* Records: UWF is 6-3 following a 30-7 Senior Day win over North Alabama. UWG is 8-2 after a 20-13 win at Florida Tech.
* Rankings: UWG is #18 in the D2Football.com poll and #24 in the AFRCA ranking. UWF is not ranked.
THE COACHES
* UWF coach Pete Shinnick was hired as the first coach in program history on Feb. 6, 2014. He is 11-9 in 2 seasons at UWF and has a 114-55 career record in 15 years, which includes a 50-24 mark at UNC Pembroke (07-13) & 53-22 at Azusa Pacific (99-05).
* West Georgia Coach David Dean is in his first season at UWG as the head coach but his tenth as a college head coach. He is 87-29 with a 79-29 record at Valdosta State from 2007-15. He led the Blazers to six NCAA Playoffs and two national championships during that time. He was the offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern in 2016. He spent 11 seasons at Valdosta & 8 at West Georgia as an assistant from 1988-2006..
ABOUT UWF
UWF is 6-3 overall having secured a winning season in its second year of competition after last week's 30-7 win over North Alabama. The Argonauts are 4-3 in the Gulf South Conference and tied for third place. The squad - which was picked to finish seventh in the preseaosn poll - will finish anywhere from second to sixth after Saturday. In 2016 UWF was picked to finish eighth and ended tied for sixth.
The Argonauts are third in the GSC in scoring offense (28.4) and fifth in scoring defense (22.6). UWF ranks sixth in total offense with 345.2 yards per game and fourth in total defense, allowing an average of 345.9 per contest. UWF's passing attack is third in the league at 237.2 yards per game, just behind West Georgia at 240.0 and West Alabama at 274.0.
Redshirt freshman Mike Beaudry has appeared in eight games - with seven starts - and thrown for 1,974 yards and 16 touchdowns while completing 54 percent of his passes. The Canadian-born signal caller from Oviedo, Fla. has also rushed for 66 yards and two scores.
Sophomore Chris Schwarz, senior Leroy Wilson and freshman Anthony Johnson, Jr. have led the Argos ground game, which has averaged 108.0 yards per game and collected nine touchdowns. Schwarz has four scores and 392 yards on 109 carries for 43.6 per game. Wilson has 246 yards on the season with 186 coming in the last four contests. His 5.6 yards per rush lead the team and rank sixth in the GSC. Johnson has 231 yard on 54 carries.
Reggie Barnes, Marvin Conley and Josh Smiley all have at least 60 tackles and rank in the top 10 in the GSC. Barnes 7.6 stops per game and ranks sixth in the league. John Williamson is coming off a 3.5 sack game against UNA and leads the team with 7,5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks - which is now third in the GSC.
ABOUT WEST GEORGIA
West Georgia is 8-2 on the season and looking to lock-up a top-4 seed in the NCAA Super Region 2 postseason and the first-round home game that goes with that. The Wolves are 5-2 in the GSC and in second place.
The Wolves are second in the GSC in scoring offense (33.4 ppg) and lead the league in scoring defense (13.8 ppg). Offensively, UWG averages 437.6 yards per game to rank second in the GSC, while their 268.8 yards allowed lead the GSC and rank seventh in the country.
QB Willie Candler is one of the best in the GSC, throwing for 2,253 yards and 225.3 per game with a 12.9 yards per completion. He has a 65.3 completion percentage.
Candler's top target has been WR Shaq Roland, who averages 50 receiving yards and 4.3 receptions per contest. Last week at Florida Tech, the senior had 12 catches for 122 yards. He has had three games with at least 70 yards recieving and leads the team with four TD receptions.
West Georgia's defense has allowed just 24 first downs and 501 yards in the past three weeks
UWF-WEST GEORGIA SERIES HISTORY
UWF finished with 138 yards of total offense in last year's loss to West Georgia. Graduate quarterback Kaleb Nobles surpassed the 3,000-yard mark with 72 yards on 11-of-23 passing. Freshman running back Chris Schwarz was the team's leading rusher with 44 yards on nine carries.
UWG showed why it was the preseason pick to win the GSC, collecting 336 yards on the ground and 225 through the air. The Wolves scored 31 points off six Nobles interceptions and were 9-of-9 inside the red zone.
UWG scored on 11 of 14 possessions, including its first eight. The Wolves registered 21 points in the first quarter and 27 in the second for a 48-0 lead at the half
12 ARGOS SUIT UP FOR THE FINAL TIME AT BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM
Today's game marks the final appearance at Blue Wahoos Stadium for 12 members of the UWF Football program.
The following student-athletes will be honored prior to the game for their commitment and dedication to the program:
Joe Jean Baptiste Land O'Lakes, Fla.
Reggie Barnes Odessa, Fla.
Rakeem Battle Lake City, Fla.
Quadavis Battle Brookeville, Fla.
Ronald Bell Delray Beach, Fla.
Tim Bellinger Miami, Fla.
Austin Blake-Smith Fayetteville, Ga.
Mike Charles Homestead, Fla.
Luke Jackson Pensacola, Fla.
Josh Marshall Lawrenceville, Ga.
Blake McCall Century, Fla.
Austin Peffers Panama City, Fla.
Jalen Spencer Pensacola, Fla.
Leroy Wilson Homestead, Fla.
ARGOS ADDING TO 2016 WIN TOTAL
Last season, UWF had five victories with three games remaining and struggled in its final games - all losses to UWA, North Alabama and West Georgia and was unable to finish with a winning record.
The 2016 team appeared to hit a wall at that point last season and that need for improvement physically and mentally was a point of emphasis for the coaching staff and strength & conditioning staff coming into the 2017 campaign.
Two weeks ago, UWF entered the same final 3-game stretch with the same win total. The 2017 edition played well at West Alabama despite losing 35-18, trailed 14-12 entering the fourth quarter. UWF got over the 5-win hump last week with a 30-7 victory over North Alabama.
