MONTICELLO, Ark. – A pair of defensive stands by the University of North Alabama in the fourth quarter helped secure a 27-13 win over Arkansas-Monticello and give the Lions an undisputed Gulf South Conference championship in the process.

In a game played on a soggy, muddy surface at Cotton Boll Stadium due to heavy rains, the Lions took a 14-0 lead in the first half and had to hold off the Boll Weevils in the fourth quarter. With UNA holding on to a 27-13 lead, UAM twice got inside the UNA ten-yard line in the final seven minutes but was turned away both times.

UNA, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II, is now 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the GSC. UAM falls to 4-6 and 3-4.

The GSC football title is the ninth in UNA history. The win also gives UNA 10 or more wins in five consecutive seasons.

UNA finished the game with 397 yards of total offense, picking up 289 through the air and 108 on the ground. The Lions turned the ball over four times but also recovered two UAM fumbles and blocked a kick.

UNA quarterback Harrison Beck was 22-of-36 for 289 yards and one score and Charles McClain caught 10 passes for 120 yards. Marcus Sims rushed for a season-high 77 yards on 10 carries.

North Alabama extended several streaks as the Lions recorded their 23^rd straight win over schools from the state of Arkansas , their 13^th straight win over GSC schools, their 13^th straight regular season win, their 12 straight  road win in Arkansas and their 10^th straight win in a GSC game.

North Alabama scored on its opening possession of the game as the Lions drove 55 yards in 12 plays for the game’s first touchdown. Beck was five-for six on the drive for 44 yards, and Tim Hicks covered the final six yards around left end for the touchdown. Kenny Spencer’s PAT made it 7-0 with 6:55 left in the first quarter.

The Lions stopped a UAM scoring threat on the ensuing possession when Albert Russell recovered a Boll Weevil fumble at the UNA 19 yard-line. The Lions returned the favor moments later, however, when Charles McClain was stripped of the ball after an 18-yard pass reception. The UNA defense held again to force a punt and the Lions were quickly on the move again. Starting at their own 27, the Lions drove to the UAM 32 before Beck was hit while trying to pass and the Boll Weevils recovered the fumble.

After a series of punts, UNA got the ball at ts own 20 and drove 80 yards in seven plays for the game’s next score. Beck threw a 40-yard pass down the right sideline to McClain, then hit T.J. Porter for 16 more. Beck then ended the drive with an 18-yard TD toss to Antyon Gray in the right corner of the end zone. Spencer’s PAT made it 14-0 with 1:45 left in the half. Beck was five-for-five on the drive for 79 yards.

UNA extended its lead to 21-0 on its first possession of the second half  as the Lions marched 60 yards in just six plays for the score. The key play in the drive was a 43-yard pass from Beck to McClain to the UAM 13. Two plays later Hicks scored on a seven-yard run with 12:22 left in the third quarter. Spencer’s kick made it 21-0.

After the UNA defense held UAM to a three-and-out, the Lions gave the Boll Weevils a scoring opportunity when Beck was picked off by James Jackson.  After two pass completions covered 31 yards, UAM’s Scott Buisson circled left end and raced 43 yards to the end zone. Joe Lamoureux kicked the PAT to make it 21-7 with 9:47 left in the third.

After a UNA punt, the Boll Weevils mounted a drive to the UNA 10 before Buisson fumbled as he was being sacked. UNA defensive end Brandon Fanney recovered the ball but fumbled it back to UAM at the Lions 36. With a fresh set of down, the Boll Weevils scored, aided by three penalties against the Lions that accounted for 31 of the 36 yards. Back-up quarterback Casey Cathcart dove in from one yard out for the touchdown with 4:18 left in the third. The Lions’ Derrick Chatman blocked the extra point attempt to keep the score at 21-13.

UNA extended its lead early in the fourth quarter with a five-play, 59-yard drive to the end zone. Marcus Sims raced through the right side and broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run. It was his 10^th score of the season. Spencer’s extra-point attempt hit the left upright but UNA led 27-13 with 13:26 left in the game.

The Boll Weevills drove 69 yards on their ensuing possession but the Lions Darron Dampier stopped the scoring threat when he knocked Steven Porter out of bounds at the UNA one-yard line on a fourth-and-goal try from the 10.

The Lions were able to run almost five minutes off the clock before punting but again had to stop UAM on a fourth-and-goal call from the six as Buisson’s pass fell incomplete.

 

UNA hosts West Alabama in its regular-season finale at Braly Stadium on November 7.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.