Another week means another edition of 40 Games That Shaped 40 Years series on uwgsports.com. This is the second installment and features four games from 1983-1986. To view the first edition that highlights the Division III years, click here.

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 for the 2021 season are on sale now. Secure your seat for the 40th season by visiting the Townsend Center Box Office or visit their website here.

Second Edition: 1983-1986

West Georgia vs. Gardner-Webb: September 10,1983

West Georgia 23, Gardner-Webb 8

In front of a crowd of nearly 7,000 fans, West Georgia busted into the Division II ranks with a dynamite defensive display, shutting the Bulldogs out through the first three quarters and recording three interceptions and a safety to secure the program’s first victory at the D-II level.

Following a scoreless first quarter, West Georgia rattled off 16 straight points in the final four minutes of the opening half behind a one-yard touchdown run from quarterback Frank Barden, a 44-yard punt return to paydirt by Ken Revels and a safety on a ball that was snapped over the Bulldog punter’s head.

All-American linebacker Derrick Germaine powered the West Georgia defense with 17 tackles in the season opener and would finish the 1983 campaign with a team-best 138 takedowns.

West Georgia found the end zone one last time in the fourth quarter on a five-yard pass from Barden to fullback Todd Clifton.

Despite finishing with just 122 yards of total offense, West Georgia dominated the game behind its defense to open the season – and its Division II days – with a bang.

West Georgia vs. UT-Martin: October 1, 1983

West Georgia 20, UT-Martin 18

West Georgia won its first Gulf South Conference contest in dramatic fashion, stopping a two-point try by the then-Pacers with 1:18 remaining in regulation to seal the hard-fought victory at Grisham Stadium.

Things got off to an ominous start after UTM’s Tony Champion returned the game’s opening kickoff 100 yards to the house to give the visitors the quick 7-0 lead, but West Georgia bounced back with 14 unanswered points on a nine-yard touchdown run by Harold Long and a 61-yard punt return from Ken Revels, marking his second punt return for a score on the season.

West Georgia rode a strong defensive effort and used a pair of second-half field goals from Rob Rice – 24 and 29 yards – to set up the frenzied finish.

The Pacers pulled within two on a five-yard touchdown pass with 78 seconds left in the game, but the West Georgia defense preserved the ‘W’ with a stop on the two-point try.

Another note of interest from this showdown, there were only three penalties whistled the entire game – one against West Georgia and two against UTM for a combined 32 yards.

West Georgia vs. Liberty: October 13, 1984

West Georgia 52, Liberty 31

West Georgia exploded in an offensive shootout highlighted by a school-record six touchdown passes from junior signal-caller Cater Pierce in a back-and-forth battle with the Flames.

Pierce completed 22-of-33 attempts for 249 yards and connected with five different receivers in the end zone for his record-breaking performance.

Pierce threw a pair of touchdown passes to Chris Vespermann, delivered a 77-yard dagger to Stevie Young with five seconds left in the first quarter, found Curtis Bell and Hal Lamb for scoring strikes in the second quarter and hooked up on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jerome Winters in the third.

His 17-yard touchdown pass to Vespermann with 1:51 to go in the fourth quarter capped off the offensive fireworks and clinched the victory for West Georgia. At the time, the 52 points scored was an all-time high for the young program.

On the other sideline, Liberty quarterback Phill Basso was equally impressive, going 34-of-55 through the air for 382 yards, but he would only find the end zone twice on a pair of first-quarter touchdowns.

Defensively, sophomore Dennis Scandrett and senior Chris Carter led West Georgia with 16 tackles apiece.

West Georgia at North Alabama: November 15, 1986

West Georgia 37, North Alabama 35

In the second season of the Frank Vohun era, West Georgia snapped a three-game losing streak to the Lions for its first win over the traditional power in program history at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

The see-saw affair hit its climax in the fourth quarter when West Georgia’s Kendall Simmons stripped UNA running back Morris Turrell and raced 74 yards the other way for a touchdown to put the visitors ahead by a 37-28 margin.

The Lions scored one final time on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 2:39 remaining, but West Georgia fed the ball to All-GSC running back Stevie Young six straight times to pick up a pair of crucial first downs to run out the clock and stun the home crowd in Florence.

Cater Pierce went 15-of-33 for 232 yards and two touchdowns through the air for West Georgia, while Young ran for 71 yards on 16 carries and Hal Lamb hauled in eight receptions for 105 yards.