CARROLLTON, Ga. - Head coach Will Hall said in the week leading up to Saturday's West Alabama game at University Stadium that his team would need to limit turnovers and big plays from the Tigers in order to snap a two-game losing streak. The Wolves had six turnovers and allowed three big plays en route to a 31-7 Gulf South Conference loss on Hall of Fame Saturday at Ra-Lin Field.
"We are not a great football team right now, but that's my fault," Hall said. "When you lose the turnover and special teams battle, it is hard to win against a well-prepared team like West Alabama was today."
The Wolves led 7-0 at halftime of the contest, and early on it looked as if West Georgia would be turning the tables in the turnover game, as the first score of the contest came on an 81-yard interception return for a touchdown from Alpharetta native
Marcus Sayles in the first half. The Tigers picked up a late first-half fumble and got a field goal as time expired, which but momentum on the side of the West Alabama Tigers, who used that momentum to score 31 unanswered points.
UWG defensive end
Dylan Donahue became the all-time sacks leader at West Georgia on UWA's first drive of the game, bringing down UWA quarterback Austin Grammer for his 23rd career sack in his two-year career at West Georgia. The Montana native and son of a former NFL defensive end now has 11 sacks on the year, one less than his total from 2015.
Both team's offenses sputtered for much of the first half, with both teams turning the ball over. Cam Magee picked off the first pass for West Georgia, as West Alabama was driving deep in UWG territory.
Shortly after Magee's interception, the Tigers would take over on West Georgia fumble and begin their drive on West Georgia's half of the field. On fourth-and-short, senior corner
Marcus Sayles jumped Austin Grammer's pass, intercepting the pass and taking it 81 yards for the West Georgia touchdown, breaking the scoreless tie.
West Alabama got on the board as time expired in the half with a 22-yard field goal to make it 7-3, West Georgia at the break.
The second half was all West Alabama, as the Tigers added three scores as the West Georgia offense was shutout in the final half of the game. UWA forced six turnovers in the game with five of them coming in the second half of the game. Two of West Alabama's touchdowns came on special teams in the form of a punt return and a fumble returned for a score on the ensuing kickoff.
West Georgia falls to 4-3 on the year and 1-3 in GSC play, while West Alabama moves to 4-3 and 4-1 against conference opponents. The Wolves are home next weekend for Homecoming as the Wolves host Mississippi College in a 2 p.m. kickoff at University Stadium.
