• After winning four-consecutive road games, the 20th-rankedUWF football team travels to McKinney, Texas for the 2019 NCAA Division II Football National Championship against fourth-ranked Minnesota State on Saturday at 2 p.m. Central Time.
• The winner of Saturday's game will win their first football national title. Each team is 0-1 in championship games ... UWF lost to Texas A&M Commerce, 37-27, in 2017 ... MSU fell to CSU Pueblo, 13-0, in 2014.
UWF FOOTBALL 101
• UWF'sfirst season of competition was 2016 ... UWF is 34-17 all-time, 14-7 at home (5-0 in 2019), 20-9 on the road (7-2 in 2019) and 8-1 in the NCAA Playoffs.
• Saturday's game against Minnesota State is UWF's20thagainst a team ranked in the top 25, meaning that 20 of its 52 all-time games have come against ranked foes - 38.5 pct. UWF is 11-8 in the previous 19 and 8-1 in the postseason.
• Along those same lines, 19.2 pct. of UWF'sgames have been in the postseason. Going back to the 2017 postseason run, 9 of the last 30 games (30.0 pct.) have been in the postseason for the fourth-year program.
RIGHT ON SCHEDULE
• UWF played its 26thall-time game in the 2017 national championship. It will play its 52ndgame in its history Saturday in the 2019 national championship.
ABOUT UWF
• UWF enters on a 5-game win streak and 12-2 overall after finishing second in the Gulf South Conference with a school-record of 8-1. The Argonauts have established additional school records for home wins (5), longest winning streak (7) and best record after 13 games. The 11 victories have tied the school record set two years ago in the national runner-up season (11-4).
• The Argo offense is averaging 401.6 yards per game which ranks third in the GSC and 49thnationally. The 263.9 passing yards per game is also third in the league and 28thin the country.
• Not to be outdone, the UWF defense has been lights out for the majority of season and ranks 58thin the NCAA, allowing 341.5 yards per game. The scoring defense of 18.2 points per game is 23rdnationally. The Argos are 30thin the country in red zone defense, 21stin fewest passing yards allowed and first in fumbles recovered with 21. The UWF defense has forced at least one turnover in every game this season and in 47 of the 51 games in program history
• On special teams, UWF is third nationally in net punting - after ranking 12thin the country in 2018 - and 44thin punt return defense. They average 7.3 yards per punt return and 22.9 yards per kickoff return. Sophomore Dawson Hamlin was named Second Team All-Region and All-GSCand is fourth in the country with a 43.9 average.
ABOUT MINNESOTA STATE
• MSU is 14-0 on this season and has won three playoff games following a first round bye. The Mavericks went 11-0 in the NSICand extended their conference winning streak to 35 games. The Mavericks are making their 12thappearance in the NCAA Tournament this season. MSU owns a 14-11 overall record in NCAA postseason play.
• As a team, MSU is averaging 48.0 points and 514.6 yards of offense a game this season. The Mavericks are averaging 293.1 rushing yards a game. Nate Gunn leads the offense attack with 1,611 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, while KalebSleezerhas 704 yards and seven scores.
• On defense, the Mavericks have been very strong, limiting opponents to just 12.9 points and 244 yards per game. Opponents are gaining just 71.3 ypg on the ground. Opposing teams own a 26% conversion rate on third down this season and have reached the red zone just 21 times. MSU has totaled 47 sacks.
• Gunn and Shane Zylstrawere each named to various All-America teams. Zylstrahas been excellent with 70 catches for 1,513 yards and 17 TD.
SERIES HISTORY
• This marks the first meeting between the teams in football.
• UWF has never played a team from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
SHINNICKBITES
• Pete Shinnickwas hired as the first head coach in program history on Feb. 2, 2014. The Colorado (1988) graduate is 34-17 in four seasons at UWF.
• He is 137-63 in his 18thseason as a head coach, with previous stops at UNC Pembroke (50-24 from 2007-13) and Azusa Pacific (53-22 from 1999-2005).
• Shinnickwas named the 2017 AFCA& D2Football.com Division 2 National Coach of the Year after leading the Argonauts to the national championship game in just the second season of play. He was also the AFCARegion 2 Coach of the Year.
