UWF football upsets No. 16 Southern Illinois in first Division I game

On Thursday night, the UWF football team achieved historic status by defeating No. 16 Southern Illinois in their Division I FCS debut, defeating the Salukis 34-31. The Argos, who began the game with a 1-0 record, displayed a balanced offense and stifled defense, allowing them to secure a 6,124-strong crowd record at PenAir Field. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ty’jay Davis had a remarkable performance, completing seven of 17 passes for 109 yards, two touchdowns, and contributing 88 yards on the ground.

UWF's defense was equally impressive, forcing four turnovers, which were crucial in maintaining their lead. Redshirt sophomore running back TJ Lane and junior Markel Townsend each contributed 33 yards and a touchdown on the ground, with Lane suffering a fumble in the first quarter. However, the Argos' defense prevented Southern Illinois from capitalizing on the turnover, holding the Salukis to a 30-yard field goal from Seth Adams.

UWF's scoring began early in the game, with sophomore receiver Jakari Mozelle breaking a 45-yard touchdown reception, giving the Argos a 7-3 lead. The lead increased to 13-6 by the second quarter, when Davis found Mozelle again for another touchdown. Despite Jake Curry taking over the game as quarterback after Williams was injured, UWF continued to dominate, scoring a 45-yard touchdown with 9:48 left in the half.

With the Argos leading 20-9 at halftime, Southern Illinois staged a comeback. The Salukis recovered a Cannon Brite fumble and extended their lead to 27-17 in the third quarter, aided by a 18-yard touchdown run by Allen Middleton and a two-point conversion. Later, UWF countered with a 9-yard touchdown run by Markel Townsend, extending their lead to 27-17 with 7:40 still in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Southern Illinois took the lead back with two touchdowns, but UWF managed to force a critical turnover, with Eli Webb recovering a fumble with 6:19 remaining. The Argos capitalized on this turnover, scoring a 22-yard touchdown with 2:37 left and sealing the game with a 22-yard catch and run by Luc Carroll.

Despite a late rally by Southern Illinois, the Argos' defense managed to intercept a pass from Chandler Chapman with 1:10 left, ensuring the historic win for the Argos. The victory marked UWF's first in Division I, and the team is set to play against Central Arkansas on September 5 in their opening game of the United Athletic Conference.