Delta State Outlasts UWF, 28-25

October 15, 2017

The West Florida football team raced out to a 25-14 lead after three quarters, only to see 20th-ranked Delta State score early in the fourth and return a blocked kick 65 yards for a touchdown to come away with a 28-25 win at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday.

UWF (4-2, 2-2 Gulf South) had a season-high 443 yards of total offense and Austin Williams tied his own school record with four field goals before a Homecoming crowd of 5,458.

Mike Beaudry threw for a career-best 354 yards on 22-of-47 with a touchdown. Caleb Robinson was the biggest beneficiary among the receivers with six catches for 151 yards. Ka’Ron Ashley had six receptions for 56 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter that drew the Argos to within 7-6.

UWF took its first lead of the contest when Leroy Wilson broke off a 31-yard scoring run up the middle one play after Jalen Spencer intercepted Collin Willis and returned it 20 yards into Delta territory.

Wilis got some redemption in the second quarter when he capped a 5-play drive with a 1-yard run to put the Statesmen up 14-13. He opened the drive with a 40-yard pass and then rushed four-consecutive times for 16 yards.

The Argonauts were able to regain the lead at 19-14 going into the locker room thanks to a pair of Williams field goals in the final two minutes. His 51-yarder with 1:38 to play broke his own school record before he ended the period with a 48-yarder.

Beaudry led consecutive drives deep into the Statesmen end of the field in the third quarter before Williams made kicks of 24 and 26 to stake UWF to a 25-14 edge.

Delta used a 13-play, 65-yard drive at the start of the fourth to pull within 25-21 after Chris Robinson scampered in from five yards.

On the ensuing possession, UWF ended a brief drive on the DSU side of midfield and setup for a Williams attempt from 52 yards. But Quantarious Boone blocked the kick and JohnQuavious McBride returned the deflection 65 yards for the go ahead score.

Four scoreless possessions later, UWF took possession of the ball on its own five with 1:34 to play. Beaudry rushed twice for a first down and then completed three passes that put the Argos at the Delta 39 with 18 seconds left. On the second-and-five play, a mishandled snap ended in disaster for UWF as the Statesmen recovered the fumble and ran out the final 10 seconds.

Delta State (6-1, 4-1) finished with 384 yards, including 183 on the ground. Willis was 13-of-20 for 164 yards with an interception. Backup quarterback Breck Ruddick came of the bench to throw for 37 yards and lead the rushing attack with 63 yards on 17 carries.

Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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