• With last week's victory over Ferris State, he improved to 8-3 as a head coach in the Division II Playoffs.
• He was 0-2 at UNC Pembroke. His 2009 team was ranked 13thbefore losing to Arkansas Tech, 41-13, on the road in Russellville, Ark. In 2013, the 8th-rankedand 2nd-seededBraves had a first-round bye but fell to 16th-rankedand 3rd seeded North Alabama, 37-13, in Pembroke, N.C.
• He also went 4-5 in the NAIA Playoffs while at Azusa Pacific from 1999-2005. The Cougars reached the national semifinals in 1999 & 2004.
UWF MAKES NCAA HISTORY AGAIN
• By virtue of its bid to the 2019 NCAA Playoffs, UWF has become the first football team in NCAA history to earn a postseason bid twice in the first four years of the program's existence.
• Two years ago the Argonauts made history with their first-ever tourney appearance, becoming the fastest startup program to reach the postseason. They followed that up with four-consecutive wins - all on the road against Top 25 teams - to reach the NCAA D2 National Championship Game.
UWF BECOMES NCAA D2 LEADER IN POSTSEASON WIN PCT.
• Regardless of the outcome of Saturday's national championship game, UWF will take over the top spot in the NCAA Division 2 Record Book as the winningestpostseason team in the division's history with a minimum of 10 games.
• With a victory, the Argonauts will be 9-1 with a .900 winning pct., and with a loss, they will be 8-2 with a .800 winning pct.
UWF HAS TWO WINS OVER #1 SEEDS, GOING FOR HISTORY SATURDAY
• UWF has defeated #1 seeds ValdostaState and Ferris State during its run to the title game. If the Argos defeat Minnesota State on Saturday, they would become the first team in D2 championship history - since the format expanded to five rounds in 2004 - to defeat three #1 seeds in the same tournament.
• The two wins match the record held by ValdostaState in 2004 & 2012, Northwest Missouri State in 2015 and Texas A&M Commerce in 2017.
COULD UWF BE A 2-LOSS CHAMPION?
• With a win on Saturday, UWF would become the seventh champion (an eighth had a title vacated) in Division 2 history to win the title with at least 2 losses and the first since ValdostaState in 2012.
• In 2017, UWF became just the fifth team to reach the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game with three losses.
UWF WINS FOUR ROAD GAMES EN ROUTE TO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME... AGAIN
• Two years ago UWF made history by winning four road games to reach the title game, becoming just the third school to accomplish that feat, joining Wayne State in 2011 and Northwest Mo. in 2005, since the tournament field expanded to 24 teams in 2004. The Argos did it again this year to become the fourth team to pull off the impressive feat - and the first school to do it twice.
UWF SETS NCAA RECORD WITH THREE POSTSEASON WINS OVER UNDEFEATED TEAMS
• As if winning four road playoff games wasn't cause for enough celebration, UWF's2019 run to the national championship game has seen the Blue & Green defeat three undefeated teams in ValdostaState, Lenoir-Rhyneand Ferris State. That is an NCAA Division 2 record, bettering the marks of two wins over undefeated teams by ValdostaState in 2004, 2012 & 2018, and Texas A&M Commerce in 2017.
GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE IN THE POSTSEASON
• In the last three seasons, seven different GSC teams have made the NCAA Playoffs.
• A GSC school has won a D2 best 11 national championships, with ValdostaState claiming the most recent one last season. The GSC has put a team in the national title game each of the last four years, with three different schools in the first three years with North Alabama in 2016, UWF in 2017 and ValdostaState in 2018 - marking the first time in D2 history that three different teams from the same conference made the title game in consecutive seasons.
• A GSC school has won the NCAA Division II Super Region 2, formerly the Southeast Region, crown 16 times in the last 18 seasons.
• Since Division II went to regionalizationin 1990, a GSC school has advanced to the national semifinals 23 times in 30 seasons.
GSC IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
• Of the current 16 NCAA Division II football conferences, only six have produced a football national champion. The Gulf South Conference leads with 11, going 11-8 in title contests. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is second with eight.
