Malik Brooks
Sophomore Malik Brooks scored Limestone's first rushing touchdown of the season, but the Saints fell on the road.
18
Limestone LC 0-1
35
Winner West Alabama UWA 1-0
Limestone LC
0-1
18
Final
35
West Alabama UWA
1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
LC Limestone 3 6 3 6 18
UWA West Alabama 14 7 7 7 35

Game Recap: Football | | Ernest Meyers, Assistant A.D. for Media Relations

Saints Fall to No. 24 West Alabama on the Road

LIVINGSTON, ALA. – Opening the new campaign on the road for a fourth straight year, the Limestone College football team dropped its season opener to nationally 24th-ranked University of West Alabama, 35-18, on Saturday, September 7 at Tiger Stadium, running its losing streak to 13 consecutive games.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 24 West Alabama 35, Limestone 18
Records: No. 24 West Alabama (1-0), Limestone (0-1)
Location: Tiger Stadium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 
  • Redshirt-junior QB DJ Phillips (Fayetteville, Ga.) went 20-of-42 for 313 yards and a TD
  • Junior WR Quay Brown (Rock Hill, S.C.) hauled in five catches for 143 yards and a score
  • Freshman WR Caden Peeler (Boiling Springs, S.C.) finished with six catches for 79 yards
  • Redshirt-sophomore RB Malik Brooks (Saluda, S.C.) posted 59 yard and a TD on eight carries
  • Redshirt-junior kicker Thomas Cook (Moore, S.C.) booted a pair of field goals for the Saints
  • Junior DB Devione Williams (Rock Hill, S.C.) led the team with six tackles
  • Senior LB Timarkus Dawkins (Gaffney, S.C.) added six tackles and a sack
  • Limestone put up 430 yards of total offense against the No. 24 team in the country
  • West Alabama finished with 451 yards of total offense
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Limestone picked up three first downs during its first two drives of the game, but was forced to punt on both offensive possessions. West Alabama went 3-and-out in its first series, but the Tigers marched 87 yards on eight plays on their second drive as a Bayley Blanchard hauled in a 10-yard TD catch.
 
On the ensuing drive for the Saints, Phillips would hit Brown for a 55-yard gain through the air to set up the first score of the season for the Blue and Gold. Cook hit a 37-yard field goal as the drive stalled, but the Tigers answered right away as a 52-yard TD strike made it a 14-3 game at the end of the first.
 
Second Quarter
 
The Saints found some rhythm on offense early in the second, marching 90-yards on nine plays to cut the UWA's lead to 14-9. Patton started the drive with a 22-yard run before Brown capped it by hauling in a 19-yard touchdown catch from Phillips at the front pylon. The ensuing extra point attempt was blocked.
 
The momentum was short-lived, however, as the Tigers countered with 69-yard scoring drive – assisted by two huge Limestone penalties – to take a 21-9 cushion into the locker room. The Blue and Gold put up 249 yards of total offense over the first 30 minutes of play, including 197 yards through the air in the half.  
 
Third Quarter
 
Both teams went three-and-out to start the second half, but West Alabama would expand its lead to 28-9 on its second possession as a 17-yard touchdown run by Derrick Underwood capped a 3-play, 67-yard drive. Limestone would get a 30-yard field goal by Cook late in the third to trim the margin to 28-12.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
The Tigers put things out of reach early in the final period, capitalizing on great field position with a six-play, 55-yard drive to make it 35-12. Limestone could not take advantage of its best starting field position of the night in the late stages until Brooks broke off a 46-yard touchdown run down the visiting sideline.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Starting field position played a big role in the Limestone falling behind early as the Blue and Gold started its first two drives of the night inside its own 5-yard line. The Saints would start a total of three drives inside its own 20 over the first 15 minutes, allowing the Tigers to build up a lead they would not relinquish.
 
NOTABLES
 
  • Limestone began a drive inside its own 5-yard line four times and inside their own 10 five times
  • The Saints average starting field position was its own 16-yard line over their first 12 drives
  • The Blue and Gold had two extra point attempts blocked
  • Seniors DJ Witherspoon (Moncks Corner, S.C.) and Armonte Prioleau (St. Stephen, S.C.) each finished with a pair of pass break ups
 
UP NEXT
 
The Saints will have to square off against another playoff team from a season ago as they host nationally 15th-ranked University of West Georgia in the 2019 home opener on Saturday, September 17. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at The Reservation at Gaffney High School.
 
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