FLORENCE --  For the first time since 1987 the University of West Alabama Tigers defeated the University of North Alabama at Braly Stadium, forcing turnovers in the final two overtime periods to pull out a 31-28, four overtime win over the No. 1 ranked Lions.

After DeAntuan Matthews picked off a Harrison Beck pass in the fourth extra period, the Tigers Brock Sharp booted a 44-yard field goal for the win.

With the loss, UNA falls to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the Gulf South Conference. The Lions had already clinched the 2009 GSC title. West Alabama is now 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the GSC.

The win was the first by the Tigers in Florence since the final game of the 1987 season. Ironically that loss was UNA’s final game before Bobby Wallace was hired as the Lions’ head coach. Wallace, now head coach at West Alabama, led the Tigers to the huge upset win as they knocked UNA from the ranks of the unbeaten. With losses by UNA and Minnesota State-Mankato Saturday, Central Washington remains the only team in the NCAA Division II without a loss.

UNA took a 3-0 lead on its opening possession of the game but struggled offensively for most of the rest of the night. Trailing 14-6  in the fourth quarter, UNA tied the game with an 11-yard pass from Beck to Mico McSwain with 4:43 left in the game, and a two-point conversion pass from Beck to T.J. Porter.

Both teams scored touchdowns in the first two overtimes, and a defensive stand by the Lions in the third overtime gave UNA a chance to put the game away. But on a second down call, the Tigers forced a UNA fumble and ended  the threat, forcing a fourth overtime.

On the second play of the final overtime, Beck was picked off and the Tigers had their chance. West Alabama gained just four yards in three plays and Sharp was called on to attempt the game winner.

The loss was the first-ever regular season home loss by UNA’s senior class, after winning 19 in a row.

UNA drove 59 yards on the opening possession of the game but stalled deep in West Alabama territory  and Kenny Spencer booted a 38-yard field goal to make it 3-0  with 10:14 left in the first quarter.  West Alabama answered with a scoring drive of its own as Deon Williams hit Terry Allen with a 38-yard touchdown pass with 4:37 left in the first quarter. Sharp’s PAT made it 7-3.

Another Spencer field goal, this one from 29 yards, closed the gap to 7-6 with 11:17 left in the half.

Neither team scored in the third quarter and West Alabama extended its lead early in the fourth when Jason Hawkins caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Williams. Sharp’s PAT made it 14-6 with 14:05 left to play.

Following a punt return and a face mask penalty against West Alabama, the Lions took over at the UWA 33 and scored three plays later when Beck hit McSwain from 11 yards out. That closed the gap to 14-12. Beck then hit Porter with the two-point conversion pass to tie the game with 4:43 to play.

In the first overtime, West Alabama scored on the second play as Williams hit  Michael Townsend with a 24-yard TD pass. Sharp’s kick made it 21-14. UNA tied the score on its possession when Tim Hicks scored on a six-yard run. Spencer’s PAT made it 21-21.

Kenton Thornton caught a six-yard TD pass from Beck in the second OT to put UNA up 28-21 but West Alabama again tied it on an eight-yard run by Roosevelt Ross. The Tigers had to convert on a fourth-and-seven call to keep the drive alive.

In the third overtime West Alabama lost 15 yards on its possession and couldn’t convert on fourth-and-25. But UNA squandered the opportunity as Hicks was stripped of t the ball on UNA’s second play.

Beck was then picked off in the fourth OT to set up the game winning kick.

UNA lost a season-high four turnovers in the game and the Lions were penalized 16 times for 167 yards.

The Lions finished with 388 yards of total offense to just 256 for the Tigers.

The Lions will find out  their  post-season fate Sunday at 2 p.m. when the NCAA Division II playoff pairings are announced.