West Alabama drops home opener, 20-0
By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Sept. 5, 2004
LIVINGSTON, Ala. The weather was clear here on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Stadium but the visiting Golden Tigers rained on the University of West Alabama's home opener with a 20-0 victory.
Tuskegee used two huge plays and a pair of field goals to knock off the homestanding Tigers, which fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss.
The Golden Tigers scored on a blocked field goal return and had an 89-yard touchdown pass in the contest. West Alabama struggled to sustain drives in the defeat.
"It's frustrating," said West Alabama head coach Sam McCorkle. "I thought we were moving the ball at times but we couldn't finish up the drives."
Tuskegee moved the ball early in the game and moved within the 30-yard line on each of its first two drives.
The UWA defense stepped up and used an interception by Zeb Ellison on the first possession and a fourth down stand to keep the Golden Tigers off the board.
Tuskegee came up with the next big play, however, and changed a UWA scoring chance into a seven-point lead.
West Alabama set up to attempt a 47-yard field goal but the kick was blocked by Kenneth Henderson and Dimitri Patterson picked it up and carried it 62 yards for the touchdown.
"After Kenny blocked it I concentrated on it while it was in the air and got it into the end zone," said the senior defensive back of the touchdown. "I felt like a little kid in a candy store. My eyes got so big all I could see was the orange cones."
"That was pretty big," said McCorkle of the play. "That was a 10-point play with the seven they got and the three we missed. I want to take the blame. We probably shouldn't have tried the field goal and should have punted. At the time you are trying to win the game and you want your guys to have confidence."
The Golden Tigers moved down the field in the final minutes of the second half to pick up three more points.
Tuskegee took over on its own 16-yard line with 2:15 left in the half and drove down the field on 10 plays and Travis Gumbs hit a 45-yard field goal to make the score 10-0.
Gumbs added a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter, but UWA was able to play solid defense in the second half to keep the Tigers close.
West Alabama pinned the Golden Tigers at their own 11-yard line and looked to gain momentum. The tide quickly changed on the first play from scrimmage as Kevin Huff hit Calvin Russell for an 89-yard touchdown.
"We knew we could beat them deep in the passing game," said Russell. "The corner back was five yards off the line and I ran a streak. I just blew by him. He deflected it a little bit and it just went up in the air and I grabbed it."
"That would about have to be the back breaker," said McCorkle. "We kept thinking we had them backed up and we also felt like we could block one of their punts. I just kept thinking we were going to get them and get a punt block or something and get a big momentum boost but when they get a big bomb they don't have to punt."
Tuskegee was able to control the ball for most of the fourth quarter and held on to take the 20-0 victory and move to 2-0 for the season.
"I thought late in the game our defense got tired a little bit but they were out there way too long," said McCorkle. "They had the ball an awful lot and they made some big plays in the second half to keep the ball."
West Alabama will try to overcome the 0-2 start but will have its hands full next week when the Tigers will host Gulf South Conference foe Delta State.
"Our kids want it," said McCorkle. "I don't think there is any doubt. I believe in them."
We've just got to pull together."
