LIVINGSTON, ALA. – The Limestone University football team missed two field goals, overthrew an open receiver in the endzone, and had a go-ahead score called back, but still nearly pulled off an come-from-behind upset in a 27-17 loss at the University of West Alabama in the spring season opener on Saturday.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: West Alabama 27, Limestone 17
Records: West Alabama (1-0), Limestone (0-1)
Location: Tiger Stadium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Senior RB Jerko'ya Patton (Charlotte, N.C.) rushed 26 times for 122 yards
• Freshman QB Dustin Noller (Rock Hill, S.C.) threw for 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns
• Junior WR Juwan Scott (North Charleston, S.C.) finished with four catches for 89 yards and a TD
• Junior WR Demond Ellison (Canton, Ga.) added three catches for 44 yards and a score
• Graduate RB Anthony McAfee II (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) chipped in 43 yards on the ground
• Sophomore LB Will Kelley (Seabrook, S.C.) tallied six tackles and a sack
• Sophomore LB Dedric Lewis (Evans, Ga.) also added six tackles
• Junior DB Ken'Darius Frederick (Rock Hill, S.C.) recorded five solo tackles and a pass breakup
• Limestone registered 365 yards of total offense, but West Alabama finished with 515 yards
• The Saints forced a pair of turnovers, but also gave up two costly fumbles
• The Tigers jumped out to a 20-3 lead, but the Blue and Gold closed to within 20-17 in the third

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Limestone had a promising drive to start the day, getting 17 yards on the ground from Patton and a 10-yard scramble by Noller, but a sack ended the first possession of the spring at the LU44. The defense responded though as freshman Nijae Crouch (Duncan, S.C.) tallied his first career pick a few plays later.
 
The Saints picked up a first down on its ensuing drive as Noller hit Scott for an 11-yard gain, but another sack forced the Blue and Gold to punt. West Alabama followed up with a 7-play, 78-yard drive, capped by a 25-yard touchdown catch by Bayley Blanchard, to make it a 7-0 game with 3:25 left to play in the first.  
 
Second Quarter
 
The Tigers made it 14-0 early in the second following a 28-yard touchdown run by James Smith, but Limestone only gained 19 yards on their next drive. Following a punt, the defense again made a huge play as senior Marleek Reid (Rock Hill, S.C.) stripped and recovered a fumble deep inside UWA territory.
 
Starting at the UWA 36, Patton took a draw up the middle for 18 yards on 3^rd-and-12 as Limestone moved into the red zone. The drive would stall, however, but a 35-yard field goal by sophomore Austin Kemp (Liberty, S.C.) put the Saints on the board, 14-3, with 8:42 left in the half. The Tigers responded with a field goal drive of their own before turning a Limestone fumble into three more points, making it 20-3 late.  
 
With three minutes left, Patton ran the ball three straight times for 17 yards before Noller found Scott down the visiting sideline for a 48-yard catch-and-run score to cut the lead in half, 20-10. The defense then got the stop that it needed as Kelley busted through the line for a seven-yard sack with 1:02 left.
 
The Saints got the ball back at their own 45 with 55 ticks remaining and moved the ball down inside the UWA 20, highlighted by a 22-yard catch by Scott. Limestone was not able to capitalize though as Noller overthrew an open receiver in the endzone before Kemp hit the upright on a 37-yard field goal attempt.
 
Third Quarter
 
After the defense forced the Tigers to punt on the opening possession of the second half, the Limestone offense put together an 11-play, 73-yard drive to close to within 20-17 early in the third. Noller spread the ball around to four different receivers for 64 yards, capped by a 20-yard strike to Ellison at the front pylon.
 
The Saints got consecutive stops on defense, but the offense was on the wrong side of the battle for field position as they started deep in their own territory twice. Limestone went three-and-out before McAfee fumbled on the heels of a hard 22-yard run as the Tigers maintained a 20-17 lead at the end of the third.  
 
Fourth Quarter
 
After West Alabama missed a field goal as time expired in the third, it appeared as if the Saints completed the comeback on its first drive in the final period. Following a 14-yard completion to Ellison, Noller kept a play alive with his feet in the face of heavy pressure and eventually rolled to his right to find Patton who went the distance for a 62-yard TD. However, a flag for an ineligible player downfield nullified the score.
 
Limestone would have to punt, and the Tigers responded with a quick 6-play, 76-yard scoring drive to extend the lead to 27-17 with 9:51 remaining in regulation. The Saints then put together a long 13-play drive, assisted by a pair of West Alabama penalties, but a 40-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
 
Although the Blue and Gold would get the ball back once more, the Tigers were essentially able to run out the remaining time and hold on for the 27-17 season-opening decision.
 
TURNING POINT
 
The Tigers appeared to be firmly in control with a 20-3 lead late in the first half, but Limestone answered with a touchdown in the closing minutes of the second quarter and another in the opening minutes of the third. However, missed opportunities would come back to haunt the Saints as a missed touchdown at the end of the first half and a penalty on the go-ahead score in the fourth proved to be the difference.   
 
NOTABLES
 

• Limestone is playing a reduced spring schedule after the traditional fall season was postponed
• The Saints fall to 0-3 all-time against West Alabama, and have lost two straight in Livingston
• The Blue and Gold had a go-ahead score wiped out against the Tigers due to a penalty in the first meeting between the programs in 2018 – a game UWA ultimately won, 16-13
• Patton registered his 11^th career 100-yard game
• Scott is now tied for third in team history with 8 career receiving touchdowns
• Sophomore DL Zane Boozer (Liberty, S.C.) recorded a sack and a forced fumble
• Limestone was 4-of-16 on 3^rd-down conversions, but was a perfect 2-for-2 on 4^th-down attempts

 
UP NEXT
 
Limestone was originally scheduled to play Benedict College next weekend, but that game as since been cancelled. The Saints will return to action on Saturday, March 20 when they host UVA Wise in South Atlantic Conference action at The Reservation. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.