @ #6 ALBANY STATE 24
No. 12 Valdosta State (3-0) never trailed home-standing No. 6 Albany State, but the Blazers needed a late field goal to close the door on a 30-27 upset win.
VSU hit pay dirt on its first two offensive possessions, starting with wide receiver Quin Roberson’s 13-yard touchdown reception at 11:48. Running back David Bailey followed by reeling off an 18-yard TD run at 6:56. The Blazers kept their 14-0 lead until eight seconds into the second quarter when ASU cut the edge to 14-6. Valdosta State responded with six unanswered points thanks to pair of field goals by Daniel Andersen of 32 and 36 yards. The Golden Rams pulled within 20-12 before intermission with a TD at 2:22.
Albany State knotted matters at 11:01 in the third quarter thanks to a touchdown and a two-point conversion, but VSU responded at 3:39 via wide out Seantavious Jones’ 63-yard TD grab. ASU tied the score again, 27-27, just 55 seconds into the final quarter. A short punt by ASU setup what proved to be the go-ahead possession as Andersen booted a 43-yard field goal making the score 30-27. The Blazers’ defense stood firm from there, led by Harrison Drieling’s interception at the VSU 27-yard line.
VSU Quarterback Austen Roberts completed 19-of-38 passes for 275 yards and two TDs. Roberts also ran for a game-high 60 yards on eight carries. The victory was Valdosta State’s third this season over an in-region foe and second versus a nationally ranked foe. VSU upped its all-time edge versus ASU to 14-1. Box score
#10 DELTA STATE 47, @ ARKANSAS TECH 32
No. 10 Delta State (3-1) collected its third Division II win of the season by outscoring Arkansas Tech, 20-6, in the fourth quarter en route to a 47-32 road triumph.
DSU outgained ATU offensively, 532-262, but the Wonder Boys put a scare into the Statesmen thanks to special teams and defense touchdowns. Arkansas Tech drew first blood with an offensive TD just 58 seconds into the contest. Matt Dean booted a 26-yard field goal on Delta State’s first possession, only to see ATU return the ensuing kickoff for a score.
DSU wide receiver Chance Dennis made the score 13-10 at 3:34 in the first frame via a six-yard scoring catch, but the Wonder Boys countered with a rushing TD at 11:57 in the second quarter. The Statesmen ruled the rest of the quarter, taking a 27-20 lead into the locker room. Dennis hauled in a 10-yard touchdown at 5:37, followed by a one-yard scoring sneak by quarterback Micah Davis at the four-minute mark and a 21-yard field goal by Dean with one second on the clock.
ATU’s defense pulled the hosts within one point thanks to an interception return for six points, but the Wonder Boys missed the point-after kick. Arkansas Tech retook a 32-27 edge with 11:02 remaining in the game, but Delta State dominated the rest of the game. Dennis caught the go-ahead touchdown from 33 yards out at 9:22, while Tim Smith added a 24-yard scoring catch at 4:44. Richard Freelon completed the night with a 12-yard TD run at 2:08.
Dennis set career and game-highs with 12 receptions for 155 yards and three TDs. Davis completed 34-of-60 passes for 419 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Brandon Lucas led all rushers with 63 yards on 15 attempts. The victory was Delta State’s second on the road in as many weeks and stretched its all-time series lead versus ATU to 11-7-0. Box score
@ WEST GEORGIA 23, MILES 20 (THURSDAY; GSC-TV LIVE GAME OF THE WEEK)
West Georgia (1-1) survived a last-minute comeback by Miles College to secure a 23-20 home victory in Thursday night’s GSC-TV Game of the Week.
UWG fell behind early as MC took the game-opening drive down the field, capped by a touchdown at 11:14. The Wolves returned the favor on their first offensive possession, knotting the score via quarterback Emmanuel Taylor’s 17-yard TD run. Taylor gave West Georgia a 13-7 edge at 8:37 in the second frame after notching a nine-yard scoring scamper.
Both offenses were held scoreless in the third quarter, setting up an exciting fourth stanza comprised of 23 total points. Davis Brackett stretched UWG’s lead to 16-7 when he booted a 25-yard field goal at 13:38, only to see the Golden Bears pull within 16-14 at 6:40.
The Wolves seemed to put the game away with 2:21 left to play after wide receiver V.J. Hunt collected a 12-yard touchdown pass. Miles did not go away without a fight, cutting its deficit to three with 13 seconds on the clock. MC recovered the ensuing onside kick and drove into UWG territory, but time ran out on the Golden Bears.
UWG running back Yusuf Holloway rushed for a game-high 114 yards on 18 carries, while Taylor accounted for 146 total yards and three TDs. The Wolves remained perfect all-time versus Miles, moving to 5-0-0. Box score
@ WEST ALABAMA 45, CENTRAL STATE 7
West Alabama (2-1) thrilled its home crowd for the second week in a row, cruising past Central State, 45-7.
UWA found the end zone on its first two drives as running back Matthew Willis ran for a one-yard score at 11:26 and added a 19-yarder at 8:38. Quarterback Karl Birkenfeld opened the second frame with an 11-yard touchdown scamper at 12:50, followed by wide receiver Gerald Worsham’s 44-yard TD catch at 10:01. Ken May gave the Tigers a 35-0 halftime lead thanks to an 11-yard scoring grab at 3:42.
Don Smith ran for the lone score in the third quarter, reeling off a seven-yard TD run at 9:29. Ryne Smith added a 25-yard field goal at 4:37 in the final stanza and the Tigers’ defense could not pitch the shutout as CSU posted its first points of the game at 1:53.
Willis galloped for a game-high 122 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while Don Smith added 74 yards on 17 carries. Birkenfeld stepped in for injured starter Gary Johnston, passing for 147 yards and two TDs while also rushing for 41 yards. Worsham posted game-highs in catches (five) and receiving yards (116). West Alabama ran its home winning streak to seven and remained undefeated at home versus Division II opponents 2008 (12 straight wins). Box score
#GSC#
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Delta State wide receiver Chance Dennis (SR, 6-3, 208, Houston, TX) is the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending September 18th.
Dennis is DSU’s first Player of the Week for 2011, leading the Statesmen to a 47-32, come-from-behind road victory over Arkansas Tech. The senior tallied career-highs in catches (12) and yards (155), while also hauling in three touchdowns. The Houston, TX native’s final touchdown proved to be the game-winner, as he caught a 33-yarder with 9:22 remaining in the contest. Dennis’ reception and receiving numbers were the highest by a GSC player in a game this season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Valdosta State linebacker Chris Pope (SO, 6-1, 214, Jackson, GA) is the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending September 18th.
Pope is the second consecutive VSU linebacker to take home accolades, spearheading the Blazers’ defense in a 30-27 upset at No. 6 Albany State. The sophomore led all players with nine tackles headlined by three solo stops and one tackle for a loss of two yards. The Jackson, GA native did not stop there, breaking up one pass and notching two quarterback hurries.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Valdosta State placekicker Daniel Anderson (JR, 5-9, 188, Meansville, GA) is the Gulf South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for the period ending September 18th.
Andersen earns his second all-time award, thanks to a perfect performance in Valdosta State’s upset win. The junior connected on all three of his point-after kick attempts and he also made good on all three of his field goal efforts. The Meansville, GA native hit field goals from 32, 36 and 43 yards with the 43-yarder putting the Blazers ahead by three points with 3:15 left to play. The go-ahead field goal was the third-longest of his career and his three-field goal effort tied a career-best.