UWA to host Harding
By Staff
from school reports
Oct. 2, 2003
LIVINGSTON, Ala. Following a tough 47-17 loss at the hands of perennial GSC power Delta State, the University of West Alabama football team will look to get back on track when Harding (1-2, 0-2 GSC) comes to Tigers Stadium on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Senior signal caller Brett Gilliland continues to lead a UWA offense that averages 327.2 yards per game with 970 yards on 77-of-134 passing to go along with seven touchdowns. Gilliland now stands just 288 passing yards shy of Marty Washington's UWA career record of 5,018 set in the early 1990s.
Junior Derick Spellers continues to pace a Tiger ground attack that has not quite gotten on track in 2003 with 146 yards on 36 carries. Senior Presley Gilmore has 80 yards on 28 carries, including a 41-yard burst versus Delta State, UWA's longest run from scrimmage this season. Will Harter caught seven passes versus DSU, and continues to pace all UWA receivers with 19 catches for 257 yards and two scores.
Harding brings an offense that has not taken off yet into Saturday's contest. The HU ground attack averages a mere 39 yards per contest to go along with a 225.3-yard average per game through the air. The Bison offense has scored 34 points in HU's first three contests (11.3 points per game), with 22 of them coming in an opening win over East Central.
DeJuan Patton leads all Harding rushers with 97 yards on 27 carries. Dondtray Thomas has appeared in all three games, and has totaled 77 rushing yards on 29 carries. Freddie Langston has completed 47-of-88 passes for 567 yards and three scores to go against eight interceptions. Demarcus Calhoun has proved to be Langston's favorite target, hauling in 24 catches for 290 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, UWA allows 414.2 yards per contest (132.8 rushing and 281.5 passing). Zeb Ellison leads all UWA defenders with 21 solo tackles and 29 total to go along with one interception. Junior Ra-Shun Judge continues to play well, and has also totaled 29 tackles, including 15 solos and two pass breakups, while teammate Ben Neal leads all Tiger defenders with seven tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks.
Tim Polk leads a stingy Harding defense that allows only 318 yards per game with 27 tackles, including 12 solos and three for a loss. Torrance Daniels is also having a big season for the HU defense, and has 21 total tackles, including a team leading five for a loss and one interception.
West Alabama and Harding will meet for the 11th time on Saturday.
