SEARCY, Ark.
– The third ranked University of North
Alabama Lions scored touchdowns on eight of
their 11 possessions on the way to a 58-17
rout of Harding in the Gulf South Conference
opener for both schools.
UNA, now 2-0, led 31-10 at the half and went
on to the 41-point win in front of a crowd
of just over 3,000 at First Security
Stadium. The Lions rolled up 606 yards
of total offense on 76 plays, rushing for
248 and passing for 358.
Starting quarterback A.J. Milwee was
25-of-35 through the air for 333 yards and
three touchdowns. Freshman Brandenn Pickett
rushed for 106 yards on just five carries
and the Lions did not commit a turnover in
the game. Harding was limited to just
53 yards rushing in the game but managed 327
through the air.
The win was UNA’s fifth straight win in a
GSC opener and was the Lions’ 14th straight
regular-season win. Harding took the
opening kickoff and marched 50 yards for the
game’s first points. UNA stopped the Bisons
drive at the UNA 18 and Ryan Ferrell booted
a 41-yard field goal. Harding led 3-0 with
11:05 left in the opening period.
UNA answered with a field goal of its own
and Scott Shurden kicked a 47-yarder at the
7:37 mark of the opening quarter. The drive
was kept alive by a roughing the passer
penalty on Harding but finally fizzled at
the Harding 30 yardline.
Ferrell missed on a 41-yard field goal
attempt at 5:14 of the first quarter and
Shurden then missed from 36 yards at 3:37.
UNA took its first lead at 14:16 of the
second quarter when A.J. Milwee hit Reggie
Hubbard with a 15-yard TD pass. Shurden’s
PAT made it
10-3.
After a UNA fumble recovery by Chad Daniel,
the Lions scored three plays later as Milwee
connected with David McCants who scooted 19
yards down the sideline for a touchdown.
Shurden’s PAT extended the lead to 17-3. A
third Milwee TD pass, this time a one-yarder
to Brandon Alldredge, made it 24-3 at 7:31
of the second quarter.
Harding got a 26-yard TD pass from David
Knighton to Jordan Watson with 5:51 left in
the half to close the gap to 24-10 but the
Lions answered with one final scoring drive.
Tim Hicks scored from one yard out to make
it 31-10 at the half.
UNA has now scored 65 first half points in
its two games this season. North Alabama
opened the second half with another scoring
drive as Hicks scored on a two-yard run.
Shurden’s PAT attempt missed but UNA led
37-10. A one-yard David McCants dive was the
Lions’ sixth touchdown of the day and
Shurden’s PAT with 4:26 remaining in the
third quarter extended the margin to 44-10.
Following a 35-yard Harding TD run by Alan
Webster, UNA scored again as Dusty Goodwin
lobbed a nine-yard TD toss to Rocky Coleman.
Will Batson was good on his first
extra-point attempt of the season and UNA
led 51-17 with 14:56 left in the game.
Red-shirt freshman Brandenn Pickett went 91
yards for a touchdown on the third longest
run from scrimmage in UNA history for the
game’s final score. Batson’s PAT made the
final 58-17. The 58 points tied for the
fifth most points ever scored by a Lion
football team.
North Alabama hosts Southern Arkansas next
Saturday at Braly Stadium at 6 p.m.
Printable Game
Statistics - Game 2 - Harding
