UWA hoping for road win

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Tomorrow marks an opportunity for the University of West Alabama Tiger football team to guarantee a winning season for the first time since 1992.

They roll into Monticello, Ark., to clash with the University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils for a Gulf South Conference game.

The Tigers go into tomorrow&8217;s game with a 5-3 overall record, 3-3 in the GSC. It will be the second of three straight road contests. They dropped a tough 16-14 decision to Valdosta State University last week.

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VSU is ranked 14th nationally and is in a for-way tie for second place in the GSC.

Arkansas-Monticello (1-7, 1-4) has lost its last five games.

The Boll Weevils have played two 1AA teams this season, Sam Houston State and Northwestern State, losing to both. They have also taken on University of North Alabama two weeks ago, losing 47-7.

In addition, they lost in double-overtime to West Georgia last week. Arkansas-Monticello was picked in pre-season to finish behind West Alabama. It&8217;s another incentive for them to play hard.

The Tigers will look to minimize turning the ball over.

In addition to last week&8217;s lost, Coach Wallace is referring to the 24-16 set back at Harding University earlier in the season.

UWA offensively wants to run the ball well to take the pressure off of quarterback James Reiter.

West Alabama remain first in the GSC in rushing offense (218.5), second in rushing defense (96.8) and third in scoring offense (30.9) and total offense (385.8).

The games between these two squads are usually close. The last five games have been won by seven points of less, including UAM&8217; 21-17 win in Livingston last season. However, UWA has won the last two meetings in Monticello. The Tigers won a 24-23 thriller in 2004.