Carrollton, Ga. – September 24, 2005 – Saturday night at Grisham Stadium, the West Georgia Braves scored in nearly every way possible en route to a 58-21 blasting of Arkansas-Monticello. The 58 points were the most for a UWG squad since the 1998 season.
The Braves’ offense was up-and-down the field all night, rushing for 273 yards and five touchdowns as well as passing for 193 yards for a whopping 466 yards.
West Georgia received the opening kickoff and the ofense sputtered early, going three-and-out on the first series. But on the punt, All-America Jeff Carpenter’s only punt of the night, the Boll Weevils Von Mixon mishandled the catch, giving the ball back to the Braves at the UAM 20.
Three plays later, Stan Rowe found a seam in the Monticello defense, blasting through for a 10-yard touchdown and a 7-0 West Georgia lead.
But the Braves returned the favor on the ensuing possession, holding the Weevils to a three-and-out and forcing a punt. On the punt, Larico Stevenson bobbled the catch, fumbling and giving UAM the ball on the UWG 17. Six plays later, Matt Fryfogle pounded in from four yards out to tie the score at seven.
After Beau Whitmire returned the kickoff to the Braves 40, West Georgia mounted another drive. The march ended in similar fashion, with Rowe crossing the goal line, this time from 32 yards out.
The UWG defense forced another three-and-out, and the offense wasted little time driving back down the field, going 41 yards in four plays for the score. The touchdown was on the ground again, this time a 15-yarder from Abe Felix
With the score 28-7, the Boll Weevils mounted a comeback, scoring twice in a one-minute span to pull within a score at 28-21. The second touchdwon came off of a Rowe fumble at the UAM 34.
The Braves scored once more before the first half ended, heading into the locker room leading 35-21. The first half was wild, as the fans at Grisham saw 56 points and 444 yards of offense between the two teams.
But as crazy as the first half, the second half was just as strange. The Braves scored four times in the half, with two touchdowns coming from the defensive imports from Clemson University.
Brandon Jamison blocked a field goal attempt and picked up the ball, rumbling 66 yards for the score. Kelvin Morris intercepted a screen pass later in the half, outracing the UAM offense 54 yards to the end zone.
Felix was the Braves’ leading rusher on the night, carrying the ball 18 times for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Quarterback Keats Baldwin was 12-of-23 for 188 yards on the night, including a 30-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Williams
West Georgia travels to Russellville, Ark. next week for a huge GSC matchup with nationally ranked Arkansas Tech.