* Records: UWF is 2-2 and 0-1 in GSC play following last week's road loss at Valdosta State. FIT is 4-0 and 2-0 in the conference.

* Rankings: FIT is No. 16 in the AFCA Coaches Poll & No. 19 in the D2Football.com poll.

* UWF Coach Pete Shinnick: Shinnick was hired as the first coach in program history on Feb. 6, 2014. He has a 105-48 career record in 14-plus years, which includes a 50-24 mark at UNC Pembroke from 2007-13 and 53-22 at Azusa Pacific from 1999-05.

* Florida Tech Coach Steve Englehart: Englehart is in his fourth season and has led the Panthers to a 22-16 record since being hired to start the program in 2011. Prior to his time on the Space Coast, he was the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Indiana State & was the head coach for four years at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, compiling a 26-14 mark.

Offense As Good As Advertised

When he was at UNC Pembroke, Pete Shinnick's offenses were always high-powered. That fast-paced, high-octane style has continued at West Florida, and in a big way thanks to veteran signal caller Kaleb Nobles.

UWF scored 45 points in its opening two games before 28 last week at Chowan, and averaged 481 yards of total offense - a figure that ranks 20th in the NCAA and second in the GSC. Additionally, the 384 passing yards per game is fourth and the scoring offense is 33rd.

WELCOME TO THE INAUGURAL COASTAL CLASSIC

The UWF and Florida Tech football programs will meet on the gridiron for the first time this weekend, and will do so in the newly created Coastal Classic.

With both campuses located in popular vacation destinations along two of Florida's coastal area – UWF on the Emerald Coast of northwest Florida and Florida Tech along the Space Coast, from Titusville to Palm Bay along Interstate 95 and US Highway 1 – its was a natural creation for the only NCAA Division II football schools in the state to start the friendly rivalry as part of their conference season.

The teams will play for the Coastal Classic Trophy, which stands 24 inches tall on a six-inch wooden base. It features a large bronze anchor and 6-pointed ship's wheel with nautical sailing rope as the focal point of the trophy. A small bell is attached to the anchor with a white segment of sailing rope attached its clapper.

COMPARING THE TEAMS

Offensively, both UWF and FIT will throw the ball quite a bit. In fact, these are the top two offenses in the Gulf South Conference with FIT averaging 513.5 yards per game and UWF at 455.8 ypg. On the scoreboard, the Panthers are scoring 37.8 points per game with the Argonauts putting up 36.5 ppg. 
On the defensive side of the ball, FIT allows just 307.3 ypg and 8.8 points per game, putting them 24th and second in the country, respectively. They have two shutouts and have allowed just seven points in the past 13 quarters. UWF allows just a shade more yards to its opponents, yielding 322.2 ypg. The Argos are tied for first nationally with 5.8 sacks per game.
The squads also excel on special teams. UWF allows 16.1 yards per kickoff return (No. 16 in NCAA Division II) and FIT surrenders minus-3.00 yards per punt return (No. 1).

NO RUNNING ALLOWED

Saturday's game will put two of the top rush defenses in the country on center stage in front of a national audience. UWF ranks No. 8 in Division II with 74.5 ypg and FIT is No. 3 at 54.8 ypg.

BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM PLAYING SURFACE GETS MAKEOVER

With the baseball season complete for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the UWF athletic department was able to move forward with its plans to sod the infield portion. The sod was purchased from Bent Oak Farm in Foley, Ala. and installed early last week. Bent Oak Farm also installed natural grass fields for Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Ariz. and the US Women's Soccer friendly against the Netherlands two weeks ago at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The bleacher system along the south sideline was installed this week and features 250 seats in five sections, allowing for a stadium seating capacity of 6,288. The bleachers were installed by Seating Solutions. Additionally, the protective netting around the home plate and dugout areas was removed to allow for better sightlines.

Three GSC Teams Ranked in Latest AFCA TOP 25 Poll

In the latest version of the AFCA Division II Poll, three GSC teams continue to be ranked in the Top 25. West Georgia remains at No. 3, while Florida Tech moved up to No. 16 and North Alabama climbed to No. 18.

The GSC is one of five conferences in the country to have three teams in the rankings, and one of just two conferences that have three teams in the Top 20.

West Georgia remained undefeated this weekend by earning a regional road victory at Albany State. Florida Tech currently has the top scoring offense and scoring defense in the league and was victorious this weekend against Division I-FCS Presbyterian. North Alabama has now won back-toback conference games in convincing fashion, with the Lions' most recent victory coming in Livingston, where they defeated GSC rival West Alabama, 45-7.