• The 20th-ranked UWF football team brings its 7-game winning streak and undefeated conference record to top-ranked Valdosta State for the biggest regular-season game in program history.
• Saturday's game is the second time UWF will face a top-ranked team in program history. The Argos defeated Indiana (Pa.) 27-17 two years ago in the NCAA Division II national semifinals. UWF is 7-7 all-time against ranked opponents and 5-3 when those have come on the road.
• The winner of Saturday's game will claim at least a share of the 2019 Gulf South Conference title and the chance to win it outright next week. UWF leads the Gulf South Conference with 99 Conference Championships in all sports. They have 101 overall crowns with a pair of non-GSC titles in swimming & Diving.

ABOUT UWF
• UWF enters the game at 7-1 overall and 6-0 in Gulf South Conference play. The Argonauts set the school record with their seventh-consecutive win last week when they escaped with a 17-14 win over North Greenville in Pensacola.
• The Argo offense is averaging 397.9 yards per game which ranks fourth in the GSC and 56th nationally. The 242.5 passing yards per game is also fourth in the league and 45th in the country.
• Not to be outdone, the UWF defense has gotten better each game and ranks 10th in the NCAA, allowing 264.3 yards per game. The scoring defense of 11.0 (88 total) points per game is second nationally behind Minnesota State at 8.6. The Argos lead the country in fewest passing yards allowed and red zone defense, and are sixth in fumbles recovered with 11.
• On special teams, UWF is second nationally in net punting - after ranking 12th in the country in 2018 - and 18th in punt return defense. They are averaging 7.55 yards per punt return and 23.8 yards per kickoff return
• UWF has outscored its last four opponents by a combined score of 143-33 and its last six 229-54 (42.4-to-8.0).
• The Argonauts have scored at least four touchdowns in six games during the winning streak. UWF has also scored at least 30 points in a game five times, one game shy of matching the 2016 team for the single-season school record. The 2017 squad also hit 30-plus in five games.

ABOUT VALDOSTA STATE
• Valdosta State is 8-0 on the season and 6-0 in GSC. The Blazers have won 23-straight games, tying the GSC record set by former member North Alabama from 1994-95. They also have won their last 12 at home, which is tied for the third-longest active stretch in Division 2.
• The Blazers are fifth nationally and first in the league in total offense at 523.4 yards per game, while ranking 22nd in total defense, holding teams to just 290.0 yards per game behind UWF's 264.3.
• The Blazers are eighth nationally in rushing offense at 275.3 yards per game.
• VSU QB Rogan Wells is 17th nationally in total offense at 285.4 yards per game to lead the GSC. Wells is third nationally in completion percentage at a 74.3 clip for the season, while he is averaging 191.3 completions per game for 26th nationally and first in the GSC. Wells is 153 of 206 passing with four interceptions and tossed 15 touchdowns.
• VSU is 20th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 16.4 points per game.

SERIES HISTORY
• Valdosta State has won all three games in the series history. They are 1-0 in Valdosta and 2-0 in Pensacola. UWF has trailed 20-0, 21-0 and 14-0 in each game of the series.
• In 2016, VSU handed UWF a 40-28 defeat in the Argos' first-ever GSC game and fourth overall. That was also the game which saw the largest comeback in UWF history. The Argos spotted the Blazers a 20-0 lead 8:46 into the game. UWF took a 28-27 lead late in the third quarter before falling 40-28. VSU transfer QB Kaleb Nobles threw for 330 yards with two TD and four interceptions in his first game back since paying for the Blazers from 2013-15.
• In 2017, the Blazers used a 21-0 lead to end with a 30-19 victory. UWF had four drives stall in the red zone and settle for a school-record four field goals by Austin Williams. The Blazers sacked UWF QB Mike Beaudry six times. UWF outgained VSU 378-300.
• Last season, the seventh-ranked Blazers scored the final 31 points for a 48-21 win in Pensacola. The Argonauts led 21-17 late in the third quarter before allowing a Rogan Wells TD, a field goal and a pick-6 in a 7:35 span that shifted the momentum to VSU.

