* Records: UWF is 9-3 after upending West Georgia, 17-14, on the road last week. West Alabama moved to 10-2 with a 27-20 victory over Delta State in its NCAA Super Regional 2 Semifinal contest.
* Rankings: UWA is #17 in both the AFCA ranking & the D2Football.com poll. UWF is receiving votes (4) in the AFCA listing.
THE COACHES
* UWF coach Pete Shinnick was hired as the first coach in program history on Feb. 6, 2014. He is 14-9 in 2 seasons at UWF and has a 117-55 career record in 15 years, which includes a 50-24 mark at UNC Pembroke (07-13) & 53-22 at Azusa Pacific (99-05).
* West Alabama Coach Brett Gilliland is in his fourth season at UWA after taking over in 2013. The Pensacola native and Escambia HS grad is 29-16 at his alma mater, where he starred from 2000-03, finishing as the Tigers' single-season (3,213) and career passing yards (6,689) record holder. He started his coaching career at Georgia Tech (2006-09), at Georgia Southern (2010-12) and Kennesaw State (2013).
Three weeks after making history as the fastest start-up program to qualify for the NCAA Division 2 Playoffs, the sixth-seeded UWF football team will travel to Livingston, Ala. to face top-seeded and 17th-ranked West Alabama in the biggest game in its brief 24-game history - The NCAA Super Regional 2 Championship.
The winner of Saturday's game will advance to the national semifinals next Saturday, Dec. 9 against an opponent to be announced on Sunday when the NCAA re-seeds the four regional winners.
The other regional title games are (CT):
SR1: Assumption at Indiana (Pa.), 11 am
SR3: Harding at Ferris State, 11 am
SR4: Texas A&M-Commerce at Minn. State, Noon
ABOUT UWF
UWF is 9-3 overall having secured a winning season in its second year of competition after its 30-7 win over North Alabama four weeks ago. Since then, the Argonauts have claimed road wins at #18 West Georgia, #16 Wingate and last week at #24 West Georgia (again). UWF finished in a 5-way tie for second in the Gulf South Conference with a 5-3 record.
The Argonauts are fifth in the GSC in scoring offense (28.2) and third in scoring defense (20.5). UWF ranks sixth in total offense with 343.7 yards per game and fourth in total defense, allowing an average of 327.0 per contest. UWF's passing attack is third in the league at 230.9 yards per game, just behind West Georgia at 235.4 and West Alabama at 281.8.
Redshirt freshman Mike Beaudry has thrown for 2,564 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 55 percent of his passes. The Canadian-born signal caller from Oviedo, Fla. was named the GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year. He has also rushed for 96 yards and two scores.
Sophomore Chris Schwarz, senior Leroy Wilson and freshman Anthony Johnson, Jr. have led the Argos ground game, which has averaged 112.8 yards per game and collected 10 touchdowns. Schwarz has four scores and 570 yards on 150 carries for 47.5 per game. Wilson has 330 yards on the season with 270 coming in the last seven contests. His 5.1 yards per rush lead the team and rank tenth in the GSC. Johnson has 311 yards on 75 carries.
Reggie Barnes, Marvin Conley and Trent Archie all have at least 74 tackles and rank in the top 15 in the GSC. Barnes' and Conley's 7.7 stops per game rank sixth in the league. First Team All-GSC pick John Williamson leads the conference with 10.5 sacks and is fourth with 12.5 tackles for loss.
ABOUT WEST ALABAMA
#17 West Alabama is 10-2 on the season following last week's 27-20 win over Delta State. The Tigers have won four-consecutive games after a 41-39 loss at Florida Tech. They lead the GSC in scoring, averaging over 38 points per game.
UWA leads the GSC in total offense, averaging 447 yards per game. Led by junior QB Harry Satterwhite, the Tigers are averaging 281.8 yards per game through the air. Satterwhite leads the GSC in passing yards (266.3 ypg) with a 66 percent completion rate and 3,196 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Senior WR Donta Armstrong leads the GSC with 71 receptions for 877 yards, good for a GSC best 73.1 ypg. He was named First Team All-GSC after collecting all-conference and all-America honors in 2016 with 91 receptions for 904 yards.
Led by senior RB Lakenderic Thomas, UWA is averaging 165 rushing yards per game. Thomas has 949 rushing yards on the year with 13 touchdowns.
Junior WLB Terry Samuel is second in the GSC with 97 tackles with 8.1 per game. Junior DB Tevin Madison is one of the best defensive backs in the league, as evidence by his GSC best 15 break-ups and five INT.
