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UWF Football Stuns No. 16 Southern Illinois 34-31 in Historic Division I Debut
The University of West Florida football team made history at Pen Air Field in Pensacola, upsetting No. 16 Southern Illinois 34-31 in the Argonauts inaugural NCAA Division I FCS debut before a record home crowd.
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PENSACOLA, Fla. — The University of West Florida football program did not need an adjustment period for Division I competition. In front of a stadium-record crowd of 6,124 fans at Pen Air Field on Thursday night, the Argonauts secured a historic victory. Specifically, they knocked off No. 16-ranked Southern Illinois 34-31.
The Argonauts entered the contest as 20-point underdogs in their inaugural FCS matchup. Then, they built an 18-point cushion. Next, they weathered a fierce second-half surge by the Salukis. Finally, the defense executed crucial stops in the final minutes to cement the triumph.
UWF vs Southern Illinois: Argos Seize Early Control
UWF made an immediate statement in the first half behind quarterback Ty’ray Davis. First, Southern Illinois struck with an opening field goal. Davis then broke loose on a 45-yard touchdown scramble with 1:13 left in the first quarter. Therefore, the Argos grabbed a 7-3 lead and never surrendered it.
The momentum continued into the second quarter. Davis found wide receiver Jakari Mozelle for a 19-yard touchdown strike. Moments later, the UWF defense capitalized on an errant throw. Defensive back A’Khoury Lyde intercepted a Salukis pass and sprinted 44 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. That sequence pushed the Argos ahead 20-6 with 4:40 left before halftime. Southern Illinois then added a late field goal to send the teams into the locker room at 20-9.
UWF extended the margin at the 7:27 mark of the third quarter. Running back Markel Townsend punched in a 9-yard touchdown run. That concluded an eight-play, 77-yard drive and extended the lead to 27-9.
Weathering the Salukis’ Second-Half Charge
Southern Illinois faced sudden adversity when starting quarterback D.J. Williams exited with an injury during the second quarter. Therefore, the Salukis turned to backup Jake Curry to lead a comeback. Curry ignited their offense quickly. He threw for a score and later scrambled for a 19-yard touchdown run with 7:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. As a result, the Salukis tightened the score to 27-24.
UWF then stalled on a three-and-out. However, the Argonauts’ defense generated the pivotal stop of the night. On the first snap of the next drive, the UWF defense stripped running back Edward Robinson. UWF recovered the loose ball at the Southern Illinois 42-yard line with 6:22 remaining.
Freshman Delivers Decisive Score at Pen Air Field Pensacola
Working with prime field position, the Argonauts methodically advanced into the red zone. Facing a critical first down at the Salukis’ 18-yard line, UWF offensive coordinator Donny Baker dialed up a wide receiver screen. True freshman Luc Carroll caught the short pass and navigated through traffic for a 22-yard touchdown with just 2:37 remaining on the clock.
The touchdown also marked Carroll’s first collegiate reception.
“It was big time play call by coach Donny Baker. It is something we have repped from day one,” said UWF head coach Kaleb Nobles. “Just a normal tunnel screen that we blocked up well and we had two freshman receivers out there…. That was Luc’s first college pass… and to win the game. A great time to call it. I think [Salukis] were blitzing into it and worked out perfect.”
Southern Illinois fought back quickly. They used a nine-play, 73-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Curry to Chandler Chapman with 1:10 left to cut the margin to 34-31. However, UWF’s special teams stood firm. Kenyan Hunter recovered the ensuing onside kick at the SIU 46-yard line. After UWF punted with seconds remaining, safety David Law-Mortinez intercepted Curry’s desperation pass with 18 seconds left to secure the victory.
Box Score and Key Statistics
Davis delivered a poised performance in his first collegiate start. He finished 7-of-16 passing for 109 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also led the ground attack with 88 rushing yards and a touchdown. In total, the Argonauts amassed 335 yards of offense, including 226 rushing yards and 109 passing yards.
Southern Illinois outgained UWF with 403 total yards. Even so, the Argos won the turnover battle by forcing four takeaways while committing three turnovers. Linebacker Cameron Anderson anchored the UWF defense with 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss. Meanwhile, Carson Ratliff contributed nine tackles.
Why It Matters for Pensacola Sports
For Pensacola and the broader Northwest Florida region, UWF’s arrival on the Division I stage represents a major milestone. UWF launched its football program a decade ago in 2016. Since then, the team has served as a unifying community asset and economic driver for Escambia County. Thursday night’s victory demonstrates that the university can compete immediately against established national programs.
Local business corridors across Pensacola, Brent, Ferry Pass, and surrounding communities benefit directly from increased game-day traffic. In turn, the program solidifies Pen Air Field as a premier sports destination along the Gulf Coast.
Background and the Road Ahead
The Argonauts’ rise ranks among the fastest in college football history. UWF took the field for the first time in 2016, with Nobles serving as the original starting quarterback. Then, UWF reached the NCAA Division II national title game in 2017. Two years later, the program captured the 2019 Division II national championship.
In April 2026, the university officially announced its transition to NCAA Division I. The school joined the Atlantic Sun Conference for Olympic sports and the United Athletic Conference (UAC) for football. Under NCAA reclassification rules, UWF is eligible for UAC conference championships during the transition. However, the program will not be eligible for the FCS national playoff bracket until the fall of 2029.
With this opening victory, the Argonauts extended their streak of season-opening wins to six consecutive years. UWF (1-0) now prepares for its first Division I road test. On Sept. 5, the team travels to Conway, Arkansas, to face the University of Central Arkansas in its inaugural UAC conference game.
Sources
- https://goargos.com/news/2026/8/28/uwf-football-makes-history-again-with-stunning-win-over-no16-southern-illinois-in-fcs-debut.aspx
- https://siusalukis.com/sports/football/stats/2026/west-florida/boxscore/10384
- https://uwfvoyager.com/2026/08/28/uwf-wins-division-i-football-debut-against-southern-illinois
- https://goargos.com/news/2026/4/2/uwf-athletics-announces-move-to-ncaa-division-i-athletics-joins-atlantic-sun-conference-united-athletic-conference.aspx
- https://www.flofootball.com/articles/12399222-west-florida-athletics-announces-move-to-division-i-joining-asun-and-uac
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
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