By Bill Vilona
GoArgos.com Senior Writer 
 
The game's outcome was never going to be in question.

Rather, it was how the UWF football team answered emphatically with its performance, which left the biggest impression from the 11^th-ranked Argos 52-3 victory Saturday night against Warner University in a new era, season-opener at Pen-Air Field. 

"I challenged them on what was their identity going to be going into this game and how we are going to handle it," said UWF coach Pete Shinnick. "This showed me they are going to play 60 minutes and they are going to get after it. We can build on that.

"I love how we competed, how hard we played."

An overflow crowd of 4,451 delighted in watching the Argos score touchdowns on their first six offensive possessions, then kick a field goal on their final, first-half series, to build a 45-0 halftime lead.

"It was part of the wowing debut of junior quarterback Byron "Peewee" Jarrett, who threw four touchdown passes, all in the first half. Seven different UWF players scored touchdowns. 

"With me being one of the new guys I have tried to approach this as, it's (established players) show, and I'm just fitting in," said Jarrett, a Des Moines, Iowa native and a first-team, National Junior College All-American last season at Iowa Central Community College. "There are a lot of guys on this team who have put in the work way before me.

"It felt great to see everyone smiling and making plays," Jarrett said.

Remarkably, the Argos produced this efficiency without senior David Durden, the team's top receiver in 2021 and on the Reese's Senior Bowl watch list, along with the third top returning receiver, Jared Smith.

Both were held for precautionary reasons, Shinnick said, in order to be full strength for the first road game next week and first Gulf South Conference game when UWF next plays at Pen-Air Field on Sept. 24.

"We knew (Warner) was a team that we felt we'd match up pretty well with, but with so many new pieces and so many new guys, you are still trying to figure out what you have," Shinnick said. 

"Not playing David, who was recovering from an injury and Jared --- we sat out about 8-10 guys who I think are key pieces for us offensively and defensively --- just to keep it safe, make sure we are moving in the right direction. 

"So to be where we are, I couldn't be more pleased with what our guys were able to do."

They were complimented by a UWF defense that yielded only two plays longer than 15 yards, along with five quarterback sacks and two turnovers. 

"We executed well," said linebacker Devin Thomas, who had an interception. "We ran to the ball. It was a good first time being live against an opponent. We played played fast, we went out there and played hard for 60 minutes. 

Apart from the game, there was the experience.

Saturday represented another milestone moment in UWF's still-emerging football history. The game launched the first full season of home games on campus. 

After deciding in February to permanently move to Pen Air Field, the Argos athletic administration raced against time to get chairback seating on the home sideline, bleacher seating on the visitors' sideline - - each portable set of stands holding 2,000. Food trucks were arranged, a large video board set up, banners, VIP areas, tailgating and Argo Walk with players' procession before the game.

"We've talked before about what are these different moments like," Shinnick said. "Now that this is our future, and we are going to be here moving forward, I couldn't ask for a better environment a better setting to get it established. 

"I am extremely thankful for (athletic director) Dave Scott and his leadership and team to put this together in the last seven months. The people who did all the things to make this place look the way it did. 

"The visiting team (Warner) comes in and says, 'Hey when did you build this?  Well, last week," Shinnick added, jokingly. 

"It was just extremely impressive to make it look the way it did and create that environment. Our guys loved it.. and to play the way we did, that's what you want."

The Argos received what they hoped from so many newcomers on offense. 

Caden Leggett, a transfer from Texas Tech, caught four passes for 107 yards and the game's first two scores. The second one was the most spectacular when he hauled in a perfect 51-yard spiral from Jarrett that dropped into Leggett's arms right in the back corner of the end zone. 

This ball was effortlessly thrown by Jarrett half the length of the field and was right on target. 

"Yeah, we'd like for him to a have a little stronger arm," said Shinnick, jokingly, with a wry smile as he looked to the back of the room at Jarrett.

"We have so much fun together each day at practice," Leggett said.  "And it's backyard football. Throwing it deep… and everyone loves throwing it deep and running under it. And then, Boom!"

"We clicked the moment we got here. It felt like another day at practice just running under the ball.

The Argos' scored the game's first touchdown after going for it on fourth down-and-one from their own 39. Those two scores were two minutes apart. It triggered touchdowns in bunches. 

Running back Shomari Mason joined the party with his 2-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Jakobe Quillen then caught a 5-yard TD pass after another quick possession by Warner. 

Ra'veion Hargrove created a highlight reel with his 6-yard rush were he made five tacklers miss.

"I'm not sure we blocked anyone on that one," Shinnick said. "We pitched the ball to the weak side. We had a missed (blocking) assignment and the tight end missed a guy. And I look up and we are scoring a touchdown. He is extremely dynamic."

Nate Howard then raced past Warner's secondary for a 43-yard score to complete a six-for-six possessions to touchdowns ratio. 

After playing the first series of the third quarter, Jarrett and much of the first-team offense came out for the second team. Michael Rich Jr. threw a touchdown pass in limited work. 

The Argos then went into their locker room after the game to continue a ritual of fight song chanting and water bottle spraying. 

"I've never been part of a team that celebrates every win the way we do. It makes everyone happy, boosts morale," Leggett said. 
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
WHO: UWF Argos vs. Southwest Baptist Bearcats
WHEN: Sept. 10, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Bolivar, Missouri
RADIO: ESPN Pensacola (99.1 FM, 1330 AM).