PETE SHINNICK IN THE POSTSEASON
With last week's NCAA Super Region 2 win, Pete Shinnick improved to 2-2 as a head coach in the Division II Championships with both previous games coming while he was at UNC Pembroke in 2009 and 2013.
The 2009 team was ranked 13th before losing to Arkansas Tech, 41-13 on the road in Russellville, Ark. In 2013, the 8th-ranked and 2nd-seeded Braves had a first-round bye but fell to 16th-ranked and 3rd-seeded North Alabama, 37-13, in Pemboke, N.C.
He also went 2-5 in the NAIA Playoffs while at Azuza Pacific from 1999-2005. The Cougars reached the national semifinals in 1999 & 2004.
GSC IN THE POSTSEASON
Four GSC teams qualified for the NCAA Division II Championship, including the GSC Champions from West Alabama, who earned the top seed. Delta State was the fifth seed, making the field for the first time since 2014. West Florida is the sixth seed, earning the spot in just its second year of existence. After one year away, West Georgia got back in the playoffs for the third time in four years, earning the seventh seed.
It is the fourth straight year that the league has had at least three teams make the NCAA Playoffs, and the second time in four years that four teams have qualified.
The last two seasons, seven different GSC teams have made the NCAA Championship.
A GSC school has won the NCAA Division II Super Region 2, formerly the Southeast Region, crown 13 times in the last 15 seasons. With all four semifinal teams from the GSC, that number will increase to 14 in 16 seasons after a champion is crowned Saturday in Livingston.
Since Division II went to regionalization in 1990, a GSC school has advanced to the national semifinals 19 times in 26 seasons.
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.
Five weeks ago, UWF entered the same final 3-game stretch with the same win total. The 2017 edition played well at West Alabama and, despite losing 35-18, trailed just 14-12 entering the fourth quarter. UWF got over the 5-win hump with a 30-7 victory over North Alabama. And the 34-29 come-from-behind win at #24/18 West Georgia in the regular-season finale propelled the squad into the playoffs for the first time ever.
UWF WITH ANOTHER SHOT AT A RANKED OPPONENT
This week's game against #17 West Alabama marks the sixth ranked opponent for UWF in the last eight weeks.
The Argonauts had been close to knocking off a ranked foe twice this season. UWF dropped a heartbreaker to #20 Delta State, 28-25 and fell at #25/23 West Alabama, 35-18, in Livingston after trailing 14-12 entering the fourth quarter.
UWF collected its second, third and fourth-ever wins over a ranked opponent in the last three weeks, with a road win over #24/18 West Georgia, 34-29, to snap the Wolves' 6-game home winning streak, a 31-0 shutout win at #16/18 Wingate in the NCAA First Round to end the Bulldogs' season at 9-2, and last week's 17-14 win at #24 West Georgia in the regional semifinals.
In their inaugural 2016 campaign, UWF upset #16 Florida Tech, 42-39 at home, before falling to #3 North Alabama, 51-3 in Florence.
Earlier this season, UWF was scheduled to host then-#16 Midwestern State but the game was canceled due to the threat of Hurricane Irma.
RECAPPING THE WIN AT WEST GEORGIA
The UWF defense has been getting better and better over the last three weeks but turned in one of the gutsiest performances in program history Saturday as the sixth-seeded Argonauts defeated seventh-seeded West Georgia, 17-14, at University Stadium to advance to the NCAA Division II Championship Super Regional 2 finals.
UWF held West Georgia to a season-low 244 yards of total offense, including just 117 on the ground in defeating the Wolves at home for the second time in 14 days. The Argos had four sacks, forced three fumbles and Marvin Conley picked off Willie Candler to ice the game with one second remaining.
The Argos finished with 337 yards as Mike Beaudry threw for 194 yards on 19-of-33 with a touchdown. He also had four interceptions, including three in the first quarter. Fortunately, the defense held the Wolves to just 17 combined yards on their three ensuing possessions.
Johnathan Coleman had three sacks and eight tackles up front for the Argonauts. Asante Griffin led the team with nine stops. Andre Duncombe forced a fumble and made five tackles as well.
RECAPPING THE WIN AT WINGATE
UWF got a dominating performance from its defense en route to a 31-0 win over Wingate in the NCAA First Round, becoming the youngest program to win a Division II postseason game.