UWF REMAINS AT NO. 5 IN NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
• The 20th-ranked UWF football team remained at No. 5 in the second NCAA Super Region 2 ranking of 2019 as released by the NCAA Monday afternoon.
• Valdosta State moved to No. 2 following its bye week. South Atlantic Conference leader Lenoir-Rhyne took over the No. 1 spot following its win over Wingate, who stayed at No. 4. Bowie State held steady at No. 3. Carson-Newman is sixth, with Virginia State seventh, Virginia Union eighth, Albany State ninth and West Georgia tenth.
• The poll is the second of four regional rankings released by the football committee, which are used to determine the 28-team bracket for the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs. The top seven teams from each of the four regions in the final rankings on Sunday, Nov. 17 will advance to the Division II Playoffs, with the top seed receiving a first round bye.

WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE... Sort of
• UWF enters the ninth week of the season with just one loss and 6-0 in the Gulf South Conference for the first time in program history. The Argos are trying to finish the second half as strong as they ended the first half and make a run at a playoff berth. A year ago, UWF went 1-4 to close the season at 6-5 and missed the playoffs after their 5-1 start.
• UWF is 7-1 through eight games for the first time in program history.
• UWF ended October at 10-6 all-time following wins over Delta State, West Georgia and Florida Tech in 2019.
• The Argos are now 5-4 all-time in November following the NGU win, which snapped a 2-game losing skid.

DEFENSE GETTING STRONGER EACH WEEK
• The UWF defense has continued to improve each week this season. The Argonauts rank first or second in the GSC in scoring defense, total defense, passing defense, red zone defense, QB sacks, turnovers gained, first downs allowed, third down defense and fourth down defense.
• UWF ranks second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 88 points for 11.0 points per game and has given up only 10 TD (6 rushing/3 passing/1 INT) this season.
• The defense has been especially stout the past 6 and a half games, allowing just six TD in the last 26 quarters.
• Prior to the FIT game, UWF had held its last four opponents to season-lows for total offense up to that point in their schedule.

D GETTING STINGIER AS THE GAME GOES ON
• The UWF defense has been strong all season, but especially in the second half. UWF has allowed 31 second half points for a 3.9 points per half average. They have had three second half shutouts.
• The Argos have allowed just two touchdowns in the third quarter (1 each by Carson-Newman and Florida Tech) and two TD and one FG in the fourth quarter (TDs by Miss. College and North Greenville and a FG by Delta State).

ARGOS HAVE FORCED TURNOVERS IN 41 OF 45 GAMES
• The UWF defense forced a school-record six turnovers earlier this season at West Georgia, and four more at Florida Tech two weeks ago. A Sharod Oliver interception last week against NGU extended the streak of consecutive games with a turnover to eight.
• Further inspection shows the Argonauts have gotten at least one turnover in 41 of their 45 all-time games. UWF is 29-10 when getting a turnover and 1-5 when unable to force a sudden change.
• UWF finished 2018 with 15 fumble recoveries to rank first nationally and 10 interceptions - including a pick 6 by David Richardson against FIT and another by Jamel Jackson at North Greenville. The Argos did not get a turnover in the finale at West Alabama, ending their streak of games with at least one turnover at 12 games.
• The turnover prize for UWF is a navy blue Turnover Shield and was created by Defensive Coordinator Darian Dulin prior to the 2018 campaign. The 3-inch round wooden disk has a large UWF logo on a navy blue background. The shield, which is a replica of what Jason and Argonauts may have used, is then signed in silver marker by the player(s) who had a hand in creating the turnover.

WHOA! ARGOS LOVING THE RED (ZONE)
• If Joey Russo's character from the hit sitcom 'Blossom' was watching the Argos this season, he might blurt out his catch phrase of 'WHOA!' numerous times during a game. That's because UWF has converted 26 of 32 times inside the red zone through eight games.
• On the flip side of that, UWF leads the country after allowing the opposition just a 43.8 percent conversion rate (7-of-16) inside the 20-yard line. Opponents have scored just four TDs and three FGs in the red zone on 16 trips. The Argos have kept the opponent off the scoreboard seven of the last 10 times they entered the red zone.

