GSC FOOTBALL TEAMS PICK UP BIG WINS
Birmingham, AL---Sure one game does not make the whole season, but winning out of the gates has five Gulf South Conference football
 teams headed in the right direction.
Valdosta State cruised past Fort Valley State, 42-6, to earn its second consecutive 2-0 start for the first time in school history.
West Georgia outlasted Presbyterian, 35-34, as Head Coach Gary Otten became the sixth Braves’ coach in the last seven to win in his debut.
Central Arkansas scored its most points since 1976 in a 65-16 victory over Abilene Christian.
Ouachita Baptist won the 76th "Battle of the Ravine", defeating GSC and across the street rival Henderson State, 41-13, in a non-conference game.
North Alabama picked up its first season opening win since 1998, topping Lambuth, 37-27.
Unfortunately, not all GSC teams fared well.
Texas A&M-Commerce edged Harding, 14-11, Belhaven blanked West Alabama, 21-0, and Arkansas-Monticello lost 52-7 at Division I-AA Southwest Texas State.
VALDOSTA STATE 42, @ FORT VALLEY SATE 6
It did not take long for Valdosta State (2-0, 0-0) to establish its presence offensively in its 42-6 victory at Fort Valley State. 
The Blazers needed just 17 plays to score their first three touchdowns and explode to a 21-0 lead just 0:33 into the second quarter.
 Quarterback Dusty Bonner completed 22-of-33 passes for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Reggie Mosley grabbed five of those passes for 105 yards
 and three touchdowns. Tight end C.J. Lofton caught six passes for 113 yards.
The "Black Swarm" defense also continues to be sharp, allowing only 28 yards rushing while registering six sacks. 
Defensive end Xavier Carrington helped them contribute on the scoreboard, recovering a fumble in the end zone to give VSU a 28-0 lead at the half.
In the last two meetings between these teams, the Blazers have outscored the Wildcats, 88-6.
WEST GEORGIA 35, @ PRESBYTERIAN 34
West Georgia (1-0, 0-0) opened the season with a big win over in-Region rival Presbyterian, 35-34. Tailback Nick Price anchored the Braves’ balanced 
offensive attack, gaining 200 all-purpose yards and scoring two touchdowns (135 and a TD rushing; 65 and a TD receiving). His second touchdown, a 63-yard
 pass from Corry Strange helped him break the UWG career touchdown mark (28).
Special teams and defense also got into the act. Detronn Harris returned four kicks for 150 yards, including an 89-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
 Although the UWG defense allowed a record-breaking 505 yards passing, it clamped down when it was needed the most, holding the Blue Hose scoreless
 in the final 17:00.
@ CENTRAL ARKANSAS 65, ABILENE CHRISTIAN 16
If its first game is any indication, watch out for the Central Arkansas (1-0, 0-0) offense! In their 65-16 victory over Abilene Christian, the Bears rolled up a 
school record 681 yards, including touchdowns on six consecutive possessions in the first half.
Andy Rogers and Brian Stallworth proved that two quarterbacks can run the West Coast offense, utilizing 12 different receivers while
 combining for 25-of-46 passing for 408 yards and five touchdowns. Tight end Landon Trusty was their favorite target, catching five passes for 49 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Carl Thomas contributed four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown.
While UCA’s offense escaped without committing a single turnover for the first time since 1999, its defense forced five turnovers.
@ OUACHITA BAPTIST 41, HENDERSON STATE 13
Ouachita Baptist (1-0, 0-0) used 24 third quarter points to dispose of GSC and across-the-street rival Henderson State, 41-13, in a non-conference game.
 The 41 points marked the first time since 1994 that OBU had scored more than 40 points. Running back Montoya Brown generated most of the
 yards on offense, rushing 19 times for 146 yards. He also ran a kick back 97 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
OBU’s defense also got into the act, scoring three touchdowns, including two off fumble recoveries (Marcus Reese and B.J. Rider) and 
another via interception (Travis Johnson).
The loss extended HSU’s overall losing streak to a school record 11 games while bringing their road losing streak to 15 dating back to 1998.
@ NORTH ALABAMA 37, LAMBUTH 27
North Alabama (1-0, 0-0) overcame a 14-0 deficit to earn its first season-opening win since 1998, defeating Lambuth, 37-27. Tailback Randy Vickers had 
a memorable collegiate debut, rushing 22 times for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Barry Baker also contributed on two scores, 
hitting Tim Goliday for a 26-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and giving the Lions their first lead of the day, 24-21, on a one-yard run in the third quarter.
Linebacker Sam Fakunle spearheaded the defense, which held the Eagles to just 106 yards in the second half, taking part in 15 tackles (seven solos, eight assists).
 He also thwarted a Lambuth fourth quarter drive at the UNA 40 with his first interception of the season.
@ TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE 14, HARDING 11
Harding’s (0-1, 0-0) bid for its sixth consecutive season opening win ended at the hands of Texas A&M-Commerce. The Bisons could have tied the 
game at the end of regulation, but Coy Nance’s 37-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
Defense was the name of the game in this contest as both teams combined for just over 300 yards (HU 174, Texas A&M-Commerce 155).
 Rover Dennis Cardoso anchored the Bisons’ best defensive effort in 38 games, having a hand in nine tackles,
 including a career-high two sacks, one of which forced a fumble that resulted in HU’s first safety since 1989s. Despite the tough "D", HU quarterback Freddie Langston tied a school record, completing 76 percent of his passes (19-of-25).
