If you were in Carrollton, Georgia, on September 13, 2025, you felt it. That specific, vibrating energy of a program finally proving it belongs. It wasn’t just a random Saturday night at University Stadium; it was the night the Wolves truly announced their arrival in Division I.
East Tennessee State vs West Georgia was never supposed to be this dramatic. On paper, you had the Buccaneers—a program with a deep FCS history and a roster featuring high-profile transfers—going up against a West Georgia team still shaking off the "new kid" label in the United Athletic Conference.
But football doesn't care about your resume.
The Wolves pulled off a 35-31 stunner that left the ETSU faithful scratching their heads and the rest of the FCS taking notice. This game was a wild ride of lead changes, goal-line stands, and a fourth-quarter comeback that felt like it belonged in a movie script. Honestly, if you missed the final fifteen seconds, you missed the whole story.
The Night the Wolves Howled Back
For three quarters, it looked like East Tennessee State was going to cruise. They had the momentum. They had the lead. They had Jacolby Criswell slinging the ball with the kind of confidence that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep.
ETSU jumped out early. Jason Albritton punched in an 8-yard run to cap off a massive 16-play drive, and before the first quarter even ended, Criswell found Cole Keller for a 16-yard touchdown. By the time Karim Page hauled in a 31-yard strike in the second quarter, the Bucs were up 21-10.
It felt like the talent gap was just too wide.
ETSU’s quarterback situation was particularly interesting that night. They rotated between Jacolby Criswell and Cade McNamara. While McNamara struggled a bit, throwing two picks, Criswell was nearly flawless. He finished 5-for-8 for 108 yards and three touchdowns. Most teams would kill for that kind of efficiency.
But West Georgia had a secret weapon: Davin Wydner.
Wydner didn't have the cleanest stat line—he threw three interceptions—but he had "it." When the pressure mounted in the fourth quarter, he stopped seeing the ghosts of the first half and started seeing the open grass.
Turning Points and Statistical Oddities
The box score for East Tennessee State vs West Georgia is a mess of contradictions.
- Total Yardage: West Georgia outpaced ETSU 457 to 289.
- Time of Possession: The Wolves held the ball for nearly 37 minutes.
- Turnovers: West Georgia gave it away four times (three picks, one fumble).
Usually, when you lose the turnover battle 4-2 and give up three passing touchdowns, you lose. Period. But West Georgia’s defense, led by a relentless pass rush that sacked ETSU five times, kept the Bucs from ever truly pulling away.
The third quarter ended with ETSU leading 31-20 after Ewan Johnson nailed a career-long 46-yard field goal. At that point, the win probability for the Bucs was sitting comfortably high. Then, the fourth quarter started, and things got weird.
Why West Georgia Is No Longer an Underdog
The transition from Division II to Division I is usually a slow, painful grind. Most schools spend a few years getting kicked around by established programs before they find their footing. West Georgia apparently didn't get that memo.
The final ten minutes of this game were pure chaos.
Latrelle Murrell, who was basically a human highlight reel all night, caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Wydner to cut the lead to 31-28. Murrell finished the game with 116 rushing yards and 92 receiving yards. He was everywhere.
Then came the drive.
With less than a minute on the clock and the stadium practically shaking, Wydner orchestrated a 5-play, 71-yard masterclass. It only took 27 seconds. He capped it off with a 2-yard pass to Devion Newson with just 15 seconds remaining.
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35-31.
ETSU tried one last desperation heave, but it was intercepted. Game over.
What This Means for the Buccaneers
For East Tennessee State, this loss was a bitter pill. They had the lead. They had the better turnover margin. They had the "pedigree."
However, the Bucs showed some serious bright spots that will serve them well in the SoCon. Their defense is opportunistic—picking off three passes in a single game isn't a fluke. William Wells was a tackling machine with 11 stops, and freshman Brian Alston getting his first career sack is a sign of good things to come.
The real question for ETSU moving forward is the quarterback split. Seeing McNamara (a name everyone knows from his Big Ten days) and Criswell share snaps is a luxury, but it also creates a rhythm challenge. Criswell was clearly the hot hand in Carrollton.
The Regional Rivalry Nobody Saw Coming
While we focus on football, it's worth noting that the East Tennessee State vs West Georgia matchup is starting to bleed into other sports too.
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Just a week before the football thriller, the women's soccer teams met, with ETSU taking a 2-0 victory. We’re seeing these two schools pop up on each other’s schedules more frequently as West Georgia settles into its DI skin.
There’s a natural geographic logic here. Johnson City and Carrollton aren't exactly next-door neighbors, but they’re close enough to spark a regional recruiting war. If West Georgia keeps knocking off established programs like ETSU, they’re going to start stealing the three-star recruits that usually head to the SoCon.
Actionable Takeaways for the Rest of the Season
If you're betting on or following these teams, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the West Georgia Pass Rush: Five sacks against a line like ETSU's is no joke. They are fast off the edge.
- The Murrell Factor: Latrelle Murrell is a legitimate pro prospect. If a defense doesn't spy him with a safety, he will rack up 200+ all-purpose yards easily.
- ETSU’s Red Zone Efficiency: The Bucs were 3-for-3 in the red zone during this matchup. They don't waste opportunities, which makes them dangerous even when they're being out-gained.
- Discipline Matters: ETSU had 86 penalty yards. In a four-point game, that’s the difference between a win and a loss.
West Georgia (3-0 after that win) proved they aren't just here to participate. They're here to compete. ETSU (1-2 at the time) had to go back to the drawing board, but the talent on that roster is undeniable.
The next time these two meet—currently scheduled for 2026 in Johnson City—expect a sellout. The "new kid" isn't new anymore; they're a problem.
Next Steps for Fans: Keep an eye on the United Athletic Conference standings to see if West Georgia can maintain this undefeated streak. For Buccaneers fans, look for the coaching staff to settle on a primary signal-caller to fix the offensive rhythm issues that plagued the second half of this game. Check the official athletic sites for updated ticket blocks for the 2026 rematch, as it’s expected to be a high-demand event.