Weevils Want a Win

   After Saturday’s 42-0 home loss to the University of North Alabama, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (0-3, 0-1 GSC) find themselves looking for something – anything – to change the momentum against this year’s team.

   They hope that their hard work and efforts will pay off Saturday, as they travel to Livingston, Ala., for a Gulf South Conference tilt with the University of West Alabama Tigers.

   The Tigers enter Saturday’s game at 2-1 after knocking off a pair of NAIA schools (Concordia 34-12 and Lambuth 37-0) before being dealt a 43-14 setback at No. 7 Delta State.

   The Weevils know that in order to compete in Saturday’s game, their offense will need to step up and perform against a West Alabama defense that surrendered 554 yards of total offense to Delta State.

   “We have to get better,” offensive coordinator Tyler Peterson said. “That’s all there is to it. We need to step up and perform.”

   While the UAM offense has struggled all year, their start hasn’t been the slowest start in recent memory – the 1961 Boll Weevils squad managed to score only seven points through their first three games.

   The offensive struggle has been even across the board thus far for the Weevils – the Boll Weevil offense has only averaged 185.7 yards per game while the defense has allowed 492.7 yards per game. However, even in a difficult loss such as last Saturday’s, the coaching staff still sees a few rays of hope.

   “We didn’t give up the deep ball this week,” assistant head coach Donald Dykes said. “Our defensive backs were able to keep the receivers in front of them and take away the long threat.”

   Indeed, UAM’s defensive numbers improved their standing to ninth in the GSC in total pass defense. However, the UAM defense has allowed 274 rushing yards per game, worst in the GSC by 109 yards.

   Highlighting UAM’s defensive efforts thus far has been the play of DeMathus Ledet, who leads the Gulf South Conference with 33 tackles.

   This week’s opponent features a balanced offensive attack led by the efforts of Jerin Wright on the ground and the tandem of James Reiter and Chris Coach in the air. The UWA pass offense ranks 11th in the Gulf South Conference, while their rushing offense ranks seventh, as the Tiger backs combine for an average of 136.7 yards per game.

   Saturday’s game marks the 18th meeting between the two schools, with UAM holding a 9-8 all-time advantage in the series. Livingston University knocked off Arkansas A&M 21-6 in the first meeting between the two schools in 1962, but Arkansas A&M won the next four meetings in 1963 (17-0), 1964 (14-0), 1965 (9-6) and 1966 (20-14). Livingston won 17-13 in 1967, and the two schools did not meet again until 1991; with Livingston winning meetings in both 1991 and 1992.

   Livingston changed their name to the University of West Alabama in 1996, and the two teams have played every year since.

   The Tigers have won the last two meetings between the two teams, both in Monticello; as last year the Tigers took advantage of an injury to QB Cory Allred and a missed extra point to take home a 24-23 victory.

   The Weevils have won their last two games in Livingston (2001 and 2002), last losing in Tiger Stadium in 1998. Kickoff from Livingston is set for 7 p.m.

Unable to Tame Lions

   The Boll Weevils were unable to contain a high-powered attack by the University of North Alabama Lions (2-0, 1-0 GSC), falling 42-0 in their home opener before a crowd of 3,413 at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello.

   The UNA defense stifled the Weevil offense, forcing UAM to punt 11 times and fumble the other two times the Weevils held the ball.

   The Lions opened scoring with seven first-quarter points and then erupted for 14 points apiece in both the second and third quarters before finishing the fourth quarter with seven points.

   While the Weevils had relied on their running game to move their offense in the season’s first two games, the UNA defense stifled the UAM running attack, allowing just 50 rushing yards on 33 carries. Conversely, the Lions ran the ball with precision, carrying 47 times for 331 yards. The Lions were equally effective in the air as quarterback Vinnie Saylor completed 15 of 30 passes for 176 yards. UAM quarterback Anthony Rodriguez was 9 of 26 for 87 yards in the air.

   Leading the way for the Weevils on the ground was fullback Matt Fryfogle whose 41 yards on seven carries paced UAM. UNA had two backs in triple digit yardage as DeMarcus Blount had 20 carries for 139 yards and three touchdowns, and Eric Packer had 17 carries for 1 touchdown.

   In his banner day, Blount tied the Gulf South Conference mark with 53 career touchdowns.

   The overworked Weevil defense struggled against a UNA offense that racked up 507 total yards with Ledet and Jamarrick Johnson providing the lead on defense as Ledet led all players with 15 tackles (eight solo, seven assists) while Johnson added 11 (three solo, eight assists). Ledet also picked up the game’s only interception during a one-minute stretch at the end of the first half that saw three turnovers between both teams.

   The Weevils will return to action Sept. 17 as they travel to Livingston, Ala. to face the West Alabama Tigers. Kickoff from Livingston is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast locally on KWRF-FM 105.5 and KXFE-FM 106.9.

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