• The last Division II Football National Champion from the NSICwas Minnesota Duluth in 2010 & 2008. Minnesota State made the most recent appearance by a NSICteam in 2014 - a 13-0 loss to CSU Pueblo.
UWF WITH 25 SENIORS, 14 FROM THE INAUGURAL TEAM
• UWF has 25 seniors on its roster in 2019, with 14 of those student-athletes who have been part of all four teams in UWF program history - Ty Cox, Ethan Cruz, Andre Duncombe, Jr., Devin Gibson, Kevin Grant, Ed Kinnon, Gage Krull, Tate Lehtio, Stephen Mathews, Quentin Randolph, JerelRicketts, Chris Sakamoto, Josh Smiley and Daryl Wilson.
17 ARGOS MAKE SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCE
• UWF has 17 players among its Saturday dress roster who played in the 2017 national championship game.
UWF WITH NINE TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
• The UWF athletic department has won nine team national championships in its history, with men's tennis claiming the most recent of its four titles in 2017. Men's golf won in 2001 & 2008, baseball in 2011, women's soccer in 2012 and softball claimed an NAIA crown in 1993.
• UWF athletic teams nearly added more hardware two years ago in the 2017-18 academic year when football, women's tennis and men's golf all lost in the championship game/match of their postseason brackets.
PLAYOFF ROAD WARRIORS
• UWF has played nine NCAA Playoff games in its young history with eight of those on the road and one at a neutral site. The Argos are 8-0 in road playoff games, going 4-0 two years ago en route to the national championship game and 4-0 this season.
• In the last three years, UWF and Texas A&M-Commerce are the only schools to win seven or more playoff games away from home and the Argos are the only one to win at least eight contests at the opponent's home site.
ARGOS ROAD SUCCESS CONTINUES YEAR AFTER YEAR
• UWF has gone 7-2 on the road this season. The seven wins are tied for the highest total in the country with Minnesota State's 7-0 mark.
• The Argonauts are 21-9 all-time on the road in four seasons of play, including an 8-1 mark two years ago when they tied Harding for the most road victories in the country.
• After a 2-4 road mark in the 2016 inaugural season, UWF has had a winning record away from home each year - 8-1, 4-2 and 7-2.
UWF WITH TOUGHEST OWP IN THE COUNTRY
• According to the NCAA metrics on Strength of Schedule, UWF faced the toughest schedule in the country this season and the toughest among the four semifinalists.
• UWF'scumulative opposition's record is now 105-41 for a .719 winning pct. A&M Commerce's mark is second at 97-40 (.708).
• In the NCAA Playoffs, UWF has faced a 1-loss team in WIngateand undefeated teams in ValdostaState, Lenoir-Rhyne, Ferris State and Minnesota State. Those five teams have a combined record of 57-1 at the time of the game.
• Minnesota State's cumulative opposition schedule is .618 (102-63).
UWF WITH SUCCESS AGAINST UNDEFEATED TEAMS
• This week's game against unbeaten Minnesota State marks the 17thUWF opponent to enter the game without a loss at the time of the meeting. The Argonauts are 11-5 in those contests following the win over 13-0 Ferris State last week.
UWF WITH FAIR SHARE OF WEATHER GAMES IN BRIEF HISTORY
• Last Saturday's game-time weather in Big Rapids, Michigan was at 34 degrees and cloudy, marking the second-coldest game in program history. UWF has faced at times throughout it's 4-year, 50-game history.
Coldest Games in UWF History
Temp.* Weather Opponent Date Result
31 Cloudy at IUP 12/9/17 W, 27-17
34 Cloudy at Ferris State 12/14/19 W, 28-14
41 Rain, Sideways at West Georgia 10/19/19 W, 30-2
48 Sunny at West Alabama 11/10/18 L, 7-45
51 Sunny at Lenoir-Rhyne 12/7/19 W, 43-38
* Fahrenheit temperature at kickoff.
NINE ARGONAUTS RECEIVED BACHELOR'S DEGREE LAST WEEK
• Last Saturday's game had a double meaning for nine members of the UWF football team, as the university celebrated the 2019 Fall Commencement at the Pensacola Bay Center.
