LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama football team outlasted Ouachita Baptist 52-49 in a Gulf South Conference shootout. UWA (6-4, 4-3 GSC) recorded 557 yards of total offense, the second most by a Bobby Wallace coached UWA team. Deon Williams tossed for 340 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in the win. Terry Allen tallied 257 yards in the game, with 100 on the ground and 71 through the air in the Homecoming contest.

The win secures the first winning season for UWA since 2006, Wallace’s first year in Livingston. The two winning seasons are the most in a four year span since the mid-1980s.

UWA scored on its first drive with Brock Sharp connecting on a 31 yard field goal. Terry Allen helped set up the short field with a 46 yard kickoff return. Sharp’s field goal capped a five play, 18 yard drive.

Ouachita answered back with two touchdowns, both runs by KJ Johnson. The Purple and Gold rushes traveled distances of 10 and 27 yards. The Tigers pulled within four points as Allen hauled in an 11 yard pass from Deon Williams, ending a nine play, 56 yard drive. Roosevelt Ross put UWA back on top, 17-14, with a 42 yard rush.

OBU regained the lead on Johnson’s third rushing TD of the game, a six yard scamper that ended an eight play, 70 yard drive. A 24 yard reception by Michael Townsend placed the Red and White back in front, 24-21, as Williams tossed his second TD of the game.

Allen and Williams hooked up for their second TD pass of the game, a 60 yard reception, to extend the UWA lead to 31-21. OBU’s Desmond Smoot snatched a Williams’ pass attempt and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. UWA’s Allen reached the end zone for third time on the night with a 74 yard rush.

The Purple and Gold pulled within 10 points on a six yard rush by Kendall Council, ending an 11 play, 90 yard drive.

UWA pushed the lead back out to 17 points, 52-35, on an 11 yard TD pass from Williams to Gerald Worsham. Ouachita pulled within 10 on a Tyler George nine yard fumble recovery for a score. A 10 yard pass from Eli Cranor to Brett Reece narrowed the lead to 52-49. OBU recovered the following onside kick, but failed to score.

DeAntuan Matthews tallied a game-high 11 tackles, including one for a loss. J. D. Douglas carded 9.5 stops in the game. Clayton Goree posted 7.5 tackles for OBU in the loss.

West Alabama returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 7 as the Tigers travel to Florence, Ala. to face the North Alabama Lions in the regular season finale. Kickoff at Braly Municipal Stadium is slated for 6:00 p.m. The game will be aired on FOX Sports 104.9-FM and at athletics.uwa.edu.