DEMOPOLIS, Ala. —
The No. 12 University of West Alabama Tigers started the 2010 season with a roar Saturday night, cruising past Shorter University 37-7 in the RockTenn Classic at Demopolis High School to begin the season 1-0. The Hawks fall to 0-1 with the loss.
Deon Williams was particularly impressive in the winning effort as the senior moved his name forward in the UWA record books as he sits now fourth all-time in total offense. He entered the contest needing just 173 yards to move past Kenneth Jones and the Tuscaloosa, Ala., native now has 4,433 yards of total offense for his career.
UWA started out of the gates on fire as the defense forced a three-and-out on Shorter’s first possession. The Tigers proceeded to then march 75 yards for their first score on the night as T-Ray Mitchell capped off the drive with a 37-yard romp into the end zone.
The Red and White threatened to tack on another score on its next offensive possession, but the Shorter defense stuffed the Tigers on four straight plays inside the 2-yard line.
Not wanting to come up entirely unrewarded, the UWA defense capitalized and earned a safety after Justin Hawkins forced Caleb Collins out of bounds in the end zone to give the Tigers a 9-0 lead with just seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The defense finished the evening not allowing a score as Shorter’s lone touchdown came late in the contest on a punt return and the unit limited the Hawks to just 66 yards of offense, four first downs and no completed passes.
The teams exchanged several fruitless drives in the second quarter before the Tigers added to their lead as Williams found an open Eric McDonald to connect for a 42-yard touchdown with 4:53 remaining in the second stanza.
Following a forced fumble and recovery by the stout UWA defense, the Tigers wasted no time taking advantage of the Shorter miscue. Williams again hit one of his targets for a long strike as Randy Lowery scampered 39 yards into the end zone just 1:21 after the previous score, giving UWA a 23-0 advantage at the half.
The Tigers added another pair of scores in the second half as Williams recorded his third passing touchdown, finding Gerald Worsham in the end zone on a 6-yard strike with 3:58 left in the third quarter. UWA added another score early in the fourth as Gary Johnston found Blake Plate from 2 yards out.
Williams finished the evening 20-28 for 329 yards and the three touchdowns. He was intercepted once. Leading the way on the ground for UWA was Mitchell who recorded 86 yards.
Brock Sharp finished the night 5-5 on extra points.
UWA returns to action on Thursday as the Tigers travel to the University of Arkansas at Monticello in the GSC-TV Game of the Week. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Cotton Boll Stadium.
Sports
Tigers tame Hawks in RockTenn Classic
- Sports
-
-
Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
Eric Neel spent three seasons coach at East Central. The Hornets played in three state championship games.
Neel then coached the past three years at Wayne County, leading the War Eagles to three straight Class 5A fast-pitch state crowns.
And now, he doesn’t see why the same can’t occur at Quitman. After guiding Wayne County to its third straight championship Saturday, Neel resigned his position in Waynesboro on Thursday to replace Kacie Roberson at Quitman. -
Unexpected Honor
Winning a state championship, that Blake McMullen expected.
To be named the Player of the Year in Class 3A by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, that caught the Southeast Lauderdale senior off guard. -
RCA’s Lee and pair of Generals chosen for All-Star tilt
Russell Christian Academy senior Camryn Lee and Newton County Academy duo Clay Upton and Dillon Williams will wrap up their senior seasons today.
The local trio will play in the MAIS All-Star Class A game at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson at 2 p.m. The Class AA-AAA game will follow. -
McFarland named first-team All-American for Jones County
The honors continue to come in for the Jones County Junior College softball program.
Pitcher Ginger Lonergan and centerfielder Relanda McFarland were both named to the NJCAA Division II All-American first-team on Thursday. -
A Family Affair
Five days. Two state titles. One family.
It’d be hard to find a family that had a better week than the one Robbi and Shay Cooper just experienced. -
Roundup — Stephens receives Sekul Award
Adding to his impressive collection of coaching hardware, East Mississippi Community College head football coach Buddy Stephens was presented with the 2011 George Sekul Award during the All-American Football Foundation’s Banquet of Champions held earlier this month at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
-
The Drought Is Over
All Mason Irby was hoping for was to find a way on base.
The Southeast Lauderdale sophomore did that and so much more. Irby's single with two outs in the seventh inning broke a tie, lifting the Tigers to a 6-3 MHSAA Class 3A state championship win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday, and handing Southeast (32-7) its first title since 1966. -
Ramey shines again, hurls Tigers to MHSAA Class 3A crown
The bar was set pretty high.
After all, Southeast Lauderdale senior right-hander Colby Ramey needed just 65 pitches to beat Kossuth in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game Thursday.
However, according to fellow senior Blake McMullen, Ramey cleared the hurdle Wednesday when he scattered eight hits on 104 pitches to finish off the Aggies in a 6-3 state championship-clinching win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday. -
Southeast wins MHSAA Class 3A Championsip
Slideshow from the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game between Southeast Lauderdale and Kossuth.
-
Briarwood to host Emerald Coast Golf Tour in June
Professional golf is coming to Meridian.
The Emerald Coast Golf Tour will be holding the Meridian Pro-Am Classic at Briarwood Country Club June 26-29. - More Sports Headlines
-
Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
