Rolling on to the fifth edition of 40 Games That Shaped 40 Years series on uwgsports.com, we hit the mid-90s where UWG reached the NCAA Playofs for the first time and knocked off a big-time rival. This week, we highlight a pair of playoff clinching wins over VSU, and wins over current FCS foes Jacksonville State and North Alabama.

Previous installments of 40 Games that Shaped 40 Years are linked below.

First Edition: 1981-82

Second Edition: 1983-86

Third Edition: 1988-1992

Fourth Edition: 1993-1994

The games are being 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 as we gear up the 40th season of NCAA football at UWG this fall.

Season Tickets are still available for the 2021 season. To purchase tickets, visit the Townsend Center Box Office, or visit their website here.

Fifth Edition

West Georgia vs. Valdosta State: November 11, 1995

West Georgia 44, Valdosta State 6

West Georgia punched its ticket to the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the first time in program history by pummeling rival Valdosta State in the late-season melee on a wet and windy afternoon in Carrollton.

Rattling off five consecutive wins to close out the regular season, West Georgia took care of business on its side and had two ranked teams above it in the NCAA South Region go down in the final week of the regular season with No. 3 Albany State and No. 4 Virginia State losing, lifting Charlie Fisher’s crew into the postseason.

West Georgia left no doubt about its intentions against VSU, racing out to a 34-0 halftime lead and never looking back.

With nothing doing on the ground for the Blazers – rushing for 18 yards on 17 carries – they were forced to go through the air for the majority of the game to the tune of 70 pass attempts for quarterback Lance Funderburk, who completed 42 of them for 387 yards.

But West Georgia picked off three passes and also scored on a special teams play when Rick Swales scooped up a blocked punt by teammate Sheddrick Risper early in the contest.

Meanwhile, West Georgia quarterback Mark Eldred proved to be a master of proficiency in his home finale, completing 13-of-21 attempts for 248 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

West Georgia at Jacksonville State: September 7, 1996

West Georgia 30, Jacksonville State 10

After 16 consecutive losses in the head-to-head series, West Georgia finally had its breakthrough against the Gamecocks in a complete beatdown at Snow Memorial Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama.

With the score tied 10-10 at halftime, West Georgia came out swinging in the third quarter, taking a double-digit lead on a four-yard touchdown run by Kevin Carroll and a nine-yard touchdown pass from Toby Strange to Ron Dixon.

From there, place-kicker Jeremy Coates clamped on the finishing touches with a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.

The West Georgia defense held JSU’s vaunted rushing attack to a pedestrian 138 yards on 42 carries, while allowing very little in the passing game. JSU completed just 6-of-22 attempts for 77 yards with an interception, as Keeto Hayes recorded 10 tackles to go along with the interception. The West Georgia defense also forced five Gamecock fumbles in the rout.

Following 17 head-to-head meetings, the two teams have not played since the ‘96 September showdown.

West Georgia vs. North Alabama: November 9, 1996

West Georgia 32, North Alabama 31

In one of the most exciting finishes in program history, West Georgia overcame a 31-17 fourth-quarter deficit with back-to-back touchdowns in the final 4:05 of the contest to upend the three-time defending national champion Lions.

Rather than tying the game up with a conventional extra point with three seconds remaining in regulation, West Georgia head coach Charlie Fisher rolled the dice and opted to go for two.

The gamble paid off, as West Georgia quarterback Toby Strange connected with backup tailback Mathis Curry to send the crowd at Grisham Stadium into a frenzy.

Strange hooked up with wideout Ron Dixon for three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter on passes of two and 18 yards, respectively.

Strange went 26-of-44 for 396 yards and four touchdowns, while Dixon hauled in eight receptions for 165 yards and three scores. Tight end Bryan Pitts recorded a career-high nine receptions for 121 yards.

West Georgia at Valdosta State: November 16, 1996

West Georgia 42, Valdosta State 21

Just one week after the thriller in Carrollton, West Georgia traveled to south Georgia and doubled-up the Blazers to power its way into the Division II playoffs for a second consecutive season.

For the second week in a row, it was the combination of quarterback Toby Strange and receiver Ron Dixon doing the bulk of the damage offensively, as Strange completed 19-of-26 attempts for 316 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Dixon tied the school-record he set the previous week with three touchdown receptions, catching nine balls total for 181 yards.

Linebacker Casey Pennone led the defensive charge for West Georgia, posting 14 tackles, followed by Keeto Hayes with 11 and Leroy Scott with nine. Scott and safety Andre Gilliam both had fumble recoveries for West Georgia.

Tight end Byron Slack and offensive guard Mickey Henderson earned All-American honors for West Georgia in 1996.