OFFENSE AVERAGING BIG PLAYS IN BUNCHES
• The UWF offense has consistently been producing plays of 20-yards or more this season. They have made 35 big plays through eight games with at least eight in three contests.
• They have had 26 pass plays for at least 20 yards and 13 for 30 or more. Senior WR Quentin Randolph has been the top big play recipient with eight (of his 19 total) catches for at least 20 yards. He is averaging 21.8 yards per catch and 51.9 per game this season.
• Kevin Grant has five big plays out of his 11 total catches on the year. He is second on the team with 21.5 yards per reception. Additionally, five of his 11 receptions have been TDs.

REED EMERGING AS A TOP QUARTERBACK IN THE GSC
• Redshirt freshman QB Austin Reed was locked in a tight battle for the starting spot through fall camp and the first game week of the season. With his ability to move the offense in key series' at Carson-Newman and continued success at Shorter a week later, he has taken over the starting position and thrived.
• The St. Augustine, Fla. native averages 226.4 passing yards per game, has 18 passing TDs and a passing efficiency ratio of 145.5. His passing ypg are first and his passing TD total leads the GSC and ranks 27th in Division 2.
• He is the first quarterback in program history to win his first three starts and is currently 7-0 as a starter. Kaleb Nobles and Mike Beaudry each won their first two games as starters in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Beaudry holds the UWF records for wins as a starter with 10. Nobles is second with six and Sam Vaughn is third with five.

RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE
• The UWF rushing offense ranks sixth in the GSC at 155.4 yards per game. After rushing for just 68 yards in the opener, the team has gone for 140, 222, 196, 177, 184, 172 and 84 yards during the 7-game win streak.
• The Argos have attacked the ground game with a quartet or rushers in junior Anthony Johnson, Jr., sophomore Jervon Newton, freshman Shomari Mason and sophomore Jaden Gardner - three of which rank in the top 20 of the GSC.
• Johnson is the elder statesman and lead of the group. He has 304 yards on 69 rushes in 2019 for a 4.4 yards per carry avg. and three TD.
• Newton leads the group with 45.4 yards per game and a 4.3 yards per carry average, including two 100-yard performances. 
• Mason has 321 yards on 40 carries for an eye-popping 8.0 per carry avg. - the second highest in the GSC (trailing only Rogan Wells' 8.8 avg.) and the highest by a RB. He became the latest 100-yard rusher with his performance against Delta State, carrying the ball six times for 100 yards and two TD. He followed that up with another 100-yard day at Florida Tech two weeks ago.
• Gardner also has breakaway speed and is putting up 3.2 yards per rush over 44 carries.

LEHTIO SETS UWF RECEPTIONS RECORDS
• Senior WR Tate Lehtio pulled down his 137th career reception in the home win over Mississippi College, moving past Antoine Griffin for the most receptions in school history. Lehtio (Lee-tee-oh) now has 160 receptions. With his 75-yard day at Florida Tech last week, he passed Griffin on the career receiving yards list and now has 1,770. Griffin held that mark with 1,697 from 2016-18.

WILLIAMS RESUMES PURSUIT OF GSC FIELD GOAL RECORD
• Senior PK Austin Williams made a 30-yard field goal last week against North Greenville, pushing his career total to 42 and moving into sole possession of sixth place on the Gulf South Conference career field goals made list. Those 42 place him sixth among active Division 2 kickers in the country. Matt Graveley of North Greenville leads active kickers with 49 and Jake Chapia of Slippery Rock is second at 47.
• Additionally, he now has 225 career points, extending his total as the program's all-time leading scorer. He has 42 career field goals and 99 career extra points.

UWF RETURNS TO NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Following the win over Delta State, UWF returned to the AFCA and D2Football.com Top 25 rankings at No. 25 in each poll.
• It marked UWF's first appearance in the rankings this season after being listed among the 'others receiving votes' in the preseason edition and Weeks 2-4 of the season.
• Prior to this season, the last time the Argos were ranked was in week seven of 2018 when they were 5-2.
• The Argos enter the NGU game at No. 20 for the second-straight week. They had moved up four spots in each poll following the UWG win. The program has now been ranked a total of 13 times in its history.

