CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College football team dropped just their second home game of the year in a 42-28 loss to the University of West Florida on Saturday afternoon at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

The Choctaws (2-4, 0-4 GSC) celebrated "Fallen Military Heroes Day", recognizing the families of soldiers from the State of Mississippi who have died in action or following their military service.

The Argonauts (4-2, 2-1 GSC) opened the scoring with a couple of touchdowns on their first two drives, but junior Chris Manning picked off a pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown to cut the score to 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

After putting up another touchdown pass and field goal to end the first 30 minutes, UWF jumped out to a 23-7 advantage going into the halftime break.

Following a field goal to open the second half, the MC offense cracked the scoreboard when sophomore Alizee Chubbs trotted in from three yards out to cut the score to 26-14. The 8-play, 75-yard drive was aided by a couple 20-yard receptions from senior Michael Hodges Jr. and sophomore Chakel Gates.

Sophomore quarterback Khiran Williams was forced into action after senior Sharone Wright was injured in the first quarter. The Dothan, Ala. native went 22-of-38 for 248 yards and a touchdown, including finding Gates 11 times for 132 yards.

The Argos answered with a quick touchdown and field goal to push the lead back to 36-14, but Williams rushed in from six yards out in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to cut the game to a two-score contest.

UWF put the game away on their next drive, going 83 yards on eight plays in 4:51, capping things off with a 13-yard run from quarterback Gray Jackson to make the score 42-21.

The Choctaws would go 74 yards on their next possession as Williams found Hodges for a 5-yard score, but the ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Argos to end the threat.

Manning and sophomore Da'Quan Lewis led the Choctaws with seven tackles apiece, while senior JaQarius Scott and freshmen Julian Charles and Courtney Allen had tackles for loss. Allen had his first career sack in the contest, while sophomore Keith Harison picked off a pass in the first half.

Kaleb Nobles led the UWF offense with 282 passing yards and four touchdowns, while Antoine Griffin caught eight passes for 108 yards and two scores.

Trent Archie and Joshua Smiley each had seven tackles to lead the Argos.

The Choctaws will celebrate "Homecoming" next Saturday when they host Valdosta State at 3:00 p.m. at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
 
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
 
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu
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