First Reaction West Georgia
A long awaited return to the Bayfront ended in disappointment, with the Homecoming Argonauts falling 30-26 to the Wolves of West Georgia, UWF’s first loss in the past 12 games. In the first home game in 23 months, this was a game with wild swings of momentum. West Georgia came out hot and put together a 9 play 75 yard TD drive to take the early lead. The Wolves built up that lead over the 28 minutes of play, holding a 17-0 edge as play neared the end of the first half, but a phenomenal special teams play from Punter Steve Dawson landed UWG on the goal line. With just over a minute left in the game, and some advantageous field position after West Georgia kicked the free kick out of bounds. The Argos struck with a TD to Ka’Ron Ashley from 16 yards out to narrow the lead to 17-9 as the game closed out the half. UWF came out blazing in the second half, riding that momentum and reeling off 23 unanswered points, and taking a 23-17 lead with 6 minutes left in the 3rd. The Argos fumbled on the next drive which was returned for a TD, then settled for a FG on the ensuing drive taking a tenuous 26-24 advantaged early in the 4th. But today the final period belonged to the opponent, with West Georgia dominating the play count (25-11), yards (114-64), first downs (10-3), and time of possession. Most importantly the Wolves went 4-5 on 3rd downs, while the Argos went 0-2 on 3rd and 0-2 on 4th downs, and the visitors scored a go ahead TD with 10:41 left in the game.
Self Inflicted Wounds
There is no two ways around it, the Argos shot themselves in the foot and left opportunities on the field in all four quarters. On their first drive, West Florida had the ball 1st and goal from the 8, and walked away with no points after Jervon Newton and Austin Reed couldn’t quite break the plain on back to back plays. The Argos would only run 16 more plays in the next three drives, going punt, INT, punt. The interception, the first of two extremely costly turnovers, set the Wolves up with excellent field position at the UWF 35. A sluggish 9 plays and 35 yards later, 4:45 is drained from the clock and UWG takes a 17-0 lead in the middle of the 2nd quarter.
In the second half after UWF had clawed back to retake the lead, disaster struck again when it appeared Shomari Mason accidentally caused David Durden to fumble after a first down pickup. West Georgia not only pounced on the ball but returned it down the sideline for a touchdown. UWF went from potentially extending the lead to having it wiped out all in one play. West Florida settled for a long FG on their next offensive drive and finally the Argos were turned away on the goal line once again. UWF had 1st and goal from the 5 and was stuffed on a 1 yard rush a 0 yard rush and a 2 yard rush where UWF was assessed a 15 yard penalty. Reed hit Ashley to take it back down to the 7, but on 4th and goal Mason couldn’t quite squeeze the ball and it went over to the Wolves. UWF never regained possession.
Penalties were a huge issue throughout the game, with the Argos finishing with 11 for 104 and giving up 5 first downs to penalties. They hurt both in the number and the situations when they occurred. Getting backed up 15 yards away from the goal line, a holding on a first down scrambled on 3rd and 9, and substitution penalty on 3rd and 6 stick out as game affecting penalties.
Slow Start and Lack of Balance
For the second game in three weeks, West Florida fell into a big early hole against a conference opponent. It looked like a repeat of the Delta State game for most of the first half, with the Argonaut offense unable to put points on the board and the defense giving up three scoring drives out of five in the first half. West Georgia came out on their first drive and did what most teams have been able to do against this defense, score early. This was the 4th game where UWG yielded a TD on the opening drive of the game, diminishing the value of differing to the second half, and it was the 5th game the Argos have allowed their opponent to score first. Aided by an Austin Reed interception, the Wolves offense steadily marched on three offensive scoring drives of 9 plays 75 yards, 10 plays 57 yards, and 9 plays 35 yards in their first four attempts. Their two non scoring drives of the half started on their own 1 yard line.
West Florida did eventually get some momentum in the first half, pinning the Wolves deep on a punt that rolled all the way down to the 1 yard line. The defense buckled down and Stephon Williams was able to come up with a huge TFL for a safety on the goal line. When West Georgia kicked the free kick out of bounds, the Argos took over with excellent field position and was able to turn the safety into 9 points when Austin Reed found Ka’Ron Ashley for 16 yards and a TD with just a few seconds left on the clock in the first half. It was a great sequence to be able to close the lead from 17-0 to 17-9 in the final minute and change, but that means it also took almost 29 minutes for the offense to make an impact.
Early on the Argos couldn’t get anything going running 18 plays but averaging just 3 yards per play during the first quarter, and ticking that up to only 5.9 yards per play in the second quarter. They were really stymied by just 29 yards on 11 attempts, including a paltry 1.4 yards per carry on 8 attempts in the 1st quarter. UWF just couldn’t get the ground game going in general, nearly abandoning it in the second half with just 6 attempts and 15 yards. The 16 carries is a season low, and Shomari Mason coming off his first 100 yard game of the season was held to just 25 yards on 8 attempts.
Everything to Play For
This was a really tough loss. West Florida did not play their best game of football this season, but they played well enough to win. Unfortunately they played well enough to lose as well, and that was the way the cards fell for the Argos. I think that they’re going to turn on the tape and see a lot of missed plays, balls that just barely bounced the other way, and costly mental errors that came at big moments during the course of the game. The good news is one loss doesn’t keep you out of the playoffs, especially if the Argos win out with upcoming games against West Alabama and Valdosta State. UWF needs to continue to grow from this point through the end of the season if they want to live up to their potential.
And as for growth there was plenty of positive to take from this game. The Argos offense didn’t pick up until the 2nd quarter but they went on to outgain West Georgia 454-359 on the night. The offense made four trips to the red zone, and had six drives of 50 or more yards. They moved the ball, especially in the 3rd quarter, which saw the score twice and take the lead for the first time. West Florida blew up in the 3rd period throwing for 225 yards and nearly quadrupling West Georgia in total yardage for the period. The defense got two big stops, and allowed the offense to complete a 23-0 run.
Individually Ka’Ron Ashley finally had his breakout game of the year, finishing with 169 yards and 3 TD and averaged 14 yards per catch. He was nearly unstoppable in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, best exemplified in the series where he caught his 3rd touchdown. He caught a 16 yard TD but the play was called back on an ineligible man downfield penalty. Backed up five yards it appeared that UWF went back to the same play and Ashley caught another TD on the same route, just five yards deeper this time. I have been waiting for him to have his big game, and he showed out.
Austin Reed also had one of his best games of the season so far. I’m sure he would like some of throws back, but he connected for a season high 31 of 52 and 410 yards through the air. It was his third game of the season of at least 60% completions, and he threw 3 TDs against just 1 INT. Reed his seven different receivers with at least one catch, and five players with at least 40 receiving yards.
Defensively, the Argos held Harrison Frost to just 269 yards and 6.5 yards per attempt, both below his season averages. The 269 yards is his lowest output of the year. The Wolves also couldn’t get much going on the ground, tallying less than 100 yards rushing despite taking 34 attempts. The run game did come up with some clutch play when it mattered, especially on that game sealing final drive, but a game long 12 yard rush and less than 3 yards per carry is a game the defense should be happy with. Slade was held to his second worst output of the season in yards, and his worst game for yards per reception, although he did score a TD.