• Due to the conflict of being in Michigan for the national semifinal, UWF President Dr. Martha Saunders organized a special graduation ceremony for the student-athletes - Samuel Antoine, Ethan Cruz, Devin Gibson, Nate Holloway, Ed Kinnon, Gage Krull, Riley Metheney, Quentin Randolph and Joe Wintrick- and their families on Wednesday afternoon on campus where they were received by their college deans and other university dignitaries.
UWF ADDS TEAM IMPACT YOUTH TO ROSTER
• In August of this year, the UWF football team and Team IMPACT got together to add 9-year-old Logan Bush to the roster with a signing ceremony on Aug. 23. Bush is from Milton, Fla. (15 minutes East of UWF'scampus) and suffers from cystic fibrosis.
• Logan and his family have been honorary members of the team with access to the program, team meals, functions, sideline access and post game events throughout the season. Logan was also at the special graduation ceremony earlier this week for the nine UWF student-athletes who would not be present at the university's commencement on Saturday in Pensacola.
• For the national semifinals and again this week's national championship, Team IMPACT has paid for Logan, his 12-year-old brother Gavin and his parents, Michael and Michaela to fly to Michigan and Texas to attend the games.
• Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit organization that supports children with chronic illnesses and pairs them with college athletic teams, forming lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes. Learn more at GoTeamIMPACT.org.
QB COACH NOBLES LOOKING FOR SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP
• UWF quarterbacks coach KalebNobles is in the unique position of being able to win a national championship as a player and coach. He was redshirtedhis freshman season at ValdostaState when the Blazers won the title in 2012.
• Nobles transferedto UWF four years later and became the program's first-ever QB in 2016, throwing for 3,050 yards, 28 TDs and a school-record 277.27 yards per game as the Argos went 5-6.
• He joined Pete Shinnick'sstaff in 2017 as a graduate assistant working with the QBs and added the title of Director of Football Operations late that season.
• His father, Buddy, is a native of Jacksonville and been part of six Florida state-championship teams as an assistant coach before taking over as the head coach at Irwin County HS in Ocilla, Ga. in 2014. Irwin Co. reached four state championship games in the elder Nobles first five seasons before they got over the hump last week when they completed a 13-0 season with a Georgia Class A State Title.
• Buddy Nobles was diagnosed with stomach cancer late in the summer of 2019 and #NoblesStrongbecame a theme of support throughout south Georgia all year long by both Irwin supporters and schools across the region. Buddy was unable to travel this weekend but Kaleb'sbrother and sister are in McKinney.
ARGOS FINISH FERRIS STATE'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS
• UWF scored 21 unanswered points in the second half - 18 in the fourth quarter - and forced six turnovers in a 28-14 win over previously unbeaten Ferris State.
• UWF ended FSU's 14-game home winning streak and was just the second loss by the Bulldogs in the last two seasons.
• The six turnovers – including fumble recoveries on three-consecutive Bulldog drives in the second half – tied the school record set earlier this season at West Georgia. UWF scored 18 points off those miscues as they turned a 14-7 deficit into a 28-14 lead.
• UWF finished with 366 yards of total offense as Austin Reed threw for 299 yards with three touchdowns. He completed passes to six players, led by seven to Tate Lehtioas the program's all-time leading receiver had 118 yards, two touchdowns and caught a 2-point conversion.
ARGOS OUTRACE LENOIR-RHYNEFOR SUPER REGION 2 TITLE
• The 20th-rankedUWF football team went back and forth (but never trailed) with sixth-ranked Lenoir-Rhynebefore coming away with a 43-38 win in the 2019 NCAA Division II Football Championship quarterfinals at MoretzStadium last Saturday.
• The Argos put up 454 yards of total offense which included 360 yards passing and three touchdowns from freshman Austin Reed. Senior Quentin Randolph had 114 yards on eight receptions and a score. It marked his fourth 100-plus yard game of the season. Junior Rodney Coates had three catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
• UWF remained perfect in NCAA postseason playoff games on the road, winning its seventh in two appearances over the last three years. Additionally, the Argonauts ended the Bears' 15-game home winning streak – the longest active streak in Division 2. Last week, UWF halted ValdostaState's 14-game home field streak.
