CARROLLTON, Ga. – It wasn’t pretty but the third ranked North Alabama Lions got the job done at Grisham Stadium as UNA downed the West Georgia Wolves 26-16.

The win improves UNA’s record to 9-0 overall and the Lions are now 7-0 in Gulf South Conference play. West Georgia falls to 1-8 overall and 1-6 in the GSC. UNA led 13-7 at the half and extended its lead to 26-10 in the third quarter before a late West Georgia score. The Braves failed on their two-point conversion try and did not threaten in the final minutes.

North Alabama scored on its first possession of the second half as A.J. Milwee swung a pass out to Jason Messing and he carried it 32 yards to the end zone. Yuta Fukuda’s extra-point attempt hit the left upright but UNA had extended its lead to 19-7. West Georgia had a first-and-goal at the UNA seven but the Lion defense held and the Wolves had to settle for a 22-yard Casey Hale field goal. That made the score 19-10 with 3:41 left in the third period. It took UNA just five plays to answer with a touchdown.

Anthony Merritt returned the kickoff 36 yards to the West Georgia 46 and Tim Hicks rushed twice for 28 yards and caught a pass for 15 yards to move the ball to the Wolves’ three. Milwee then lobbed a TD pass to a wide-open Merritt for the touchdown. Fukuda’s PAT extended the lead to 26-10 with 1:33 left in the third.

West Georgia finally got back in the end zone with just 1:37 left in the game as Ryan Poole passed 10 yards to Jaybriel Holdbrook for the touchdown. The try for two failed but West Georgia had closed the gap to 26-16.  UNA’s Jason Messing recovered the on-side kick and the Lions held on for the win.

West Georgia out-gained UNA 380 yards to 288. James Kennebrew rushed for 184 yards on 22 carries and West Georgia rushed for 161 yards and passed for 219. UNA’s Milwee was 21-of-32 passing for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Messing led Lion receivers with five catches for 62 yards. West Georgia’s defense proved tough early but UNA managed to get on the board with a field goal late in the first quarter. The Lions had a first-and-goal at the West Georgia three-yard line but ended up with a fourth-and-goal at the 25. Yuta Fukuda then booted a 42-yard field goal to give UNA a 3-0 lead with 4:08 left in the opening quarter.

North Alabama found the end zone on its next possession as the Lions drove 58 yards in nine plays. A.J. Milwee passed 10 yards to Jason Messing for the touchdown and Fukuda’s PAT made it 10-0 with 13:32 left in the half. West Georgia mounted its first offensive threat of the half with just five minutes left when James Kennebrew broke a 35-yard run to the five-yard line. Casey Hale added the extra-point and UNA’s lead was cut to 10-7 with 2:21 left in the second period. North Alabama answered the score with a field goal just before the half as the Lions moved from their own 39 to the Wolves 16. Fukuda then came on an booted a 33-yard field goal with just six seconds left in the half to make it 13-7.