Today, UWG Athletics begins their journey through the history of 40 years of NCAA football as we kick off the 40 Games That Shaped 40 Years series on uwgsports.com. Over the next 10 weeks, four games will be highlighted each week as we look back on 40 games that shaped the rich tradition of West Georgia football.

The games will be released in chronological order, and there will be a fan vote at the conclusion of the series to determine the top-10 games in UWG football history. Enjoy this trip down memory lane with us we gear up the 40th season of NCAA football at UWG this fall.

To purchase season tickets for the 2021 football season, click here or visit the Townsend Center Box Office. Tickets are available for $100 or $50 for UWG faculty and staff.

The Division III Years: 1981-1982

West Georgia at Miles: September 19, 1981

West Georgia 37, Miles 14

West Georgia's 1981 team was the first NCAA football team in school history, and after a 14-month “preseason”, then West Georgia College was ready to put on a show. And that's just what it did on a September night in Birmingham, Alabama, as West Georgia came away with a 37-14 victory, marking the first win in school history. 

The visitor's struck first as West Georgia's David Archer hit Mike McConnell for a 60-yard touchdown on just the sixth play of the game, and it was all Red and Blue from there. West Georgia led 30-0 before Miles got on the board late in the third quarter.

West Georgia ran for 217 yards in the win with fullback David Phillips leading the rushing attack with 58 yards and a score on the night. Archer threw for 78 yards on just four completions in 13 attempts. 

Defensively, Derrick Germaine led with nine tackles, but Angelo Snipes had the biggest defensive play, picking off a Golden Bears' pass and returning it 30 yards to the end zone. 

West Georgia at Maryville: November 14, 1981

West Georgia 41, Maryville 7

In a game that West Georgia needed to clinch a playoff berth and complete an unbeaten season, it took a 14-point lead into halftime and exploded in the second half. Coming out of the break, West Georgia went for four touchdowns in the second half for a convincing win over the Maryville Scots.

Quarterback David Archer ran in both scores in the first half and then it was Trevon Daniels making it 21-0 early in the third quarter. Archer then found Todd Clifton for an 11-yard passing score to extend the lead to 28-0. Maryville finally got on the board in the opening minute of the final quarter, but it was too little, too late and West Georgia erased all doubt with two more touchdowns through the air to close out a 9-0 regular season in its inaugural season of NCAA football.

The following week, 10,000 fans would squeeze into Grisham Stadium and see a heartbreaking 10-3 loss to the eventual national champions, Widener.

West Georgia vs. Widener: November 20, 1982

West Georgia 31, Widener 24 (3 OT)

The 1982 West Georgia football team avenged its only loss in its Division III history with a thrilling, 31-24 triple-overtime win over Widener in the 1982 playoffs.

With the score tied after regulation, Widener missed a field goal that would have won the game in the first overtime, giving West Georgia new life. In the second overtime, after Widener scored, David Archer found Rusty Whaley on fourth down for a 12-yard score and tied the game with a successful PAT. 

In the deciding third overtime, Harold Long found paydirt from five yards out, and the defense held Widener on four downs to finally end one of the most exciting football games ever witnessed in West Georgia history.

West Georgia vs. Augustana: December 4, 1982

West Georgia 14, Augustana 0

Playing before a CBS Television audience, and in front of 10,000 fans at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama, the West Georgia football team claimed a 14-0 victory over Augustana in the Stagg Bowl to win the 1982 NCAA Division III National Championship.

It was a hard-fought win as West Georgia held on a goal-line stand late in the first half, and then scored on a 71-yard touchdown pass from David Archer to Al Sheppard with 19 second remaining in the half. Fullback David Phillips added the final touchdown and iced the game with 1:17 remaining, as he trounced in from the five-yard line.

Harold Long led the UWG rushing attack with 136 yards on the day, and became the first 1,000-yard rusher in West Georgia history, finishing the season with 1,061 yards on the ground.

Lawrence Erwin had a monster game from his linebacker position, racking up 21 tackles. Angelo Snipes had four of West Georgia's 10 sacks in the contest.