GEORGIA ON MY MIND
• Three weeks ago, the Argos ran their winning streak against teams from the state of Georgia to five. They are now 5-1 all-time in the Peach State, with their lone loss coming at Valdosta State in 2016. Since then, they have defeated West Georgia twice in 2017 and once this year, and Shorter twice - once in 2017 and this season in week two.

UWF STRONG IN BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM NIGHT GAMES
• UWF has enjoyed a winning record in two of the three seasons at Blue Wahoos Stadium in the fourth year of the program, amassing a 11-7 record. The Argonauts have been especially successful in night games (5 pm kickoff or later), going 9-2 following the win over Delta State on Oct. 5.

NORTH GREENVILLE RECAP
• UWF improved to 7-1 overall, 6-0 in the Gulf South Conference and 4-0 at home - all program records. UWF also extended its win streak to seven games, breaking a tie with the 2017 team for the longest winning streak in a season. 
• UWF overcame three turnovers, including two in their first three plays from scrimmage, and won 17-14. 
• Jervon Newton led the rushing sttack with 75 yards on 15 carries.
• Austin Reed threw for 254 yards as seven different receivers caught a pass, led by Ka'Ron Ashley and Tate Lehtio with six each.

COASTAL CLASSIC RECAP
• UWF ran its winning streak to six games and regained possession of the Coastal Classic Trophy for the third time in four years of its existence with a 38-14 road win over Florida Tech. The 6-game win streak also ties the program record set in 2017.
• UWF finished with 224 yards passing and 172 rushing. Shomari Mason ran 10 times for 103 yards with a touchdown. Austin Reed completed 18 passes to nine different receivers, including Tate Lehtio who had seven receptions for 71 yards and a score.
• UWF was 11-of-17 on third down and scored on four of five times inside the red zone.

RECAPPING THE 30-2 WEST GEORGIA WIN
• UWF forced a school-record six turnovers (5 fumbles and an INT) in a dominating 30-2 win at West Georgia last week. The game was played in the constant downpour from Tropical Storm Nestor on the natural grass field at University Stadium in Carrollton.
• The 2 points were the fewest scored by a UWG team since at least 2010. Records prior to that are hard to find. The Wolves managed just 147 yards of total offense - 286 yards below their 433 average coming into the game.
• Redshirt freshman Gael Laurent was named the GSC Freshman of the Week after finishing with seven tackles, two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• Not to be outdone, graduate transfer Ian Bush led the team with nine tackles, six tackles for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles.
• Redshirt sophomore Jervon Newton rushed for 100 yards on 21 carries, marking his second 100-yard game this season. He was the fourth different player to lead the Argos in rushing in a the last four games.

14-POINT COMEBACK IS THIRD BEST IN A WIN IN UWF HISTORY
• UWF found itself trailing Mississippi College 14-0 following the Choctaw's pick-6 midway through the second quarter. But never fear, they came back with 21 unanswered for a 21-14 lead before MC tied it on the last play of regulation. Our story does have a happy ending, though, as UWF won 27-21 in overtime. The 14-point deficit overcome for a win was the third-largest in program history.
• Last season, UWF found itself trailing Delta State 21-6 at halftime before scoring 24 unanswered for a 30-21 victory. That 15-point deficit proved to be the second-largest overcome for a victory in UWF's brief 3-year history. In the 2017 regular-season finale at West Georgia, the Argos trailed 16-0 after the first quarter before claiming a 34-29 win that vaulted the Blue & Green into the NCAA Playoffs.
• The largest deficit overcome by a UWF team was at Valdosta State in the fourth game in program history when the Argos spotted the Blazers a 20-0 lead 8:46 into the game. UWF took a 28-27 lead late in the third quarter before falling 40-28.

UWF DOWNS MC IN OVERTIME THRILLER
• UWF ran its win streak to three games with a 27-21 come-from-behind win over Mississippi College three weeks agio in the first-ever overtime game in program history. The Argos also improved to 4-0 all-time against the Choctaws.
• UWF scored 21 unanswered points in a span of 17:19 over 4 possessions (the 1 non-scoring possession was the final 0:29 of the half) to take a 21-14 lead. 
• After scoring its second TD of the game early in the second quarter, MC had five punts and a fumble before tying the game on the final play of regulation. Those six possessions consisted of 23 plays for 63 total yards (2.7 yards per play).

