CARROLLTON, Ga. - The 2023 University of West Georgia football season began with a victory on Thursday night as the 22nd-ranked Wolves battled past a gritty Limestone team by a 21-19 final at Ra-Lin Field.

On a night where not everything went right for the Wolves, head coach David Dean and his squad still found a way to come out on top over a Limestone (0-1) team that a year ago was in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

"There were a lot of first game jitters, and first game mistakes, and that was a good football team we played," said Dean. "We shot ourselves in the foot a good bit, didn't tackle well and missed some blocks up front, but when we had to make a play we did it."

Offensively, West Georgia (1-0) scored all three times on the ground, and had two drives of over 90 yards. The first of those came in the opening quarter as Rajaez Mosley capped off the 10-play, 96-yard scoring drive with a six-yard TD rush.

Limestone battled back for a second-quarter touchdown on a Mikey Jones touchdown reception, but a missed PAT left it a 7-6 West Georgia lead, and that's how the first half would end.

The West Georgia defense put on a bend-but-don't-break clinic in the third quarter, coming away with two big red zone stands. The first drive of the third quarter went 63 yards before Limestone's field goal attempt went wide, and then on the Saints' next drive, it was Amos Dahn who stuffed a quarterback keeper on fourth and goal from the two to keep the Wolves on top.

"We played very well on the goal line, and that was the difference in the game," Dean said of his defense. "We did not tackle well, but of course their running back was very good and he was exactly what he thought he'd be, and hard to bring down. But I'm proud of our defense because they made the stops when they had to, and like I said, that ended up being the difference."

Mosley then found the end zone for a second time on the night, this time capping off a 99-yard, 11-play drive that made it a 14-6 advantage for the Wolves.

"Those drives were big, because one of them was 11 plays and it kept their defense on the field for a long time, and obviously ran a lot of clock," said Dean. "I think that helped us when we got the ball back, because they weren't coming off the ball as fast because we had worn them down on those long drives.

The UWG defense came up big once again after Limestone cut it to 14-12 on a 16-yard pass to Jelani Baker as the defense stuffed Limestone's two-point attempt to tie the game, leaving it at 14-12 with 6:10 remaining in the game.

Wesley Kennedy then showed his speed on the ensuing drive, jaunting 82 yards for a quick score to push the lead back to two possessions.

Limestone would add one more score as Baker found the end zone again to make it 21-19, but Kennedy broke free for 28 yards on third and one, allowing UWG to run out the clock.

Kennedy finished with 169 yards and a touchdown, averaging 16.9 yards per carry while Mosley added 74 yards and a pair of scores. Ben Whitlock threw for 167 yards in his first start at quarterback. 

Defensively, Xavier Robinson led the way with 11 tackles and one sack, while Deontae Overstreet had nine total tackles. Keondre Williams had a big night to open his junior season, accounting for eight stops including two first half sacks. Redshirt freshman Michael Merriweather had a debut to remember, picking off a pass for one of two takeaways by the UWG defense.

UWG now has just over a week to prepare for their week two roadtrip to Texas A&M-Kingsville. That contest is set for September 9 at 8 p.m. EST from Kingsville, Texas.