Pensacola, FL – In a heart-pounding double-overtime showdown on September 21, 2024, West Alabama (4-0, 1-0) narrowly defeated West Florida (1-1, 0-1) with a 35-33 victory at Pen Air Field in Pensacola, FL. The game featured a rollercoaster of emotions, stellar performances, and critical plays that kept the 5,103 fans on the edge of their seats for the entire 3 hours and 38 minutes.
First Half: A Slow Burn Turns into a Firefight
The game began with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The first quarter was marked by solid defensive plays, resulting in a scoreless 15 minutes. West Alabama’s offense was the first to crack the stalemate early in the second quarter when quarterback Spencer Arceneaux connected with wide receiver Caeleb Bass on a 9-yard touchdown pass, capping a methodical 12-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 5:43 of the clock.
West Florida responded late in the second quarter with a 28-yard field goal by Cade Lombardo, cutting the deficit to 7-3 as both teams headed into the locker room.
Second Half: The Momentum Shifts
The third quarter began explosively, with West Alabama quickly adding to their lead. Arceneaux again found Bass, this time for a 19-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 14-3. However, West Florida’s Marcus Stokes quickly answered, launching a 73-yard bomb to Ja’Corey Scott, bringing the Argonauts back within striking distance at 14-10.
West Alabama continued to press on, with Elijah Guyton converting a 21-yard field goal, pushing the Tigers’ lead to 17-10. However, the Argonauts weren’t done. Stokes orchestrated a nine-play, 74-yard drive early in the fourth quarter, culminating in a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Blalock, tying the game at 20-20 after a clutch field goal by Lombardo with just a minute left on the clock.
Overtime: Trading Blows in a Classic Finish
Overtime only intensified the drama. West Florida struck first in the extra period, with Jamontez Woods powering through the line for a 3-yard touchdown, giving the Argonauts their first lead of the game at 27-20. But West Alabama wasn’t ready to concede. A 1-yard run by Brayden Jenkins tied the game back up, forcing a second overtime.
In the second overtime, Arceneaux found Kristopher Binion for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play, then secured a successful 2-point conversion, making the score 35-27. West Florida answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Stokes to Da’Mani Brown, but the 2-point conversion attempt failed, sealing the victory for West Alabama at 35-33.
Key Performances
- Spencer Arceneaux (West Alabama): The quarterback was the star of the night, completing 25 of 40 passes for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns, with zero interceptions. He also made crucial plays with his legs, rushing for 31 yards.
- Caeleb Bass (West Alabama): Bass was Arceneaux’s favorite target, pulling in 7 receptions for 59 yards and 2 touchdowns, making him a key figure in the Tigers’ offensive strategy.
- Marcus Stokes (West Florida): Despite the loss, Stokes put up a valiant effort, throwing for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns, including the 73-yard strike to Scott that electrified the crowd.
- Ja’Corey Scott (West Florida): Scott was the game-breaker for the Argonauts, with 2 receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. His 73-yard score in the third quarter was a highlight-reel moment.
Team Statistics
- West Alabama: Dominated time of possession with 35:17 minutes, a key factor in their ability to wear down the West Florida defense. They totaled 322 yards of offense, 208 through the air and 114 on the ground.
- West Florida: While the Argonauts had fewer first downs (17 to West Alabama’s 20) and less total offense (269 yards), they were more explosive, averaging 6.4 yards per pass attempt.
Defensive Standouts
- West Alabama: Isaac Williams led the Tigers with 6 total tackles, while Trevon Stanford added a critical sack that contributed to the defensive pressure throughout the game.
- West Florida: Will Breland was a tackling machine for the Argonauts, recording 11 total tackles, while Ralph Ortiz and Kenneth Martin each registered a sack, disrupting West Alabama’s offensive flow at crucial moments.
Game Analysis
This matchup was a tale of resilience and clutch performances. West Alabama’s ability to convert key third downs (8 of 19) and maintain composure in overtime was crucial to their victory. Despite being outgained in yards per play, the Tigers’ efficiency in the red zone (5-for-5 with 3 touchdowns) and their control of the clock were decisive.
West Florida showed flashes of brilliance, particularly with their big-play ability, but ultimately fell short due to their struggles on third down (3 of 13) and in pass protection, where they allowed 3 sacks.
Looking Ahead
West Alabama remains undefeated and will look to continue their strong start as they dive deeper into conference play. West Florida, now 1-1, will need to regroup quickly as they face another tough opponent next week.
