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Records: UWF is 4-2 and 2-1 in GSC play following consecutive wins over #16/19 Florida Tech and at Mississippi College. Delta State is 3-3 (3-1 at home) and 2-2 in the conference.
Rankings: Neither team is ranked.
UWF Coach Pete Shinnick: Shinnick was hired as the first coach in program history on Feb. 6, 2014. He has a 107-48 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.
Delta State Coach Todd Cooley: Cooley is in his fourth season at DSU and has a 25-13 record. He was the offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach at Northwestern State, Central Arkansas and Arkansas Tech from 2001-12. He played two years at Arkansas Tech from 1986-87, setting 13 school records. In 1997, he was an Academic All-GSC choice & a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy.
• UWF is ranked 25th in total offense with 467.0 yards per game. The Argonauts are third in passing offense at 372.8 ypg and 150th in rushing offense at 94.5 ypg.
• UWF's defense is 62nd in the NCAA after yielding 364.3 ypg. It ranks 17th in rushing defense, allowing just 93.5 ypg.
• The place kicking unit has had its up and downs, making 29-of-31 PATs and 5-of-9 field goal attempts this year - including all three FGA at Mississippi College last week. UWF ranks 35th in KO returns at 23.6 yards per return and 13th in KO defense, allowing just 16.6 yards per return.
• UWF is looking for its third-consecutive victory for the first time in program history.
• UWF will be wearing an all white uniform on Saturday - white jersey & white pants. The Argonauts will also have blue helmets and blue shoes.
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 has scored at least 42 points in all four victories and 28 in the two losses, while averaging 467 yards of total offense - a figure that ranks 25th in the NCAA and third in the GSC. Additionally, the 372 passing yards per game is third and the scoring offense is 26th.
QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE MEANS UWF IS NEVER TRULY OUT OF A GAME
UWF has scored on 33 offensive possessions this season, make five field goals and 28 touchdowns. Of the 28 TD scoring drives, 17 have come in 5 plays or less, including 10 of three or less and two on one play.
On the flip side, the Argonauts have nine scoring drives of 9 plays or more - with three last week at Mississippi College. The longest scoring drive in terms of plays and time of possession came last week with a 16-play, 5:27 third quarter drive that resulted in a 26-yard Andrew Bogaenko FG.
4TH DOWN SUCCESS
UWF has had a lot of success on 4th Down this season, converting 9-of-12 live ball opportunities. The nine conversions are tied for the fourth-most nationally, and the 75% conversion rate puts the Argonauts 12th in the country.
DEFENSIVE SPEED PAYING OFF
As good as the offense has been, the UWF defense has really been a difference maker through four games. The Argonauts are 100th in the country and fifth in the GSC in scoring defense at 28.3 points per game allowed.
UWF ranks No. 62 nationally, allowing 364.3 yards of total offense per game. The Argos are tied for first in the country in QB sacks with 4.7 per game.
UWF has produced one of the stronger rushing defenses in the country. It currently ranks No. 17 in the country, yielding just 93.5 yards per game. The team has held two opponents to less than 40 yards in a game and five teams to 130 or less.
UWF also ranks 17th in the NCAA and second in the GSC in tackles for loss with 9.0 per game.
NOBLES AMONG NATIONAL PASSING LEADERS
Without question, QB Kaleb Nobles has been the perfect signal caller for the UWF football team. A graduate transfer from Valdosta State, the Florida native who went to high school in Fitzgerald, Ga., gives the offense a leader and proven winner in the Gulf South Conference.
He currently ranks fourth nationally in passing yards (2,039) and passing ypg (339.8), 6th in passing TDs (19), along with being 14th in completions per game (24) and 49th in passing efficiency (142.8). But possibly the most important stats is where he ranks in points responsible for - 8th with 126 on the year and 9th in points responsible per game at 21.0.
He has completed at least 20 passes in every game this season, with a season-high of 28 at Chowan three weeks ago. His 503-yard passing performance against Missouri S&T was a career-high and is the eight-highest single-game effort in GSC history. It is currently the fourth-highest in Division II this season.
NOBLES WITH SOLID HISTORY AGAINST DELTA
If Saturday's game turns out to be an offensive explosion as some have predicted, Kaleb Nobles should be right at home. As a freshman at Valdosta State in 2013, he made his first career start at Delta State and passed for 351 yards on 31-of-51. He finished with six TDs - 4 in a 34-point 4th qtr and three INTs. Delta State won the game 63-55. Tyler Sullivan was equally stout with 34-for-48 passing, 520 yards, 4 TDs and 3 INTs.
In 2014, Nobles came off the bench to throw for 298 yards on 29-of-47 with 3 TDs and 2 INTs. Again, Sullivan got the better of Nobles, finishing with 502 yards on 41-of-64 with 3 TDs and 2 INTs, along with a 49-32 Statesmen victory in Valdosta.
Nobles did not play in last year's Valdosta 40-34 overtime win in Cleveland.
MORROW RETURNS TO HIS HOME STATE AS THE GSC's TOP RECEIVER
Junior WR Ishmel Morrow wasn't what he describes as a highly-recruited athlete as a sophomore at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC. And the UWF coaches weren't recruiting the Miss. JUCOs as hard as some areas closer to the UWF campus.
In six games, the Ocean Springs, Miss. (located just east of Biloxi across the Biloxi Bay) native has proven to be one of the top targets for UWF QBs Kaleb Nobles and Grey Jackson, hauling in 48 catches for 726 yards - both No. 1 at UWF and in the GSC. He also averages a league-high 121.0 yards per game (10th in NCAA) and 8.0 receptions per game (4th in NCAA).
He has four 100-yard games and a TD in five of six this season. He has caught at least seven passes in the last five games.
