Tigerville, S.C. – North Greenville used a late scoring drive on Saturday night against the 21st ranked West Alabama to earn a four-point upset win over the Tigers in Younts Stadium.

The Basics

• Score: Crusaders – 20 | Tigers – 16
• Records: North Greenville 3 – 1 (2 – 0) | West Alabama 3 – 2 (2 – 1)
• Location: Younts Stadium (Tigerville, South Carolina)

Quick Facts

• Saturday night’s four-point victory over the Tigers is the largest margin of victory by either team in the series. NGU won by a single point in 2016 while UWA earned a three-point victory in 2017.
• Saturday’s win over the Tigers seemed to follow a blueprint from the first victory. The Crusaders also used a touchdown in the final minute in 2016 with the assistance of a backup quarterback.

How it Happened

• The Tigers jumped out to a quick lead capitalizing on a long opening kickoff return. Jacob Murphree hit Tyriq Martin from 25 – yards out to make it 7 – 0.
• The lead stood until the second quarter when North Greenville found pay-dirt for the first time when Dashonnell Wright broke the plain to even it at seven after a Gravely PAT.
• Gravely would tack on a field goal with two minutes left in the first half to make it 10 – 7 at intermission.
• The second half would continue to be a defensive struggle. West Alabama eventually broke through in the third quarter with a field goal at 4:48 to tie the game at 10 – 10.
• UWA added a touchdown with 29 – seconds left in the quarter but a missed extra point kept the lead at six points (16 – 10).
• Matt Gravely added a second field goal, nailing it from 39 – yards to cut the UWA lead to just three points with 12:56 left.
• NGU’s defense dug in late in the game, holding the West Alabama offense scoreless for the final 12 - minutes.
• The biggest stand of the night came in NGU territory as a muffed punt gave the Tigers the ball at midfield.
• Backup quarterback Donny Baker then led the Crusaders on a game-winning drive, marching 92 – yards in nine plays including a huge third-down conversion to Lucas Catalfomo that moved the chains.
• The drive was capped by the second rushing touchdown of the game for NGU when EJ Humphrey trotted in from six yards out. A Gravely extra point gave NGU the four-point lead with 14-seconds left.
• The Tigers eventually ran out of game clock as a set of passes fell incomplete.

Inside the North Greenville Box Score

• The Crusaders finished with 317 – yards of total offense including a season-high 139– rushing yards to go along with 178 through the air.
• EJ Humphrey led the charge leading all players with a career and game-high 94 – yards on the ground with a touchdown.
• Donnie Baker entered the game in the second quarter and passed it for 162 – yards and was 11 of 26 passing.
• Lucas Catalfomo led all receivers with 109 receiving yards.
• Defensively the Crusaders held one of the league’s best offenses to just 222 – yards of offense including 106 – yards on the ground and just 116 yards through the air.
• Dominique Hunt led NGU with eight total tackles on the day while Seth Laughter finished with five.
• The Crusaders had seven tackles for a loss led by Kwame Livingston and Brandon Burger who had 1.5 including a sack for Livingston.

The Gulf South Conference

• The Crusaders improved to 2 – 0 in the GSC and currently sits at the top of the league standings.

Next Time Out

• The Crusaders will travel to Carrollton, Georgia next weekend to take on West Georgia. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 PM.