From the third play of the game when Jalen Spencer intercepted Wingate QB Dylan Williams and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown, the UWF defense announced it was going to be the focal point of the day. Spencer got his second interception on the Bulldogs' next drive returning it 15 yards to the UWF 30, eventually leading to an Austin Williams 51-yard field goal – tying his own career-long.
By the end of the game, the Argonauts held 16th-ranked Wingate to a season-low 205 yards of total offense, sacked Williams a school-record nine times, picked him off three times and did its part to put all four Gulf South Conference teams into the Super Region 2 semifinals.
Marvin Conley, Reggie Barnes and Johnathan Coleman each posted double-digit tackles. The Argos have combined for 21 sacks and 38 tackles for loss over the last three contests.
UWF ended with 289 yards of total offense –129 on the ground and 160 through the air. Mike Beaudry was 18-for-31 with three passing touchdowns and an interception.
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER WEST GEORGIA FROM THREE WEEKS AGO
UWF scored 24 unanswered and got an outstanding effort from its defense over the final 45 minutes to end the regular-season tied for second in the final league standings. UWF's 395 yards of total offense was its third-highest this season and helped the squad finish 4-1 on the road in 2017.
QB Mike Beaudry threw for 236 yards on 19-of-35 with four touchdowns against the top-rated defense in the league which was seventh nationally allowing just 268.8 yards per game. The Argonauts also rushed for 159 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry.
Sophomore RB Chris Schwarz had a career-best 94 yards on 17 rushes, while senior Leroy Wilson and freshman Anthony Johnson, Jr. combined for 55 yards on 15 plays.
Senior TE Austin Blake-Smith had a great game, hauling in five catches for 32 yards, including a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, UWF was in the UWG backfield 14 times on the 62 plays with five sacks and nine additional tackles for loss. The defense held the Wolves to minus-2 yards rushing over the final three quarters.
UWG finished with 398 yards of total offense but just 199 after the first quarter. Willie Candler completed 19 passes for 295 yards, with scoring plays of 72 and 41 yards.
UWF BECOMING ROAD WARRIORS
UWF has played very well on the road this season, going 6-1 with back-to-back victories on its resume, The Argonauts are 8-5 all-time away from Pensacola.
DIVISION II ROAD VICTORIES IN 2017
7 Harding
6 WEST FLORIDA, Central Wash., Findlay, Minn.-Duluth, Minnesota St., Texas A&M-Commerce, Virginia State
5 Ashland, Assumption, Bowie State, Delta State, Fort Hays, Indiana (Pa.), Shepherd, Shippensburg, Tuskegee, West Chester, Winona State.
UWF PLAY MUCH IMPROVED OVER THE LAST FOUR GAMES
While UWF has played solid football all season long, it has really come into its own over the last four games in wins over North Alabama, at West Georgia twice and at Wingate.
First 8 Last 4
Offense games games Diff.
Rushing ypg 101.4 135.5 34.1
Yards per carry 3.1 4.0 0.9
Sacks Allowed 20 2 -18
Defense
Rushing yards allowed 141.4 98.4 -43.0
Yards per carry allowed 3.5 2.8 -0.7
Sacks 16 25 ---
Opp. 3rd Down Pct 39% 23% -16%
Total Offense allowed 368.5 244.0 -124.5
General
Punt Return Avg. 10.6 20.6 10.0 ypr
Turnover Margin -5 +3 ---
The numbers over the last 11 quarters are even more impressive, as the Argos have allowed just 645 total yards for an average of 58.63 yards per quarter - and a miniscule 3.7 yards per play.
UWF SACK COMPANY
UWF's defense has made tremendous strides this season, but the past three games have been the catalyst for the postseason run.
Led by a defensive line that has taken up residence in the opponent's backfield, UWF has totaled 41 QB sacks and an additional 14 tackles for loss - 35 total.
UWF now ranks 7th nationally with 3.42 QB sacks per game and 5th in total sacks. Junior DE John Williamson is 26th in the NCAA with 0.79 QB sacks per game.
GSC SINGLE-SEASON QB SACK LEADERS
13.5 Dylan Donahue, West Georgia 2016
13.5 Michael Eubanks, Delta State 2005
13.0 Darrius Caldwell, West Georgia 2014
12.0 Dylan Donahue, West Georgia 2015
12.0 Michael Eubanks, Delta State 2007
12.0 Tommy Edwards, Arkansas Tech 2002
12.0 T.J. Bingham, Ouachita Baptist 2001
11.5 Michael Eubanks, Delta State 2006
11.5 Dewayne Smith, Valdosta State 2002
11.0 Joey Sylve, Delta State 2003
11.0 Jamall Johnson, Delta State 2000
10.5 John Williamson, UWF 2017
Darius Ellis, West Alabama 2016
SECONDARY CONSISTENTLY CREATING HAVOC
While the front seven are doing their part to contain opposing offenses, the UWF secondary is quietly becoming one of the tougher units to attack.
