By Legree Jordan
190 – 35.
That is the combined score of BR-2 West Georgia’s first four football games this season — undefeated with an average margin of victory of nearly 39 ppg. Now that is what we sports fans call a cakewalk.
However, three of the Wolves next four opponents rank BR-12 or better in D2 football, so you could say challenges await the boys in blue and red.
The Gulf South Conference has been called “the SEC of D2,” and with the Wolves currently sitting at BR-2, that statement stands stronger than ever. But there are reasons to believe that the Wolves will remain undefeated and on top of the D2 football universe despite the tough schedule that looms ahead.
The Wolves are known for their ground and pound style of offense that wears on opposing defenses and enables the Wolves to control the pace. Throughout the first four games of the year, starting quarterback, Dallas Dickey has done his part through the air to ensure a more balanced and potent offensive attack. Dickey won’t wow you with 300-yard games, but what he will do is protect the ball. An error-free Dallas Dickey has kept defenses at bay thus far.
Coach Hall isn’t afraid to let Dallas manage the game and here is why: Dallas Dickey ranks first amongst GSC quarterbacks with a QB efficiency rating of 174.9, only one interception, and sits in second place with eight touchdown passes on the year; talk about mistake-free football.
Additionally, credit must be given to the two-headed monster of red-shirt freshman running back Aares McCall and true freshman Devonte Jackson. Both have carried the ball more than 40 times and both average more than a whopping 6.0 yards per carry.
These players and their talent level are a pure gift for a mind like Coach Hall’s, who loves to hand the rock off and let his big guys up front move defensive lineman left and right. It is scary to think the running back core for the Wolves is led by two freshmen, who seem to get better as the weeks progress. Coach Hall has shown tremendous trust in McCall and Jackson, rightfully so, as they have yet to let Hall down.
Flip to the other side of the ball, and Alex Armah is the name one would hear most often. The GSC defensive player of the week currently leads all Gulf South Conference defenders with 5 sacks through the first four games. Furthermore, it isn’t just Armah wreaking havoc on offenses that have the tough task of scoring against UWG’s top ranked defense; it has been a collective effort. The West Georgia defense has only allowed 186.3 yards per game, and that’s by far tops in the Gulf South Conference.
During the post-game press conference following UWG’s 56-0 beatdown of Clark Atlanta, Coach Hall commented on the start of conference play when asked about playing so many guys during the first four games of the year. “It’s conference play. It matters, it matters a lot,” Hall said. “Everybody knows what the expectations are. That number will dwindle down. Hopefully we’ll have all hands on deck, our blade will be sharp, and we will be ready to roll.”
Qa Walker even left the media with a great quote before he departed from last week’s press conference. When asked about the grind of GSC play, Walker said, “Execute, big time players make big time plays in big time games.”
Jokingly enough, Coach Hall added, “And we’ve got some big time games coming up. Don’t talk about it, be about it.”
The cakewalks have been fun to watch, just ask the packed house of fans that have been loyal in filling up the University Stadium seats at Ra-Lin field. If you don’t believe me, check out The Wolf Sports on Instagram and see for yourself!
With two big time home games in the next month, versus Valdosta State and North Alabama (only two teams to beat UWG in the regular season last year, both were road games for the Wolves), expect the stands to be even more packed out with howling Wolves fans looking to put an exclamation point on their “unfinished business” theme for the year.
First stop, Livingston, for a showdown with West Alabama!