ARGOS STORM PAST VUL IN HOME OPENER
• UWF rattled off 573 yards of total offense in a record-setting 69-0 win last week. The Argos also set records for points in a quarter (35 in the 2nd) and a half (42 in the first).
• The top three quarterbacks on the depth chart all played and either threw for or ran for at least one touchdown. Five running backs and two quarterbacks combined for 222 rushing yards and three touchdowns. A game after nine players caught passes at Shorter, 10 different receivers had a reception and three of them scored.
• The defense continued to make improvement, offering up the fourth shutout in program history and setting a school record for fewest rushing yards allowed with minus 12. They also forced two fumbles and T.J. Williams had a 44-yard interception return for a TD. Nate Holloway blocked a punt and Marcus Clayton returned it to the end zone for the second punt return TD of his career.

QUICK RECAP OF WEEK 2 WIN AT SHORTER
• Redshirt freshman QB Austin Reed threw for four TDs and ran for two as he tied current QB coach Kaleb Nobles for the program record of TDs responsible for.
• Redshirt senior WR Quentin Randolph had a career day as well, hauling in four balls for 117 yards and a touchdown. His catches went for 44, 51, six and 16 yards apiece. Senior WR Rodney Coates made seven catches to lead UWF as 10 different players caught at least one ball.
• The running game was also strong, led by junior RB Anthony Johnson, Jr. who carried the ball 14 times for 72 yards with five of his touches resulting in first downs. UWF finished with 26 first downs.
• UWF (1-1, 1-0 GSC) finished with 556 yards of total offense, including 140 on the ground. The total yards were the third-most in the school's 39-game history.

QUICK RECAP OF WEEK 1 LOSS TO CARSON-NEWMAN
• UWF lost a season-opener for the first time in the 4-year history of the program.
• The Argonauts saw 19 players make their UWF debut.
• J.C Robles started at quarterback and became the sixth player in school history to start at QB. Austin Reed came off the bench in the third series as predetermined by the coaching staff and played the remainder of the game. Reed is expected to start at Shorter. Reed threw for 194 yards on 15-of-29 passing with a TD and an interception, while also rushing for 33 yards on 12 carries. He was 6-for-9 for 90 yards in two drives in the fourth quarter.
• Sophomore Dawson Hamlin punted five times for a 44.2 avg with one downed at the 2-yard line and a 56-yard kick. His avg was the third-best in his 12-game career.

115 PLAYERS IN FALL CAMP, 5 WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREE
• UWF currently has 115 student-athletes on its roster entering the opening week of play. Since the program started filling out the roster in the Spring of 2015, the maturation levels have continued to rise throughout the program.
• Additionally, UWF has 5 players who have earned their undergraduate degree and are working towards a second. That places them fifth in Division II in 2019. They led the nation with 11 graduates playing a year ago.

UWF PICKED 4th IN GSC PRESEASON POLL, THREE ARGOS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-GSC
• A year removed from a 6-5 season that saw the team miss the NCAA Playoffs, the UWF football team was picked fourth in the 2019 GSC Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Additionally, three Argonauts – Samuel Antoine on offense, Trent Archie and Andre Duncombe, Jr. on defense – were named to the preseason all-GSC team by the league's nine head coaches.
• Antoine has been named All-GSC each of the last two years and returns for his senior season at tackle. The third-year player from Weston, Fla. has helped anchor an offensive line that averaged 351.4 yards of total offense over the past two seasons. 
• Archie, who sat out the 2018 season, has averaged 93 tackles in his two previous stints on the field as a safety and nickelback. The Mobile  Ala. product was the 2016 GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year and a Second Team All-Region selection. 
• Duncombe is a preseason honoree for the second-consecutive year and has 169 career tackles as an Argo. The linebacker from Miami, Fla. has a school-record 33.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 quarterback sacks.

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