UWG Football Preview: The Tuskegee Game

CARROLLTON, Georgia – The West Georgia football program is in the NCAA quarterfinals for the second straight season, taking on the Tuskegee Tigers this Saturday at noon in University Stadium. The Wolves are the top seed in Super Region 2 and the Tigers are the sixth seed. Kickoff for Saturday's contest is set for noon, with gates to open at 10:30 a.m.

Gameday Timeline
8:00 AM - UWG Athletic Complex Open for Tailgating
10:00 AM - Ticket Booths Open
10:30 AM - Wolf Walk at Wolf Plaza
After the Wolf Walk - University Stadium Gates Open
12:00 PM - UWG vs. Tuskegee

Ticket Information
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of Saturday's contest via the online portal available at www.uwgsports.com/playoffcentral, utilizing the "print-at-home" feature to ensure the quickest passage through the university stadium gates. Chairback seats are $20, general admission $15 and student tickets are $10 on gameday.

How They Got Here
The Tuskegee Tigers had one of the biggest upsets of the 2015 playoffs thus far on Saturday afternoon, taking down traditional power North Alabama on the road, as the 6th-seeded Tigers beat 2nd-seed UNA 35-31. Tuskegee scored early, but had to come from behind late, scoring with 19 seconds left to seal the victory.

West Georgia also had a barnburner in the other Super Region 2 semifinal game, as the Wolves rallied from a 20-19 deficit to score with 3:09 left. Dallas Dickey took the ball in on a quarterback keeper on that final offensive play, then the defense held at midfield with back-to-back sacks on third and fourth down to seal the Wolves second-straight trip to the regional final.

UWG Preview
- The West Georgia Wolves put their first playoff game of the 2015 season behind them in dramatic fashion last weekend at University Stadium, thrilling the more than 7,000 fans in attendance with a battle to the wire against arch-rival Valdosta State, winning 27-20.

The win was the fourth playoff victory under head coach Will Hall and the third straight win against Valdosta State.

West Georgia comes into the contest with an 11-1 record on the season and sporting one of the best defenses in the nation. The Wolves allow just 15.3 points per game on the year annd have given up just 20 touchdowns overall.

The Wolves are best against the run, as teams have just six rushing touchdowns against the UWG defense.

On offense, West Georgia is a balanced attack with an emphasis on the run. Three explosive backs in Devontae Jackson, Lamarcus Franks and Aares McCall have combined for nearly 2,000 yards on the year behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation.

2015 Notables
- If not for the final West Georgia drive of the day against Valdosta State, neither Dallas Dickey or Devontae Jackson would have had 100 yards rushing against the Blazers. Jackson had three carries for 35 yards on "The Drive" while Dickey had four carries for 41 yards, including the nine-yard game-winner with 3:09 left. Jackson led the team with 126 yards on the afternoon while Dickey had 100 yards on the nose.

- Junior defensive end Dylan Donahue showed his mettle against Valdosta State last weekend with 3.5 sacks in the contest. The Montana native showed that he is not just a solid defensive end, but also a gamer, as two of his season-high sack total came in the fourth quarter. Donahue and the rest of the defensive line harassed the VSU quarterback throughout the afternoon, making contact on 20 different occasions.

- Freshman running back Devontae Jackson is on the verge of joining an elite club, as he is just 90 yards away from becoming the 10th back in school history with 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. Jackson also would be the first freshman in that class, rising to the top in creating a new category in the UWG record books.

- It's tough to look at individual periods and compare scores when outscoring opponents at a rate of 456-184 on the year, but the third quarter has been owned by the Wolves this season, as West Georgia has outscored opponents 110-21 in that period in 2015. The second quarter has also been strong, as UWG has outscored opponents 149-49 in that period as well.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA MEDIA RELATIONS