HASIC GOES FROM CROATIAN REFUGEE TOP GSC TALENT
Through six weeks of play, senior WR Anas Hasic has proven to be one of the top big play targets for UWF. Overall, the Phoenix native is fifth in the Gulf South Conference in receiving yards per game, averaging 79.8 ypg and second with seven TDs. He also has 122.8 all-purpose ypg, ranking him fifth in the conference and 74th in the country.
The native of Croatia - dubbed the 'Croatian Sensation' by some local fans - has one of the more remarkable stories in college football. He and his mother fled Croatia during the civil war (officially the Croatian War of Independence) for Germany when he was five. Three years later they were forced to move again, landing in Phoenix when the U.S. granted them asylum. Hasic didn't speak English and had to spend an hour after school each day, learning the language. While he speaks it fluently now, he still speaks and texts his mother in Croatian.
FORD FINDING HIS STRIDE
Redshirt freshman Jemari Ford has started to emerge as one of the featured backs in the UWF backfield since returning from injury just over two weeks ago. He was in a strong preseason battle for the starting RB job before an injury sidelined him until the week of the Florida Tech game. In that victory over the Panthers, the Alachua, Fla. product rushed seven times for three yards and caught two balls for 13 yards, including a TD, before busting out for 70 yards on 18 carries last week at Mississippi College. He also had a 24-yard reception against the Choctaws.
On the year, he has 25 carries for 73 yards and three receptions for 73 yards and a TD.
BOGAENKO TAKES OVER ALL KICKING DUTIES
True freshman Andrew Bogaenko had been the team's starting punter since fall camp, but was elevated to the primary place kicker and kickoff starter last week at Mississippi College. He went 3-for-3 on field goals and 3-for-5 on PATs a week ago. UWF did not punt against the Choctaws.
In three GSC contests this year, the St. Cloud, Florida native has posted a 40.7 average to rank first in the conference. On the year, he has averaged 39.5 per punt, tied for first in the league. Additionally, he has placed eight of 25 punts inside the 20 yard line.
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 12-13 days prior to the FIT game. 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 in late Sept. at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
The bleacher system along the south sideline was the week of the FIT game and features 250 seats in five sections, allowing for a stadium seating capacity of 6,288. The bleachers were installed by Seating Solutions. Additionally, home plate and the protective netting around the home plate and dugout areas was removed to allow for better sightlines.
GSC Leads Division II W/ 4 Teams in AFCA Top 25
In the latest version of the AFCA Division II Poll, there are four GSC teams in the Top 25. After the cancellation of the matchup between UNA and Florida Tech due to Hurricane Matthew, UNA moved up into the Top 10, coming in at #10. Florida Tech moved up three spots to #20. Valdosta State's win over West Georgia moved the Blazers up to #17, while the Wolves fell to #24.
The GSC is the only conference in the country to have four teams in the rankings.
GSC AWARD WINNERS
UWF has had seven players pick up weekly awards from the Gulf South Conference this season.
Oct. 10: DB Trent Archie led the defense in last week's 42-28 win over Mississippi College, making eight tackles – including five solos – and collected his team-leading third interception of the season. The redshirt freshman out of Mobile, Ala. picked off a Sharron Wright pass on Mississippi College's first possession and returned it 52 yards to the 22-yard line, where the Argos grabbed a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Archie has started the last three games and is second on the team with 50 tackles. He has had at least eight stops in the last four games and led the team in the last three contests. His three interceptions are also tied for first in the GSC.
Oct. 3: DB Marvin Conley and P Andrew Bogaenko were named the Defensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively. The duo helped UWF defeat #16/19 Florida Tech 42-39 in front of a sold out crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Oct. 1.
Conley had five tackles and a pair of interceptions, including a 40-yard return that set up one of the five offensive touchdowns on the night.
Bogaenko continued his steady improvement in his rookie season, punting six times for a 41.3 yards per kick average. He also put three inside the 20-yard line. The West Florida special teams unit held FIT to just 5.4 yards per return.
Sept. 19: WR Anas Hasic was named the GSC Offensive Player of the Week after catching nine passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns in the road loss at Chowan. The three touchdowns are a school record and are tied for the second most in a Division II game this season. He also returned three kickoffs for 39 yards, giving him 229 all-purpose yards.
Sept. 12: QB Kaleb Nobles and PK Austin Peffers were named the Offensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively.
Nobles threw for career-highs of 503 yards and six touchdowns in leading UWF to a 45-28 win over Missouri S&T in the program's first-ever home game. The yardage was the ninth-highest single-game in GSC history and the passing scores are tied for seventh-most - a mark he also duplicated while at Valdosta State. The graduate student from Fitzgerald, Ga. finished 27-of-47 for the game and completed passes to eight different receivers with three hauling in more than 100 yards each. Nobles had 283 yards and four touchdowns in the first half to help build a 31-20 lead. His 503 yards are the second-highest in a Division 2 game this season. He currently leads the GSC in passing yards, touchdowns and passing efficiency.
Peffers was 6-for-6 on extra points and 1-for-2 on field goals in the win over Missouri S&T. His field goal came from 37 yards on the opening drive of the game to give UWF a 3-0 lead en route to a 24-0 advantage.
Sept. 5: RB Tim Bellinger was named the Freshman of the Week following a breakout performance at Ave Maria in Week 1. He finished the game with 101 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries as UWF defeated Ave Maria 45-0 in its first-ever game in program history. He rushed 12 times for 79 yards in the first half.
The redshirt freshman from Miami, Fla. didn't lose yardage on any of his runs and had two runs of at least 10 yards. His score from a yard out in the second quarter was the first-ever touchdown in program history, giving the Argonauts a 7-0 lead. He added another from two yards out early in the third quarter.
