Searcy, AR - The West Georgia Wolves took to the road Saturday night for just the second time this season and came away with a victory in a strangely defensive battle, winning 41-24 over the Harding Bison.

Harding turned the ball over six times in the contest, including two that became direct scores for the Wolves as West Georgia's hard-hitting defense forced six fumbles on the night, recovering five. The biggest of those came late in the first half, as senior linebacker #Drek Matthews# returned a fumble 52 yards for his first score in a UWG uniform.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth defensive battle for the first three series, as neither team was able to break through. But that changed at the 9:19 point of the first quarter when Harding and their triple-option offense took over on their own 39. Nineteen plays, 61 yards and nearly 10 minutes later, the Bison scored the first touchdown of the game on a Chaz Rogers quarterback sneak on the opening play of the second quarter.

West Georgia mounted a drive that stalled out in UWG territory and was forced to punt on the ensuing possession. The defense held on three straight plays and Harding gave the ball right back. After West Georgia had nearly reached midfield on the next possession, the fireworks began.

The drive stalled again, forcing a punt from #Davis Brackett#. The punt sailed 53 yards in the air and was fielded by Harding's Jeremy Holt. He fumbled the punt at his own one yard line and UWG defensive end #Nathan Teter# pounced, giving the ball back to West Georgia. Three plays later, UWG quarterback #Emmanuel Taylor# found paydirt, tying the game at 7-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, Harding fumbled yet again, this time forced by UWG linebacker #Bobby Liggins#. Matthews picked it up at the Harding 17 and rumbled to the three yard line, setting the West Georgia offense up for another quick score. After a pair of five-yard penalties, Taylor scampered 13 yards for the score, giving the Wolves a 14-7 advantage.

The two teams exchanged punts again and Harding put the ball on the ground yet again. With 2:01 left in the second half, Rogers fumbled at the UWG 42, which UWG defensive lineman #Juan Pickett# corralled, giving the Wolves the ball with less than two minutes left in the half.

Taylor and the offense went to work. Eight plays and 58 yards later, the Wolves were in the end zone again, this time on an eight-yard run from Taylor. The junior quarterback was nothing short of brilliant on the drive, completing 5-of-5 passes for 47 yards and rushing twice for 15 yards to give the Wolves a 21-7 lead, seemingly heading into the break.

Rogers and the Harding offense were looking to get some points back before the half and mounted a drive, reaching midfield with very little time left on the clock. Wolves' senior linebacker #Will Jones# hit Rogers, forcing the fumble that Matthews picked up and carried 52 yards to give the Wolves a 28-7 advantage headed into the locker rooms at the half.

Coming out of the break, the UWG defense forced Harding to three plays and out, giving the ball back to Taylor. The UWG signal-caller marched his offense right back down the field, with the big play coming on a 38-yard completion to sophomore receiver #Bobby Burum#. But this time, things didn't end well, as Taylor was intercepted at the goal line later in the drive and Harding's Tramaine Wilkes returned the ball to midfield.

On the first play of the next drive, Holt atoned for the mishap early, sprinting 45 yards to put the Bison on the doorstep. New quarterback Kelvin Martin scored a few plays later, pulling Harding to within two scores at 28-14.

West Georgia went to freshman running #Seth Hinsley# on the next drive, and on three straight plays he gained a combined 21 yards and had the Wolves going in the right direction. But on third down, Taylor was intercepted again, giving the ball back to Harding in UWG territory.

Martin marched the Harding offense back down the field very quickly, scoring on a three-yard plunge as time expired in the third quarter, making the score 28-21 heading into the fourth.

After Harding forced a punt, the Bison took over at their own 13 and mounted another drive. But this one was stopped short at the HU 25 as fullback Kale Gelles fumbled and freshman linebacker #Cornelius Winters# recovered, giving the ball back to West Georgia in Harding territory.

The West Georgia offense reached the Harding eight, but couldn't advance it further and settled for a 25-yard field goal from Brackett, giving the Wolves a 10-point cushion.

Harding completed a pass on first down on the next possession and marched to the UWG eight, but Pickett and #Manny Rodriguez# came up big on third down, forcing a Harding field goal, bring the UWG advantage back down to seven points with 5:15 left in the game.

At that point, Taylor and the West Georgia offense began a march that was worthy of NFL Films, as the Wolves took 3:44 off the clock with a 10-play, 59-yard drive that ended with another Brackett field goal and a 10-point advantage.

Thirty seconds later, West Georgia senior safety #Waylon Kimble# put the game on ice with a 62-yard interception return for a touchdown, putting the Wolves up by 17 points and giving UWG head coach Daryl Dickey his first road win since coming to West Georgia.

For all the scoring, the two offenses combined for just over 600 yards total. The Wolves rushed for 203 yards, eclipsing the 200 mark for the third time in four games, and passed for 92 yards. Harding had 280 yards rushing, nearly 100 yards under their season average, and passed for 55.

Taylor led the UWG contingent with 22 carries for 114 yards and three touchdowns. He was 7-for-15 for 92 yards through the air with two interceptions. Hinsley carried seven times for 51 yards as the top running back on the night and Holloway added 10 carries for 37 yards and a score.

Senior linebacker #James McGee# and senior defensive end #Brandon McEachern# each reached double-figures in tackles on the night. McGee had 16 stops and McEachern had 11 to aid in the cause.

The Wolves move to 3-2 on the year and return home next week to face Saint Augustine's at University Stadium on October 8. Kickoff for Hall-of-Fame Saturday is set for 2 p.m., with tailgating to open earlier in the day.