Carrollton, GA - The West Georgia Wolves fell in the 2011 Gulf South Conference opener Thursday night as West Alabama held off a late charge from the Wolves in a 35-23 victory.

The Wolves put up more than 400 yards of offense for the second straight week, but several drives stalled out in West Alabama territory, forcing UWG to setting for three field goals from sophomore kicker #Davis Brackett#.

"Davis did a great job for us tonight," said head coach Daryl Dickey. "But the difference in the game was the third quarter. In that quarter, we didn't do enough on either side of the ball and those 15 minutes ended up being what hurt us the most."

In that quarter, the Wolves were outscored 14-3 as the Tigers erased a 13-7 halftime deficit.

West Georgia started the contest with the ball and after a slow start offensively, senior running back #James Kennebrew# fumbled on the third play of the game, giving UWA the ball at the West Georgia 23. The Tigers moved nine yards in four plays, but were held short on 4th-and-1 as the Wolves took over at their own 14.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, #Emmanuel Taylor# passed the ball to #V.J. Hunt#, who then turned and fired to an awaiting #Denarius Appling#, completing the pass near midfield. Appling had to wait on the ball, then made a move to make two men miss and took off for the opposite corner. Appling beat the crowd to the end zone for an 86-yard touchdown, one of the longest in school history.

The Tigers matched that score on the ensuing drive with a touchdown by Matthew Willis, a four-yard plunge that tied the contest at 7-7 heading into the second quarter.

That period was all West Georgia, as the Wolves had a pair of field goals the quarter, including a 31-yarder with just seconds remaining in the period to head into the break at the half with a 13-7 advantage. Brackett had a 43-yard kick as well in the second quarter to add to his game-winner from last week. 

The first three drives of the third quarter resulted in scores for each team, with West Alabama scoring a touchdown on both of their drives. West Georgia marched right down the field, but their drive stalled at the UWA 17, forcing another field goal from Brackett, this time a 35-yard strike.  

After a West Alabama score in the fourth quarter, the Wolves had six minutes left in the game and two scores to make up. In a four-play drive, Taylor was 3-for-3 and moved his team 94 yards in four plays, finishing it off with a 65-yard strike to sophomore #Bobby Burum#.

But that would do it, as Willis and West Alabama's offense salted the game away on the ensuing drive and scored a touchdown with one second left in the game to hand the Wolves a 35-23 loss.

Taylor was 13-of-23 in the game for 184 yards and a score, which added to Hunt's 86-yard touchdown, gave the Wolves 270 yards in the air on the night. He also added 42 yards on the ground in the contest.

Appling was the biggest target of the night, catching six passes for 168 yards and a touchdown, both a record for the sophomore receiver. Kennebrew was the leading rusher on the night, picking up 78 yards on 11 carries for the Wolves on the night.

The Wolves will take to the road next weekend, visiting Valdosta State in the Battle for the Peach Basket at 2 p.m.