MAGNOLIA, Ark. –  The University of West Alabama football team came out on the short end of a five overtime affair at Southern Arkansas, falling 38-30 to the Muleriders in the Gulf South Conference Game of the Week. A 4th and goal pass to Jason Hawkins fell incomplete on the Tigers’ (3-1, 1-1 GSC) final play of the game.

Ryan McCombie’s one yard rush in the fifth OT put SAU (1-2, 1-1 GSC) up 36-30. McCombie then converted the two-point conversion to lift the Riders to their first win of the season.

The two teams fought to a scoreless tie through the first three quarters of play. Maurice Thornton scored the first points of the game on a 28 yard interception return for a score. UWA answered with a six play, 42 yard drive that was capped by a Dameon Baylor's 14 yard run.

UWA, which missed three field goals in the game, logged 439 yards of total offense in the game, which ranks eighth most under Wallace and second most this season. Baylor, a Meridian, Miss.-native, finished the game with 96 yards on the ground and two TDs in the contest. Gerald Worsham led the Tiger pass catchers with 113 yards on six receptions. Deon Williams went 17-of-34 with 242 yards through the air with two INTs in the game.

SAU finished with 500 yards of total offense, including 328 on the ground. The rush total is the most allowed by the UWA defense this season, surpassing Arkansas Tech’s 248 yards last week.

West Alabama returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 26 as UWA travels to Valdosta State for GSC action. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcasted on FOX Sports, WSLY 104.9 FM and at athletics.uwa.edu.