UNA
DOWNS HARDING 41-14 IN HOME OPENER
FLORENCE – Backup quarterback Dusty
Goodwin threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns
to lead No. 3 North Alabama to a 41-14 win over
Harding Thursday night in front of 11,051 fans
at Braly Stadium.
Facing a Harding squad that was averaging better
than 36 points per game, it was the North
Alabama offense that lit up the scoreboard,
radcing to a 34-0 lead.
The home opener for the Lions represented the
Gulf South Conference Game of the Week, and was
televised on Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS).
Goodwin, who entered the game in the second
quarter after starter A.J. Milwee was injured,
went 21-of-31 on the night as the Lions rolled
up more than 500 yards of total offense. Five
different UNA running backs gained at least 20
yards on the ground, including Eric Packer’s
67-yard performance.
The Lions got on the scoreboard first when
Milwee found Jonathan Douglas for a two-yard
touchdown pass. The score came at the 10:59 mark
in the first quarter and capped a six-play,
34-yard march on the Lions’ opening
possession.
After an interception ended UNA’s second drive
of the night, Milwee made the score 14-0 on a
12-yard scramble. The junior rushed four times
for 29 yard during the 11-play, 57-yard drive
that ended with 1:55 remaining in the first
quarter.
Milwee rushed for 38 yards in the first half
before a vicious hit during a first-down run
sidelined him and opened the door for Goodwin to
take the field.
The sophomore took full advantage of his
opportunity, connecting on a pair of touchdown
passes to extend the UNA lead. The first one
came just 3:43 into the second quarter when he
found Lonnell Dewatlt for the five-yard score. A
failed extra-point attempt made the score 20-0.
After
the Lions defense forced another Harding punt,
Goodwin connected with Reggie Hubbard from five
yards out with 6:41 remaining in the half. Yuta
Fukuda’s kick put UNA on top 27-0.
Jason Campbell helped the Lions close out the
scoring in the first half.
His interception with 5:29 remaining gave UNA a
first down at the Lion 28-yard line. Five plays
later, Anthony Merritt took a pitch towards the
right side of the field and passed to a
wide-open Jason Messing for a 35-yard touchdown.
Following Fukuda’s extra-point, Harding took the
ensuing possession and marched 79 yards for its
first points of the night. David Knighton found
Jonathan Paulson over the middle for the 11-yard
strike in the final minute to make the score
34-7 at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the two teams
traded touchdowns in the final period. On a
fourth-down play, Harding scored on a 43-yard
pass from Knighton to Darrick Ware. The Lions
responded, however, with a scoring drive of
their own. Goodwin hit Marcus Lewis from two
yards out to cap a 10-play, 57-yard drive that
sealed the win.
UNA, 2-0 overall, 1-0 in Gulf South Conference
play, will travel to Magnolia, Ark., on Sept. 23
for its next GSC showdown against Southern
Arkansas. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m.
Game 2 - Harding -
Printable Game Stats