• Junior DB D'AnthonyBell had a strong game, finishing with seven tackles, a fumble recovery on a muffed punt, two pass break ups, a break-up on a 2-point conversion and the game-clinching interception with 1:03 to play.
UWF KNOCKS OFF DEFENDING CHAMP VALDOSTASTATE
• UWF executed a 75-yard scoring drive in 2:06 and scored the winning TD on a 1-yard Anthony Johnson, Jr. run with 6 seconds left to upset the Blazers, 38-35, in Valdostatwo weeks ago. Johnson ran for 73 yards on 18 carries with 3 TD.
• Tate Lehtiocaught a school-record 14 passes for a career-high 140 yards. He was targeted 15 times with the one non-catch being a ball thrown behind him on a QB scramble. He caught five passes for 62 yards on the final drive, including a 4th-and-8for 15 yards and a 3rd-and-Goalthat put UWF at the 1-foot line to setup the winning play.
• Austin Reed was 25-for-37 for 298 yards with a TD. In addition to Lehtio'seffort, Quentin Randolph had 72 yards receiving and Ka'RonAshley had 52 yards, including a 33-yard TD with 12 seconds remaining in the first half.
• UWF led 3-0 on a 27-yard Austin Williams FG on its first possession. It was the first time the Argonauts had not spotted the Blazers a 17-0 lead in the 5-game series. After VSU went up 7-3, UWF scored three TDs to lead 24-7. UWF led 31-14 at the end of the third quarter.
• UWF was 4-of-4 on 4th downs ... The Argos committed just five penalties for 35 yards.
• The win snapped VSU'sGulf South Conference record 25-game winning streak and it's 13-game home streak at Bazemore-HyderStadium. It was also the first time UWF beat VSU in five all-time meetings.
UWF DOMINATES WINGATE IN NCAA FIRST ROUND
• UWF scored 31 unanswered points and forced three turnovers to defeat fourth-seeded Wingate, 38-17, in the first round two weeks ago.
• Anthony Johnson, Jr. ran for 109 yards on 19 carries as UWF advanced to the second round for the second time in as many appearances. The Argos rushed for 195 yards and outgainedthe Bulldogs 360-264 overall.
• Austin Reed threw for 165 yards with eight completions and three of those going for touchdowns. Tate Lehtioled the team with five receptions for 81 yards a score.
• Quentin Randolph followed last week's career game with two more touchdowns on two catches. He has now caught five touchdowns in his last nine receptions.
FIVE STANDOUTS NAMED TO D2CCAALL-REGION TEAM
• The Argonauts were well represented on the D2CCAAll-Super Region 2 Team last week, with a record five players named to the first or second team. The five awardees were the fourth-most in the region.
• The lone first team representative is offensive tackle Samuel Antoine, who now moves on to the national ballot with the first team honorees from all four regions.
• UWF players on the second team included quarterback Austin Reed, offensive guard Joe Wintrick, defensive end Ian Bush and punter Dawson Hamlin.
RECORD 11 ARGOS NAMED TO ALL-GSCTEAMS
• For the third-consecutive year the UWF football team had a record number of student-athletes recognized by the Gulf South Conference as all-league performers, including quarterback Austin Reed who was named the Offensive Freshman of the Year.
• First team representatives included running back ShomariMason, wide receiver Tate Lehtio, offensive tackle Samuel Antoine, defensive lineman Ian Bush, nickelbackTrent Archie and special teams utility player De'MarcoArtis.
• Argos on the second team were Reed, wide receiver Quentin Randolph, offensive guard Joe Wintrick, linebacker KedrickBradley and punter Dawson Hamlin.
DEFENSE CONTINUES TO BE THE ARGOS' CALLING CARD
• The UWF defense has been solid just about every 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 23rdnationally in scoring defense, allowing 241 points for 18.5 points per game and has given up 30 TD (19 rushing/9 passing/2 INT) this season.
• The defense was especially stout from halftime of the Shorter game through the ValdostaState contest (7 and a half games), allowing just 10 TD in those 30 quarters.