BELHAVEN 21, @ WEST ALABAMA 0
West Alabama (0-1, 0-0) suffered its first shutout since 1998, losing 21-0 against Belhaven. The shutout was also the first time the Tigers had been held 
scoreless in a season opener since 1964.
@ SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE 52, ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 7
Arkansas-Monticello (0-1, 0-0) lost its fourth season opener in the last five years, 52-7 at Division I-AA Southwest Texas State.
 Terrance Wansley was the rare bright spot in the loss, returning five kicks for 184 yards (36.8 avg.). He also scored the Boll Weevils’ only touchdown, grabbing a nine-yard strike from Kasey Nonnette in the second quarter.
CONFERENCE OPENER SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS WEEK THREE
THE WEEK AHEAD: The first Gulf South Conference league game of the year, the debut of the 2000 Division II National Champions and some grudge
 matches are just some of what’s in store for Week Three.
NORTH ALABAMA @ ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO, 6:00 p.m.
North Alabama has revenge on its mind when it heads to Arkansas-Monticello. Last year, the Boll Weevils embarrassed the Lions in
 front of their home crowd, piling up 554 yards on offense, the second most allowed by a Lions’ defense, en route to a 40-21 victory. The win was UAM’s first in a GSC opener since 1995 while UNA saw its losing streak in Conference openers reach four.
On the heels of its first win in a season opener, the Lions seek to start 2-0 for the first time since 1995, the year they won their last national title.
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE @ DELTA STATE, 7:00 p.m.
Defending NCAA Division II Champion Delta State begins its title defense when it hosts Division I-AA Mississippi Valley State. Last year, the Statesmen
 picked up their first-ever win over a Division I-AA opponent, knocking off the Delta Devils, 35-23. Running back Rico McDonald rushed for
 203 yards and scored two touchdowns in the victory.
While last season’s 55-18 win over Belhaven was DSU’s first in a season opener since 1993, the Statesmen have not lost a home opener
 since 1997 (23-20 against Arkansas Tech).
ALBANY STATE @ WEST GEORGIA, 6:00 p.m.
West Georgia seeks its third 2-0 start in the last four years when it hosts Albany State. Although the road team has won the other three games in 
this series, including the Braves’ 28-0 triumph last year, UWG enters the contest seeking its eighth consecutive home-opening win. Ironically, its last loss in a 
home opener came at the hands of the Golden Rams, 24-14, in 1993.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS @ SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE, 7:00 p.m.
A shot at its first 2-0 start since 1994 aside, Central Arkansas holds an old grudge in its contest at Southeastern Oklahoma State. In the only meeting
 between these teams, the Savages ruined the Bears’ shot at an undefeated season with a 21-14 overtime victory in the 1988 NAIA Playoffs.
ARKANSAS TECH @ CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, 2:00 p.m.
Arkansas Tech heads to Central Oklahoma to renew its rivalry with the Bronchos for the first time in 50 years. ATU won the last meeting, 25-20 in 1951,
to extend its series lead to 8-2-0. The Wonder Boys have not won a season opener since 1998 (44-12 versus Southwest Baptist).
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE @ SOUTHERN ARKANSAS, 7:00 p.m.
Southern Arkansas seeks its fifth consecutive season-opening win when it hosts Texas A&M-Commerce. Although SAU holds the series lead, 7-5-0, 
Texas A&M-Commerce won the last meeting, 31-16 in 1992.
MILES @ WEST ALABAMA, 1:00 p.m.
West Alabama has revenge on its mind when it hosts Miles. Last year’s 14-7 Golden Bears’ victory was their first over the Tigers in eight meetings.
HENDERSON STATE @ NORTHWESTERN STATE, 6:00 p.m.
There will be a reunion of sorts when Henderson State travels to Division I-AA Northwestern State. HSU Athletic Director Sam Goodwin retired just
 over almost two years ago as NSU’s all-time winningest coach. His replacement, Steve Roberts, led Southern Arkansas to a share of its only GSC title in 1997.
UWG’S PRICE AND HARRIS, UNA’S FAKUNLE NAMED
GSC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
West Georgia tailback Nick Price (SR, 5-9, 200, Chattanooga, TN) and kick returner Detronn Harris (JR, 6-3, 188, Atlanta, GA) are the Gulf South 
Conference Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for the period ending Sept. 1. North Alabama linebacker Sam Fakunle (JR, 6-1, 235,Florence, AL) is the GSC Defensive Player of the Week.
Price and Harris led the Braves to a season-opening victory at Presbyterian. Price, who led the GSC in rushing yards per game last year (117.4), carried
 21 times for 135 yards and a touchdown, a 20-yard run for the game’s first points. He also recorded three receptions for 65 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown pass from Corry Strange that cut the lead to 34-29 late in the third quarter. The touchdown also helped him become the Braves career leader in that category (28). 
Harris returned four kicks for 150 yards (37.5 average), including an 89-yard return that gave the Braves a 13-7 lead in the first quarter.
Fakunle played a key role in North Alabama’s 37-27 victory over Lambuth, recording 11 tackles (seven solos, eight assists*), including a tackle for a loss.
 He also helped the Lions hold the Eagles to 106 yards in the second half and recorded an interception at the UNA 40 to preserve the Lions’ 31-21 fourth quarter lead.
 That turnover also led to Travis Johnston’s 37-yard field goal that extended the lead, 34-21.