Carrollton, GA - Records fell at University Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as the West Georgia Wolves used a 42-point second-half outburst to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2001, wowing the Homecoming crowd with a 49-0 victory.
The record came in conjunction with last week's 26-0 shutout of Miles, as the Wolves produced a shutout victory for the second-straight game. That feat has never happened in the history of West Georgia football, and it is only the third time since football returned in 1982 that a team has had at least two shutouts in a season. West Georgia had three shutout victories in the national championship season of 1982, then had two shutouts in 1988, but never in back-to-back games.
"We had such a tremendous atmosphere today with the Wolf Walk and all the festivities surrounding Homecoming," said Hall. "But I'm so excited to see records fall and while our defense has been really stingy, I think we have only scratched the surface of what they are capable of."
West Georgia's offense moved the ball well in the first half to the tune of 238 yards of total offense, but points were at a premium, as the Wolves scored only once in the first 30 minutes of the contest. .
"We try to tell our kids time and time again that in football, just like in life, bad things are going to happen," Hall said. "But the mark of a truly great team is the ability to bounce back and make things work well for you."
The score came on the first drive, after Johnson C. Smith punted the Wolves down inside their own 20 at the 15. Quarterback
Dallas Dickey and the UWG offense then took just six plays to go 8s5 yards, including a 17-yard rush from Dickey on 3rd-and-5 from the UWG 43 yard line. But the scoring play was even batter, as Dickey bought himself time in the pocket, stepped up and fired a beautiful pass to Denarius Appling for a 30-yard score and a 7-0 lead.
That would be the only score of the first half, but Appling made sure that the Golden Bulls won't soon forget his name, as Johnson C. Smith kicked off the open the second half. Appling fielded the kick at his own four, then found a seam in the middle and hit the right sideline, going 96 yards for the touchdown to make the score 14-0. The kickoff return is tied for the fifth-longest touchdown play in school history and the third-longest kickoff return. It is the first kickoff return for a touchdown for Appling, who holds nearly every school record for punt returns, and the first since
Derick Seward's return against Valdosta State last season.
With a 14-point cushion, the defense took care of the rest, allowing -20 yards of total offense during the third quarter and just 22 total yards in the second half to preserve the shutout. The Golden Bulls had a look at one long field goal attempt, but never got inside the 20 in the entire game.
Three players had their first scores of the year, as Earvin Anumgba,
Alex Macaulay, and
Adam Holley each had touchdowns. Macaulay had a 15-yard touchdown reception over the middle, Anumgba came through with a four-yard catch for his score and Holley added a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. Shaq Hall had a 14-yard touchdown catch and
Brandon Lucas added a 1-yard plunge, as Hall and Lucas each had their second touchdown of the season.
The Wolves had 437 yards of total offense, including going over the 200-yard mark rushing for the third straight week. Dickey,
Emmanuel Taylor, and Holley combined to go 16-for-22 for 235 yards through the air. Lucas led the team in rushing with 11 carries for 54 yards on the day. Eight different players had rushing yards on the day to combine for 202 yards rushing.
Tyrell Adams led the UWG defensive effort with eight tackles on the afternoon, including five solo stops and a forced fumble.
Alex Armah and
Darrius Caldwell each had a sack, but the defense did not force a turnover for the first time in three games.
West Georgia moves to 3-0 on the season and Johnson C. Smith goes to 1-2. The Wolves will return to the road next week, taking on Clark Atlanta in Atlanta in a 2 p.m. battle.
