*
Records: UWF is 3-2 and 1-1 in GSC play following last week's upset win over #16/19 Florida Tech. Mississippi College is 2-3 (2-1 at home) and 0-3 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 106-48 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.
*Mississippi College Coach John Bland: Bland is in his third season at MC with a 5-20 record. He is in his 11th season as a head coach, compiling an 80-46 mark. He was 5-5 at Southern Ark. in 2000 and 70-21 in eight years at the Univ. of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, Ky.). He led the Patriots to the 2013 NAIA title game with a 13-1 record. He also was the QB coach at Rice from 2001-05.
• UWF is ranked 30th in total offense with 461.0 yards per game. The Argonauts are third in passing offense at 381.6 ypg and 158th in rushing offense at 79.4 ypg.
• UWF's defense is 50th in the NCAA after yielding 350.8 ypg. It ranks 17th in rushing defense, allowing just 90.6 ypg.
• The place kicking unit has been perfect on 26 PATs and 2-of-6 field goal attempts this year. UWF ranks 71st in KO returns at 21.4 yards per return and 20th in KO defense, allowing just 17.0 yards per return.
• UWF picked up its first-ever win over a ranked opponent last week, upsetting Florida Tech 42-39 in Pensacola.
• 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 three victories and 28 in the two losses, while averaging 462 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.
QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE MEANS UWF NEVER TRULY OUT OF ANY GAME
UWF has scored on 25 offensive possessions this season, make two field goals and 23 touchdowns. Of the 23 TD scoring drives, 15 have come in 5 plays or less, including nine of three or less and two on one play.
On the flip side, the Argonauts have six scoring drives of 9 plays or more. The longest scoring drive in terms of plays was a 12-play effort last week against Florida Tech, with the longest in time of possession being a 3:43 drive for the first-ever TD score in program history at Ave Maria.
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 95th in the country in scoring defense at 28.4 points per game allowed.
UWF ranks No. 50 nationally, allowing 350.8 yards of total offense per game. The Argos are second in the country in QB sacks with 5.2 per game.
UWF has produced one of the stronger rushing defenses in the country. It currently ranks No. 17 in the country, yielding just 90.6 yards per game. The team has held two opponents to less than 40 yards in a game and four teams to 130 or less.
UWF also ranks ninth in the NCAA and first in the GSC in tackles for loss with 9.8 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 (1,746) and passing ypg (349.6), 11th in passing TDs (14), along with being 14th in completions per game (24) and 59th in passing efficiency (135.5). But possibly the most important stats is where he ranks in points responsible for - 16th with 96 on the year and 17th in points responsible per game at 19.2.
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 the Division II this season.
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 five 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 41 catches for 665 yards - both No. 1 at UWF and in the GSC. He also averages a league-high 135.0 yards per game (5th in NCAA) and 8.2 receptions per game (6th in NCAA).
Hasic Goes From Croatian Refugee To Top GSC Talent
Through five 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 fourth in the Gulf South Conference in receiving yards per game, averaging 91.4 ypg and first with six TDs. He also has 143.0 all-purpose ypg, ranking him third in the conference and 40th 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.
GSC LEADS DIVISION 2 WITH 4 TEAMS IN THE AFCA TOP 25
In the latest version of the AFCA Division II Poll, there are four GSC teams in the rankings. After the dramatic weekend of action, North Alabama moved up to #11, while West Georgia fell to #12. Florida Tech is now ranked at #23, while Valdosta State moved back into the rankings at #25.
The GSC is the only conference in the country to have four teams in the rankings.
North Alabama is now the only team that is undefeated in Gulf South play after its 24-23 win over West Georgia. Florida Tech also fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with a road loss to in-state rival West Florida. Valdosta State had a convincing non-conference win, defeating Kentucky State 48-10.
GSC AWARD WINNERS
UWF has had six players pick up weekly awards from the Gulf South Conference this season.
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 Saturday night.
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. The sophomore defensive back from Tampa now has 29 tackles this season and a team-high three interceptions.
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. In two GSC contests, 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.
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.
UWF SELLS OUT FIRST TWO HOME GAMES
The Wednesday prior to kickoff against Missouri S&T, UWF officials announced that the game was officially a sellout. Last Saturday's game against Florida Tech sold late Friday and the department released 300 additional standing room only tickets.
The official capacity for UWF football games at Blue Wahoos Stadium is 6,288. Included in that figure are 1,000 student tickets.
The two sellouts are the only ones in the GSC thus far and two of the 12 highest at a GSC venue this season.
Date Teams Attendance
Sept. 17 Valdosta State at North Alabama 8,216
Oct. 1 West Georgia at North Alabama 7,726
Sept. 9 Catawba at West Georgia 7,617
Sept. 24 Shorter at Delta State 7,151
Sept. 24 North Alabama at West Alabama 6,863
Sept. 17 Delta State at West Georgia 6,837
Sept. 24 UWF at Valdosta State 6,810
Sept. 1 Kentucky Wesleyan at Delta State 6,781
Oct. 1 Florida Tech at UWF 6,588*
Sept. 24 West Georgia at Albany State 6,474
Sept. 29 Delta State at Mississippi College 6,332
Sept. 10 Missouri S&T at UWF 6,288*
* Sellout
UWF BREAKS GROUND ON UNIVERSITY PARK CENTER
On Thursday, UWF broke ground on the University Park Center, a mixed-use facility adjacent to Pen Air Federal Credit Union Field, with an anticipated completion date of Spring 2018.
The 32,700-square-foot facility will provide additional space on campus for the UWF Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as well as office space and meeting rooms for the UWF College of Health and the Florida State University College of Medicine's Pensacola Regional Medical School Campus.
The first floor will house a state-of-the-art weight room for all 15 UWF sports programs, as well as a football locker room, equipment room and laundry facilities. The second floor will include office suites for the UWF College of Health and FSU College of Medicine, along with a shared multipurpose room.
University Park Center is budgeted at $6.8 million, with Caldwell Associates Architects Inc. of Pensacola overseeing the design and Childers' Construction Inc. of Tallahassee serving as the construction manager at risk. The building is planned to be LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The groundbreaking marks the beginning of the second phase of the development for University Park. The first phase was completed in February 2016 and included 12 acres of site work, associated utility infrastructure, lighting and the construction of Pen Air Field.
