CARROLLTON, Ga. – Tarleton State Football rebounded from a rare loss with one of its most complete games of the season.
The No. 14 Texans (8-2, 5-1 UAC) set a new NCAA Division I program record for road wins, finishing their regular season 5-1 away from Stephenville, following their 38-21 win at West Georgia (3-7, 0-7 UAC) on Saturday in Carrollton. Tarleton’s eight overall wins match its D1 program record from last year, with two regular season games remaining this season.
Tarleton played a well-rounded game throughout the contest at University Stadium, with two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, one defensive touchdown, four takeaways, one sack, six tackles for loss, 6-for-6 on kicks and a 50-yard punt average. The Texans commanded the time of possession, holding the ball for 36:36 compared to UWG’s 23:24. Tarleton was penalized just twice and outgained West Georgia 391-312.
This marked the tied-second-most points Tarleton has scored on the season, and the tied-most on the road. The Texans have also allowed just 13.8 points per game over their last four contests.
This win by Tarleton sets up one of the biggest games in program history next week. The No. 14 Texans will host rival No. 15 Abilene Christian at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville on Saturday at 6 p.m. The winner of that game will lock up at least a share of the conference championship. Tarleton Athletics has set up a great ticket offer for the game. For just $25, fans can get a general admission ticket to the Abilene Christian game. If the Texans win, fans get a free ticket to the Central Arkansas game on Nov. 23. No quantity limits apply. Or, fans can use promo code ‘LEGENDS’ at checkout for $5 off any general admission ticket on Nov. 16 vs. Abilene Christian. The offer can be found here: https://tarletontickets.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2297
On Saturday, Tramaine Chism and Bam Smith gave Tarleton State a fast start with a scoop and score on the third play of the game. Chism forced Rajaez Mosley to fumble, and Smith picked it up at the UWG 18-yard line and housed it to put Tarleton ahead 7-0.
On the Wolves’ next drive, Tarleton forced another takeaway via fumble, as linebacker Ty Rawls forced T.J. Lockley to cough it up, recovered by Donta Stuart.
On Tarleton’s first offensive drive, the Texans drove 45 yards before turning it over on downs. West Georgia took advantage and used a Quincy Casey 7-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Gary to tie the game at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second frame, Texan DB Omar Emmons earned his second interception of the season, giving Tarleton great field position at the UWG 32-yard line. Texan RB Kayvon Britten later cashed in a 4-yard touchdown rush to lift Tarleton up 14-7.
Britten again scored on Tarleton’s next drive, a 12-play 84-yard march. He scored from a yard out for his 15th rushing touchdown of the season to make it 21-7 Tarleton State.
West Georgia didn’t quit though, and responded with a 75-yard scoring drive. Wolves QB Davin Wydner found an open Lockley from 27 yards out for the touchdown to cut their deficit in half, 21-14. Texan DB Dabari Hawkins earned an interception at the end of the first half on a UWG Hail Mary attempt, and the teams went to the locker room with the Purple and White ahead 21-14.
To open the second half, Tarleton struck quickly, as Gabalis found a streaking Darius Cooper for a 42-yard touchdown to make it 28-14. That marked Cooper’s sixth receiving score of the year.
The Wolves responded again with a 75-yard scoring drive, this time a Wydner 8-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Seabrough. Punts the rest of the frame ended the third quarter with Tarleton ahead 28-21.
The Texans scored on their first drive in the fourth quarter, a Corbin Poston 42-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game, 31-21. The Texan defense then stood tall immediately, forcing a turnover on downs on the first set of downs, getting the offense the ball back at the West Georgia 34-yard line. Tarleton took advantage, with Gabalis lobbing a 17-yard touchdown to Cody Jackson to make it 38-21. That essentially iced the game, with Tarleton forcing two more three-and-outs to win by 17.
Gabalis finished 20-of-28 for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Britten rushed for a pair of scores, seeing his streak of 100-yard rushing games end at seven, finishing with 74 yards on 26 carries. Braelon Bridges carried it 15 times for 55 yards. Cooper recorded his third 100-yard game over the past four contests with 117 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Jackson added a touchdown and 38 yards on four receptions.
Smith had a team-high six tackles to go with his scoop and score. Hawkins had two pass breakups and three tackles to go with his interception. Rawls had three tackles and a pass breakup to go with a forced fumble.
Saturday’s game marked the first meeting between Tarleton State and West Georgia. This is the first year of NCAA Division I reclassification for West Georgia, a brand new team in the United Athletic Conference. This was Tarleton’s second ever game played in Georgia and the first in over 50 years (at Georgia Southwestern in 1983).
Tarleton has two regular season games remaining, both at home. The Texans will host Abilene Christian on Saturday, Nov. 16, for their Legends Game, in which the winner will lock up at least a share of the conference championship. On Nov. 23, Tarleton will host Central Arkansas at 2 p.m. on Senior Day. That game could decide who receives the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, depending on next week’s results.
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