MONMOUTH, Ore. (Oct. 10) – Redshirt sophomore quarterback
Phillip Fenumiai entered the game in the early minutes of the third quarter, amassed 117 yards of total offense, and played integral parts in the go-ahead and eventual game-winning scores, as Western Oregon held off No. 6 North Alabama, 24-22, on Saturday afternoon at McArthur Field.
The Wolves extended their winning streak to two games and exacted some revenge from a 30-10 loss to the Lions in Florence, Ala. last season. WOU is now 3-3 on the season with the victory in non-conference play.
Fenumiai took the field general duties in a 10-10 tie after starting quarterback
David Sowards was hit on a pass attempt with eight minutes left in the third quarter. The first play of the day should have been a precursor to the success the Wolves would have with Fenumiai under center. Facing a third down and long situation, a completion to sophomore
Maurice McSwain extended the drive.
North Alabama posted a pair of field goals from Kevin Henke to take a 16-10 advantage with 11:24 left in the game.
Fenumiai engineered a Wolves rally on the next series, calling his own number on five of the drive's six plays. After an opening rush of five yards, a completion on third down to freshman
Malik Braxton put the ball near midfield. Braxton then took the next handoff and sped through a large opening in the line to scamper for 45 yards. Two plays later, Fenumiai rolled off the right side for a 13-yard scoring run to give the Wolves a lead, 17-16.
The Western Oregon defense played solidly all day, including forcing a UNA punt to start an important drive at the WOU 35-yard line. Fenumiai carried the ball on four of the first five plays of the series putting the Wolves in the red zone. On third down, the quarterback evaded trouble by rolling to his left and hit junior tight end
Andy Avgi in the end zone for an 8-yard score to bump the WOU lead to 24-16.
North Alabama answered with an 11-play, 68-yard scoring drive, but a tying two-point conversion was batted down near the goal line. The Lions regained possession with a successful on-side kick at midfield. Needing a field goal for a comeback win, the Lions drove down to the WOU 23 on second down. UNA quarterback Luke WIngo was picked off by senior linebacker
Jonathan Breland for the second time in the game to hold off the Lions' rally.
Sowards was solid in the offense prior to his departure. He connected on 11-of-22 passes for 155 yards through the air.
Western Oregon had a 10-0 lead after the first quarter after a Jose Correa 39-yard field goal and a TD pass from sophomore
Paul Revis on a fake punt. North Alabama scored a TD late in the second quarter to slice the WOU edge at halftime to 10-7.
UNA finished the game with a 401-332 edge in total offense, but the Lions turned the ball over five times compared to one for Western Oregon.
The Wolves were led by senior linebacker
Shane Kuenzi with 14 tackles and a forced fumble.
Tyler Johnson had six stops while
Danny Hankins added the team's third interception.
Western Oregon returns to Great Northwest Athletic Conference play next Saturday (Oct. 17) when they host Central Washington on Homecoming afternoon. Kickoff against the Wildcats is set for 1:05 p.m. Pacific.