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 109 second half points for a 8.4 points per half average. They have had three second half shutouts.
• The Argos have allowed just four touchdowns in the third quarter (1 each by Carson-Newman, Florida Tech, at ValdostaState (NCAA) and last week at Ferris State) and 11 TD and two FG in the fourth quarter.
• UWF has made excellent halftime adjustments, allowing fewer yards in the second half than the first in 10 games this season (it had the potential to be 11 but UWG went from 48 to 88 yards in that contest). The biggest changes came against ValdostaState in the first meeting when the Blazers went from 20 points and 374 yards to six points and 98 yards.
• Additionally, they have held seven teams to less than 100 yards after halftime.
ARGOS HAVE FORCED TURNOVERS IN 47 OF 51 GAMES
• The UWF defense forced a school-record six turnovers earlier this season at West Georgia and again last week at Ferris State. Those big plays extended the streak of consecutive games with a turnover to 14. The last time UWF didn't record a turnover was the finale at West Alabama last year.
• Further inspection shows the Argonauts have gotten at least one turnover in 47 of their 51 all-time games. UWF is 33-12 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 DarianDulinprior 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.
ARGOS CLUTCH ON 3RD & 4TH DOWNS
• UWF ranks in the top 10 nationally in both 3rd & 4th Down Conversion pct.
• The Argos are eighth in the NCAA in 3rd Down play, converting 87-of-176 attempts for 50 pct.
• UWF has gone for 4th Downs 12 times and been successful 9 times for a 75 pct. rate - good for 1st in the country.
PLAYING SMART
• UWF has averaged 54.7 penalty yards per game this season to rank 54thin the country.
• But in the last eight games, the Argos have averaged just 37.3 yards on 39 total penalties, with no more than five violations in any of those contests.
• In the four playoff games, the team has been whistled for 145 total yards - 35 against Wingate, Valdosta, 50 versus Lenoir-Rhyneand 25 at Ferris State.
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 44 of 50 times inside the red zone this season. That 85.5 pct. rate ranks 35thin the country.
• On the flip side of that, UWF ranks 30thin the country after allowing the opposition just a 70 percent conversion rate (23-of-35) inside the 20-yard line. Opponents have scored just 14 TDs and nine FGs in the red zone on 35 trips. The Argos have surrendered just six passing TDs inside the Red Zone.
REED LAYING FOUNDATION FOR SPECIAL CAREER
• Redshirtfreshman QB Austin Reed became the third player in program history to win a GSC Freshman of the Year award this season, joining current senior LB Trent Archie (Defensive FOY in 2016) and former QB Mike Beaudry(Offensive FOY in 2017).
• The St. Augustine, Fla. native averages 254.4 passing yards per game, has 34 passing TDs and a passing efficiency rating of 146.2.
• He is the first quarterback in program history to win his first seven starts and is currently 12-1 as a starter. He passed former QB Mike Beaudryas the UWF record-holder for wins as a starter with his win at Lenoir-Rhynelast week.
• He also hold all but one single-season passing mark at UWF (passing yards per game):
Year Quarterback Passing Yards Yds Per Gm. TDs
2016 KalebNobles, Sr. 3,050 277.27 28
2017 Mike Beaudry, R-Fr. 3,215 229.64 29
2018 Sam Vaughn, Sr. 2,201 244.56 20
2019 Austin Reed, R-Fr. 3,561 254.40 34
RANDOLPH, LEHTIOLEADING DEEP RECEIVER CORPS
• UWF has a strong group of receivers led by senior All-GSCselections Quentin Randolph and Tate Lehtio. Lehtiopaces the team with 82 receptions for 981 yards and 75.5 yards per game, and Randolph has 915 yards with a team-high nine touchdowns and 65.4 yards per game. He ranks 28thnationally with 19.0 yards per reception.
• Randolph leads UWF with 18 20-plus yard plays. Kevin Grant is second with seven (3 for a TD) and ShomariMason is third with six. Not to be outdone, Ka'RonAshley, Tate Lehtioand Rodney Coates all have five catches of at least 20 yards.
