UWF Drops Back And Forth Shootout At Delta State, 55-51

October 16, 2016

The UWF football team compiled a school-record 557 yards of total offense and was in position to ice the game with a 2-point lead, but saw a miscommunication on offense result in a turnover that Delta State turned into the game-winning score and a 55-51 decision at Parker Field-McCool Stadium Saturday evening.

UWF (4-3, 2-2 Gulf South) showed its offensive muscle early and often by scoring a touchdown on each of its first four drives. In just 4:01 of possession, Nobles rattled off four touchdown passes and led the Argonauts to 267 yards of offense.

The Argos started the scoring with an Antoine Griffin 39-yard touchdown catch just over two minutes into the first quarter. DSU (4-3, 2-2) responded with a 13-play, 73-yard drive that ended on a three-yard rush to tie the game at 7-7 early.

West Florida responded with 20 unanswered points, including Ishmel Morrow recording his sixth and seventh touchdowns of the year with 27- and 69-yard scores. UWF would cap first quarter scoring with Anas Hasic’s GSC-leading eighth touchdown of the year coming from 31-yards out.

With the Argos leading 27-14 at the end of the first quarter, Delta State would post three unanswered, second quarter touchdowns to take a 35-27 lead. The Argonauts momentarily halted DSU’s momentum by utilizing a nine-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard Nobles-to- Kevin Grant touchdown connection. Nobles concluded the half with a staggering five touchdowns and 355 passing yards.

Delta State held a slim 35-34 advantage heading into the locker room after a first half that featured a combined 753 yards of total offense.

To start the second half, the Statesmen extended their lead with a 12-yard scoring run from Chris Robinson to make the score 42-34 after a quick, five-play, 46-yard drive over the course of 1:42.

The Argonauts ate up 3:22 of clock en route to an eight-play, 72-yard drive that concluded with Jemari Ford’s first rushing score of the year on a 15-yard scamper on second down leaving Delta State with just a one-point lead, at 42-41.

Just 2:02 later with Delta State set to punt, Marcus Clayton blocked, picked up the loose ball and returned it 21 yards to give UWF a 48-42 lead with 7:37 remaining in the third quarter. Clayton’s block is both the first-ever blocked kick and the first special teams touchdown in program history.

After a 45-yard, highlight-reel-worthy catch by Hasic put the Argos in field-goal range at the Delta State 12-yard-line, Andrew Bogaenko converted on a 26-yard attempt to push UWF’s lead to 51-42.

UWF would take that lead into the fourth quarter, but Delta State responded with Robinson’s fifth touchdown of the game to cut UWF’s lead to a slim 51-49 margin.
One of three turnovers, and West Florida’s most costly turnover of the game, came on a Nobles’ fumble with 2:50 remaining allowing DSU to start the eventual game-winning drive at the UWF 17-yard-line.

Robinson continued to give the Argonaut defense headaches late in the contest, as the running back scored his sixth touchdown of the day on a six-yard rush.
The Argonauts had 90 seconds remaining to attempt a comeback, but four incomplete passes secured Delta State’s 55-51 victory.

With Delta State holding the Argonauts scoreless in the fourth quarter, it snaps a streak of 11 consecutive quarters where the Argonauts posted at least one score.
Chris Schwarz led the ground game for UWF, averaging 5.1 yards per carry after a 12-attempt, 61-yard effort. Hasic had a game-high 155 yards receiving on eight catches, while Morrow posted his fifth 100-yard performance in the last six games with 132 yards on five receptions. Nobles totaled 452 yards through the air with five touchdowns after going 24-for-42 passing.

Trent Archie led all players with a UWF single-game record 18 tackles. Marvin Conley contributed with 11 tackles of his own, while Sam Adams was the lone Argonaut to post multiple tackles for loss.

West Florida was hindered by 13 penalties accumulating 119 total yards in addition to Delta State’s 20 points scored off turnovers. Robinson paced the Statesmen offense with six touchdowns and 298 total yards divided between 100 receiving yards and 198 yards on the ground.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports