GAFFNEY, S.C. – A go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter was wiped out by a penalty and nationally 23^rd-ranked University of West Alabama kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to hand the Limestone College football team a heartbreaking 16-13 home loss on Saturday, September 22.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 23 West Alabama 16, Limestone 13
Records: No. 23 West Alabama (3-1), Limestone (0-4)
Location: The Reservation at Gaffney High School
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Sophomore QB DJ Phillips (Fayetteville, N.C.) went 25-of-36 for 230 yards
• Freshman RB Malik Brooks (Saluda, S.C.) added 26 yards and a touchdown on the ground
• Sophomore RB Jerko'ya Patton (Charlotte, N.C.) chipped in 88 total yards from scrimmage
• Junior Shyheim Perry (Sumter, S.C.) and sophomore JoJo Watson (Camden, S.C.) each finished with 55 yards receiving while senior Cody Rau (Litchfield, Minn.) registered 42 yards
• Graduate DB Joshua Simmons (Moncks Corner, S.C.) posted a game-high 12 tackles to go with an interception and two pass breakups
• Sophomore LB D'Meko Pryor (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded eight tackles
• Senior kicker Griffin Martin (Goose Creek, S.C.) went 2-for-4 on field goal attempts, including a career-long 48 yarder
• Defensively, Limestone held the high-flying West Alabama offense to a season-worst 16 points while creating four turnovers on the afternoon
• The Saints managed just 289 yards of offense, including a season-low 59 yards on the ground

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
West Alabama fumbled on the very first play of the afternoon and junior Timarkus Dawkins (Gaffney, S.C.) was there to recover the ball for the Saints at the UWA 25-yard line. Limestone went three-and-out on its first drive, but grabbed its first lead since week one with a 39-yard field goal by Martin.
 
Midway through the first, the Blue and Gold came up with a big defensive stop when senior Jabarus Saxon (Santee, S.C.) recovered a fumble and returned it to the West Alabama 7. Four plays later, Brooks broke the plane of the goal line from a yard out on a 4^th-and-1 to stake the Saints to a 10-0 lead.
 
Second Quarter
 
The Tigers put up their first points of the game on a 32-yard field goal late in the first, but Limestone responded on the ensuing possession as Martin capped a 5-play, 55-yard drive with a 48-yard field goal. Phillips helped set up the score after hitting Watson down the home sideline for a 40-yard pass play.
 
A Limestone turnover on the home side of the field set up West Alabama with excellent field position midway through the second quarter, and the visitors capitalized on just one play as a Harry Satterwhite hit Bayley Blanchard of a 30-yard catch-and-run to cut the margin to 13-10 with 8:54 remaining.
 
Junior linebacker Wesley Robinson (Spartanburg, S.C.) picked off Satterwhite on the UWA's next series, returning it 26 yards to put the Saints in scoring position. However, the offense would go three-and-out before Martin missed a 45-yard attempt. West Alabama then tied it up at 13-all a few plays later.
 
Third Quarter
 
Neither of the offenses were particular sharp coming out of the halftime break as West Alabama and Limestone traded a number of three- and four-play drives in the third quarter. The Saints had the longest series of the third with a nine-play drive, but the score remained deadlocked heading into the final frame.  
 
Fourth Quarter
 
With the contest tied at 13-all late in the fourth, it appeared that the Blue and Gold had punched the ball into the end zone for the go-ahead score. Following an interception by Simmons, the Saints moved the ball inside the red zone on a dump-off pass that Patton turned up field for a 25-yard gain.
 
Two plays later, freshman Juwan Scott (North Charleston, S.C.) hauled in a pass on a crossing route and beat the defense to the pylon for a 15-yard touchdown catch. However, a holding penalty would negate the score and then the Saints missed a 42-yard field goal attempt with less than three minutes remaining.
 
West Alabama made the most out of the sudden shift of momentum, moving the ball 47 yards on nine plays to the Limestone 28-yard line. Following a pair of time outs with four ticks left on the clock, Jordan Bennett connected from 45 yards away as time expired to lift the Tigers to a 16-13 decision.   
 
TURNING POINT
 
A costly penalty on the go-ahead touchdown and then a missed field goal late in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference for Limestone in the game. West Alabama was able to take over with less than three minutes left in regulation and kicked the game-winner as time expired.
 
NOTABLES
 

• The Saints never trailed against the defending Gulf South Conference champs until the last play
• Offensively, Limestone has yet to score more than 17 points in a game this season
• The Blue and Gold falls to 0-5 all-time against ranked opponents
• The Saints have recorded six interceptions on defense through four games
• Simmons registered his 14^th career interception
• Limestone scored 10 points off two fumble recoveries, but no points off two interceptions

 
UP NEXT
 
The Saints are back at home next weekend as they welcome Mars Hill University to The Reservation at Gaffney High School on Homecoming Saturday. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.