With Jalen Spencer's pick-6 on the third play of the game at Wingate, that gave UWF four defensive scores this season, ranking them 13th in the NCAA and first in the GSC.
The Argos have 14 interceptions on the year to rank second in the GSC and 38th nationally.
WINNING VERSUS LOSING
* UWF is 9-0 when attempting fewer than 40 passes and 0-3 when throwing 40 or more.
* UWF is 8-1 when running for at least 100 yards and 1-2 when rushing for fewer than 100 yards.
* UWF is 8-2 when recording an interception.
UWF EARNS FIRST EVER TOP-25 VOTE
UWF received one vote in the AFCA Division 2 Top-25 poll three weeks ago, marking the first-ever vote for the second-year program. The Argonauts would be tied for 35th if the numbered listing continued past 25.
After the NCAA Playoff selection, UWF was the beneficiary of four votes, effectively putting the team at 35th entering the playoffs.
FIVE ARGOS NAMED ALL-GSC
The UWF Football team had six players recognized on the end-of-year all-Gulf South Conference teams, highlighted with quarterback Mike Beaudry being named Offensive Freshman of the Year as announced by the league.
PK Austin Williams and DE John Williamson were voted onto the first team, while WR Antoine Griffin, LT Samuel Antoine and LB Trent Archie were chosen for the second team.
Williams has been one of the biggest difference-makers from last year's inaugural season. The sophomore out of Phelan, California leads the league with 9.2 pts per game and is second with 92 total points. He has made 21 field goals which is tied for first in the NCAA this season and third in the GSC single-season record book. He has made four field goals in a game three times. He is 9-of-9 inside 32 yards and 16-of-17 up to 43 yards. Williams has also handled 55 kickoffs with a GSC-leading 19 touchbacks – 10 more than the next closest kicker.
Antoine has started all nine games at tackle, moving from right to left tackle for the final six contests. He graded out at *0 percent or higher in nine games and reached 86 percent in six. The second-year player from Weston, Florida has helped UWF rank sixth in GSC with 345.2 yards of total offense and third in with 237.2 passing yards per game.
Griffin has built upon last year's totals and finished the 2017 regular-season with team highs of 566 receiving yards and 41 catches. The redshirt junior out of Tampa ranks third in the GSC in receiving yards, yards per game (56.6) and receptions per game (4.1). He had a career-best 109 yards against Valdosta State, along with 94- and 99-yard games on the road against Shorter and West Alabama. He leads the team with eight catches of at least 20 yards.
Williamson has continued to anchor the left side of the defensive line for the second-consecutive season. He leads the league with eight sacks – six in GSC play – and enters this week's postseason game with 45 total tackles. The redshirt junior from nearby Stockton, Alabama leads the Argonauts with 12 quarterback hurries, while forcing one fumble. He has 85 stops in 19 career games at UWF.
Archie earned his second season award from the GSC after being named Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2016. As a sophomore in 2017, he made the move from defensive back to the nickel spot in defensive coordinator Darian Dulin's scheme. The Mobile, Alabama native has 61 tackles to rank third on the team and 19th in the GSC. He also has nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He is the program's all-time tackles leader with 151 in two seasons.
BEAUDRY NAMED OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
UWF quarterback Mike Beaudry was voted the Offensive Freshman of the Year by the league's head coaches.
Beaudry has thrown for 2,210 yards with 246 yards per game with 20 touchdowns. He ranks in the top four in the GSC in completions, attempts, passing yards, yards per game, touchdowns and passing efficiency – all of which place him first among freshman in each list as well. He has produced two 300-plus yard games and two additional 275-yard plus games – all against GSC teams.
The Canadian-born signal-caller from Oviedo, Florida has shown increased mobility as the season has progressed, leading to 76 net rushing yards. He earned four Freshman of the Week honors - all in the last five weeks - which are tied for the second-most in league history.
He gained notoriety as the first National Letter of Intent received during the Feb. 2015 Signing Day as UWF secured its first class of prep signees. He sat out the 2015 season as a redshirt, but then missed all of 2016 while rehabbing from a broken fibula that occurred during Spring 2016 camp - meaning his game action this season was his first since November 2014 - a span of 32 months.
