#58 Reginald Virges (Linebacker)
MILES HOLD OFF LATE DRIVE BY WEST GEORGIA
FAIRFIELD, AL – Miles wide receiver D. J. Fife 75-yard touchdown catch put the Golden Bears on the scoreboard first and his 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown help push Miles pass unbeaten University of West Alabama 44-37 in front of 6,337 fans at Albert J. Sloan-Alumni Stadium.
Miles, now 2-1, led 27-16 at halftime on a combination of four touchdowns and one failed PAT kick and with the loss West Georgia drops to 2-1.
The Golden Bears rushed for 107 yards and passed for another 314 yards for a total offensive output of 421 yards, while being led by quarterback
David Thomas. The senior completed 21-of-28 passes for 239 yards and for 43-yards and a touchdown. Junior running back
Floyd Graves added 64-yards.
In the first quarter, Miles scored on a 75-yard touchdown pass off an end around pass from
Antonio Pitts to D. J. Fife with 14:45 remaining. The drive took one play.
Patton Chambers PAT was good; to give Miles 7-3 lead.
Then, on the first drive of the second quarter sophomore running back
Devonta Parker-Johnson scored from 2-yard out with 14:21 left to complete a 9 plays, 75 yard drive. Chambers PAT kick was good. But, D. J. Fife was not finish; he returned a 94-yard kickoff back for a touchdown, as Chambers PAT failed with 7:45 left to half. Graves, 1-yard run completed the scoring in the first half on an 8 play, 75 yard drive. Chambers PAT kick was good and Miles led 27-16.
In the first quarter, kicker Davis Brackett put West Georgia on the board with two 41-yard field goals, one with 10:07 left and the other with 4:01 on the clock. Miles led 7-6
Brackett kicked another field goal from 33-yards out with 7:58 left in the quarter, then Dallas Dickey rushed for 4-yards and Brackett PAT kick was good. Miles led 14-9
Miles' Graves scored from 34-yards out to start the second half with 10:58 remaining and Chambers PAT kick was good, increasing the Miles score to 34-16.
The Wolves would bounce back with a score of their own off a Quan Jones 7-yard touchdown run and Brackett PAT kick being good, with 3:03 left the third quarter. Miles led 34-23.
West Georgia scored twice at the start of the fourth quarter on a one yard run by Dickey with 10:47 left. West Georgia went for the two point PAT and made it. Darien Lane intercepted
David Thomas pass and returned it for a 27 yards touchdown. Brackett PAT kick was blocked by Shaquilla Wallace and Keith Richburg, Jr., picked up the pigskin returning it for a two point defensive PAT with 9:41 to go. West Georgia led 37-36.
Thomas on an 11 play, 80 yard drive capped the scoring with a 1-yard rushing touchdown for the game winner. Miles elected to go for two points on the PAT conversion; Thomas completed his pass to tight-end
Ronnie Garcia. Final score Miles 44, West Georgia 37.
The Wolves put up a last minute drive, but Miles defense pushed back, while holding West Georgia and taking over on downs with 33 seconds left in the game. West Georgia started the drive on their 31, and finished on Miles 13. On first down, Trainor completed a 4-yard pass to Daniel Youself, second down, Trainor pass was dropped and on third and six, Trainor rushed for three yards. On fourth and three, Trainor's pass to Bobby Burum was broken-up by Miles'
Joe Beckham, thus turning ball over Miles on downs.
On defense, linebacker
Reginald Virges led the team with 19 tackles (10 solo and 9 assist) and one breakup, while defensive back
Keith Richburg, Jr. had 13 tackles and linebacker
Julantate English finished with 11 tackles.
Miles will travel to Albany, GA on Saturday, September 22 as they play the Golden Rams of Albany State University at 6 p.m.
