Valdosta, GA - The UWG football team has made strides this season, but coming into Saturday's Battle for the Peach Basket with 17th-ranked Valdosta State, the Wolves were still looking for a game where they could hang their hat. Less than three hours after the start, the Wolves had that win with a thrilling 23-20 victory over the Blazers at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

With 10 seconds left in the game, things were still in doubt for the Wolves as West Georgia trailed VSU 20-16. But the Wolves had quarterback #Emmanuel Taylor# and the ball on the Blazers' 11. The UWG junior faded back and fired a bullet, finding #V.J. Hunt# in the front corner of the endzone for the game-winning score.

"These kids were so hungry for a win, the way they worked at practice was just inspiring," said head coach Daryl Dickey. "That was a great job by our guys to respond to adversity late in the game again."

The drive that produced the game-winning score marked the second time in the last three weeks that Taylor has engineered a game-winning drive. Two weeks ago, he and his offense put together a 33-yard march over the final 2:18 to set up a game-winning field goal by #Davis Brackett#.

Saturday was a different story, as a furious second-half comeback from Valdosta State left West Georgia in a four-point hole with 5:38 left in the game and the ball at the UWG 34.

"We are a good football team if we play at our best," Dickey said. "Even though we didn't play at our best today, we still found a way to win the game today."

Valdosta State opened the game with a drive engineered by quarterback Cayden Cochran. The drive was 14 plays and covered 82 yards, ending with Cochran taking the ball in for a five-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead for the Blazers.

After an exchange of punts, Taylor and the Wolves took over at their own three yardline. The Wolves also took 14 plays to go 97 yards, with Taylor closing out the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Hunt. That play was the longest of the 14 plays in the drive, as the UWG offensive line flexed its muscles in the running game. The extra point was no good and UWG trailed 7-6.

Neither team could gain an advantage for much of the remainder of the quarter until West Georgia took over at their own 26 after a missed field goal attempt with 1:32 remaining in the first half.

That was when a bit of craziness ensued to end the second quarter.

On the first three plays, #James Kennebrew# rushed for a combined 15 yards, followed by Taylor fading back and launching a pass on first down. The pass connected with #Denarius Appling# at the VSU 25 and his man fell down, allowing Appling to walk into the end zone virtually untouched for a 13-7 advantage with 16 seconds remaining in the half.

The Wolves executed a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff, which was fumbled by Griffin Noelle at the Valdosta State 28. #Cornelius Winters# recovered and a VSU personal foul gave West Georgia the ball at the Valdosta 13 with eight seconds left in the half. Taylor's first pass was incomplete and Dickey called on Brackett, who booted a 30-yard field goal as time expired to give the Wolves a 16-7 halftime advantage.

West Georgia had their chances in the second half, driving into VSU territory three times and coming away with no points. On the other side, VSU picked up a third-quarter field goal that touched off 13 unanswered points for the Blazers. The last came with 5:40 left in the game after a 99-yard march that took two plays and gave Valdosta State a four-point cushion.

The Wolves methodically marched down the field at that point, never hurrying and taking up small amounts of yardage at a time. Outside of the touchdown pass, the biggest play came on 4th-and-1 from the VSU 26 with just over 45 seconds left in the contest. After a timeout, Kennebrew rushed through a massive hole in the line for 14 yards, setting up the game-winning play.

Kennebrew led the Wolves on the rushing end in the contest, carrying the load 27 times for 145 yards. Taylor had 14 carries for 69 yards, as West Georgia rushed for more than 200 yards for the fifth time this season. The 258 team rushing yards are second on the year to the Wolves' effort against Miles in Week 2.

Taylor was 7-of-15 through the air for 102 yards and three touchdown passes. Hunt was the recipient on two of those, catching three balls for 37 yards. Appling had two receptions for 57 yards and a score.

The Wolves move to 5-3 on the season and 1-1 in Gulf South Conference play. Valdosta State falls to 6-3 and 1-2 in GSC action. West Georgia has two games remaining in the season, facing current #5 North Alabama in Florence next week, then returning to Carrollton on November 12 to face-off with top-ranked Delta State. The Blazers conclude their season in two weeks against North Alabama in Valdosta.