PENSACOLA, Fla. – In the week of preparation, UWF's football team became focused on proving their lofty status.

With an emphatic performance in a 55-6 rout of West Virginia State on Saturday at Pen Air Field, the No. 3-ranked Argos exceeded the goal.

UWF quickly blew open the game with 20-points in the second quarter, then utilized most of their roster to remain unbeaten and set up the finish line showdown with two conference rivals that will define the season.

"I told them I want to find out what kind of team we are," said UWF coach Kaleb Nobles. "So, they showed me (Saturday) what kind of team they are, and that we can be ready to play against anybody. We know that we basically have playoff games moving forward and we got to be prepared to do our job and play at a high level."

The win was UWF largest margin of victory this season. It featured 15 players who touched the ball either on runs or receptions, along with three quarterbacks used.

"It's great to do it… and it's really one of the first games we've been able to do that and get some guys in there who have never played college football so that was huge to do that our home," Nobles said.

The Argos amassed 240 rushing yards, 238 passing yards in a rare equal blend of balanced attack. Running back TJ Lane led the backfield with 67 yards and three touchdowns.

"It was really big (on balance) and that's really a testament to our o-line," Lane said. "We go to work during the week and everything we see during the week shows up on Saturday."

The Argos will now turn attention to the Nov. 1 road game against No. 7-ranked Delta State (7-1), which won a 41-38 shootout in its game Saturday at West Alabama.

"We know that we basically have playoff games moving forward and we got to be prepared to do our job and play at a high level," Nobles said.
 
Here's how Saturday's game unfolded.

FIRST HALF
After the Argos defense forced a quick three-and-out on the game's opening possession, UWF quarterback Marcus Stokes pulled off reverse flea flicker to tight end Jake Robinette for a 39-yard score. It capped a nine play drive.

UWF then scored on three of its next five possessions, including Robinette's second touchdown catch on a third down play from the West Virginia State 7 with four seconds remaining.  The Yellow Jackets did not make a first down in the first quarter.

The final score of the half was set up by Ja'Kobe Clinton's fumble recovery on a strip sack by Argos lineman Lorenzo Payne at the WVS 49 with 38 seconds remaining.

On a third down pass, Stokes connected with Corey Scott on a 34-yard pass to the 3. At halftime, UWF had outgained the Yellow Jackets 287-52 and allowed just four first downs.
 
SECOND HALF
UWF's 27-0 halftime lead was extended on the first possession of the third quarter. UWF completed a 7-play, 70-yard drive when Lane rushed in from the 1. The big play was Stokes' 49 yard pass to Mikaiah Stevenson to the WVS 17.

It became 41-0 when Lane rushed in from the 5 with 3:44 remaining. This score was set up by Tony Newsome's 34 yard punt return to the WVS 6.

At this point, UWF began playing its reserves, which included quarterbacks Tony Bartalo and Ty'Ray Davis. It was Davis who scored UWF's final points on a 20-yard run that completed a 12-play, 76 yard drive consuming more than seven minutes off the clock.

Bartalo threw a 4-yard touchdown pass earlier in the fourth quarter to Kendrick Watkins-Hogue. UWF finished with 478 yards total offense and punted just once in the game.

KEY PERFORMANCES

•   QB Marcus Stokes completed 14 of 27 passes for 234 yards, two touchdowns and he was sacked just once in the game.
•   RB TJ Lane had 14 carries for 67 yards, three touchdowns and averaged 4.8 yards per-carry. 
•   RB Jay Sharp had 66 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown.
•   WR Corey Scott had five catches for for 67 yards.
•   TE Jake Robinette had both of his catches result in touchdowns.
•   LB Ja'Kobe Clinton led the defense with nine tackles, including two sacks and three stops for lost yardage.
•   DB Chester Fearon had the team's lone interception Saturday, along with three solo stops.

 
COACH NOBLES
"Excited about how guys played and really excited about how they prepared. That's the big part, because I challenged them this week that it's not about the results, it's not about who we are playing. It's easy to get up for a Lenoir Rhyne or it's easy to get up for the games as the season goes on, especially after a bye week. It's easy to get up for a West Alabama (the Argos opponent the previous week)."
 
NEXT UP: UWF will travel Friday to Cleveland, Mississippi (369 miles) for their longest Gulf South Conference road trip of the season. The game will be played at 3:00 p.m. and can be watched on the FloCollege network (subscription required). This game will essentially determine the GSC champion.