The Selma Times-Journal

LIVINGSTON – The Hornets of Concordia College took a 14-7 lead into the locker room at the half in its contest Saturday night against the University of West Alabama Tigers.

Concordia held a 21-14 advantage after three quarters, but allowed two fourth-quarter touchdowns to UWA and fell 28 – 21.

“We actually beat this team up and down the field,” said Concordia coach Shepard Skanes. “A penalty took us out of a sure field goal at the end, and we turned the ball over when we threw the ball on a third and long.”

The Tigers intercepted a Ken Johnson pass at the Hornet 9-yard line to begin a drive with 3:29 to go in the game for a game-winning touchdown.

“UWA saw a different football team tonight,” Skanes said. “Their coach, Bobby Wallace, told me after the game that they gave us everything they had. They know they were in a dogfight, but we have matured. We are becoming a football program.”

After being outscored 100-12 and giving up a total of 925 yards in it’s first two games against UWA, including being shut out 65-0 last season, the Hornets came to play, and the Tigers knew it.

UWA, who was the third consecutive road opponent for the Hornets this season, drove 91 yards in seven plays. The drive was capped by a 1-yard plunge to give them the advantage for the first time since the first quarter.

The Concordia defense did the job again, particularly in the first half. They held the UWA offense to just seven points.

Meanwhile, the Hornets got their first points – which was their first score against UWA since its inaugural season – on a one-yard dive by Johnson early in the second quarter to knot the game at 7.

Johnson helped culminate another score when he found Calvin Cornish for a 32-yard touchdown strike, which was set up by a 37-yard punt return by Eric Taylor, to give the Hornets a 14-7 lead.

Both teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. The Tigers scored on a 5-yard pass to even the game at 14. Concordia put points on the board in the third quarter on a 12-yard run around end by A. J. Ward. The drive went 63 yards in nine plays. That put the Hornets back on top 21-14 to close out the quarter.

UWA got into the end zone early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 21.

The Hornet defense held its own except for a reverse and a screen pass that got UWA to Concordia’s 9-yard line in the final minute of play.

Ward led the rushing attack for Concordia, gaining 77 yards in 10 carries. Johnson threw for 164 yards, completing 10-of-21 passes with two interceptions. Jevon Grant caught three passes for 46 yards.

The Hornets, who entered Saturday night’s contest after picking up their first victory of the season at Belhaven last week, fall to 1-2 for the year.

They travel to Cookville, Tenn., Thursday to take on Tennessee Tech University.