• The Argos have tossed 19 of their 51 20-yard passes for scores and three of their seven long play runs for a TD.
LEHTIOSETS UWF RECEPTIONS RECORDS...
• Senior WR Tate Lehtiopulled down his 137thcareer 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 202 receptions. With his 75-yard day at Florida Tech, he passed Griffin on the career receiving yards list and now has 2,324. Griffin held that mark with 1,697 from 2016-18.
• His 202 receptions rank eighth among active Division 2 players and 33rdamong all NCAA division players.
... AND HE'S ALSO KINDA SMART
• Lehtiois also an CoSIDAAcademic All-District selection this year. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business and a 3.8 GPA last December and is currently enrolled in the MBA program at UWF. He is a 2-time Gulf South Conference Academic Honor Roll recipient after being voted onto the team by the league SIDsboth years of his eligibility.
RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE
• The UWF rushing offense ranks 92ndin the country and seventh in the GSC at 137.7 yards per game. While that may not seem like daunting numbers, with the team's pass-oriented attack, the numbers are actually the best in program history, progressing higher than the previous season in each year of the program.
• The Argos have attacked the ground game with a quartet or rushers in junior Anthony Johnson, Jr., sophomore JervonNewton, freshman ShomariMason and sophomore Jaden Gardner - three of which rank in the top 20 of the GSC.
• Johnson is the elder statesman and leader of the group. He has a team-high 633 yards on 153 rushes in 2019 for a 4.1 yards per carry avg. and eight TD. He rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries with a TD in the playoff opener at Wingate four weeks ago. He tied the school record with three TD three weeks ago at ValdostaState.
• Newton is second in the group with 41.8 yards per game and a 4.1 yards per carry average, including two 100-yard performances. After missing the West Alabama and Wingate games, he returned against ValdostaState to rush for 55 yards and a TD on 10 carries with zero yards lost.
• Mason is arguably the most explosive in the group and has 416 yards on 64 carries for an eye-popping 7.7 per carry avg. - the third highest in the GSC and the highest by a RB. He has a pair of 100-yard performances against Delta State and at Florida Tech. He suffered a knee injury against West Alabama in the regular-season finale and is out for the remainder of the season.
• Gardner also has breakaway speed and is putting up 3.2 yards per rush over 70 carries. He had 15 rushes for 55 yards and a TD at Wingate.
WILLIAMS RESUMES PURSUIT OF GSC FIELD GOAL RECORD
• Senior PK Austin Williams made a pair of field goals last week at Ferris State, pushing his career total to 48 and moving into third place on the Gulf South Conference career field goals made list. Those 48 place him third among active Division 2 kickers in the country.
• He is just 9-for-18 on the season but has made 8-of-12 in the last eight games and at least one in each of the four NCAA Playoff contests (6-of-8 in the playoffs).
• Additionally, he now has 269 career points, extending his total as the program's all-time leading scorer. He has 48 career field goals and 127 career extra points.
UWF RETURNS TO NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Following the win over Delta State, UWF returned to the AFCAand D2Football.com Top 25 rankings at No. 25 in each poll.
• It marked UWF'sfirst 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 entered the 2019 playoffs at No. 19 following the UWA win. The program has now been ranked a total of 16 times in its history.
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.
• JervonNewton led the rushing sttackwith 75 yards on 15 carries.
• Austin Reed threw for 254 yards as seven different receivers caught a pass, led by Ka'RonAshley and Tate Lehtiowith 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. ShomariMason ran 10 times for 103 yards with a touchdown. Austin Reed completed 18 passes to nine different receivers, including Tate Lehtiowho 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.
• Redshirtfreshman 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.
• Redshirtsophomore JervonNewton 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'sbrief 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 ValdostaState 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
• Redshirtfreshman QB Austin Reed threw for four TDs and ran for two as he tied current QB coach KalebNobles for the program record of TDs responsible for.
• Redshirtsenior 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.
SENIORS/
GRADUATES JUNIORS
2016 5 14
2017 16 15
2018 27 40
2019 30 30
• 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-GSCteam by the league's nine head coaches.
• Antoine has been named All-GSCeach 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.
