Printable Game Statistics
MAGNOLIA, Ark.
-- The Terry Bowden era began with a lot of
new names on the University of North Alabama
roster, but it was the familiar faces that
helped stake the Lions to an early lead and
an eventual 41-9 win over the Southern
Arkansas Muleriders at Wilkins Stadium.
The game was Bowden’s first as a head coach
since October 17, 1998 and was his 112th
collegiate victory.
The sixth ranked Lions scored the first time
they touched the ball and went on to roll
over the Muleriders as returnees Charles
McClain, Tim Hicks and Nicholas Walker all
had first half TDs for UNA. With a 31-point
lead at intermission, the Lions cruised to
the 32-point victory.
The win improved UNA’s record against
Southern Arkansas to 9-4 and was the Lions’
eighth straight win over the Muleriders in
the series. It was also UNA’s 19th
consecutive win over schools from the state
of Arkansas dating back to 2005.
It didn’t take long for the Lions to find
the end zone as McClain returned an SAU punt
52 yards for a touchdown on the first play
that UNA touched the ball. McClain fielded
the ball in the middle of the field and
quickly moved behind a wall formed down the
right sideline, going untouched to the end
zone. It was McClain’s second career punt
return TD. Kenny Spencer added the extra
point to make it 7-0 at the 12:33 mark of
the first quarter.
UNA’s Michael Johnson recovered a Mulerider
fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the SAU 26
yardline but the Lions fumbled the ball back
three plays later to end the threat.
The North Alabama offense began to click
midway through the first quarter as the
Lions went on a 90-yard, nine-play drive for
their first offensive score. Harrison Beck
was four-for-five passing on the drive for
31 yards and Tim Hicks went the final 54
yards around right end to the end zone. It
was Hicks 13th career touchdown and first
since 2007 as he missed the 2008 season due
to injury. Spencer added the PAT and UNA led
14-0 at 2:36 of the first quarter.
Kenny Spencer missed on a 47-yard field goal
attempt that would have extended UNA’s lead.
The Muleriders later recovered a UNA fumble
at the Lions’ 39 and Noe Cuevas hit a
39-yard field goal for SAU’s first points of
the season. The kick came at 7:30 of the
second quarter and cut UNA’s lead to 14-3.
UNA answered quickly, driving 65 yards in 11
plays for a score. A 26-yard pass from Beck
to Jusmon Rivers moved the ball deep into
SAU territory and Marcus Sims rolled into
the end zone from three yards out for a
touchdown. Spencer’s kick made it 21-3 at
2:34 of the second quarter.
A mishandled kickoff had SAU backed up at
its one yardline and UNA’s Nicholas Walker
recovered a Mulerider fumble in the end zone
for the Lions’ fourth touchdown. Spencer’s
PAT made it 28-3 with 2:24 left in the
second.
North Alabama’s defense stuffed SAU on the
next possession and the Lions got the ball
again with 1:27 left in the half. Beck led a
42-yard TD drive for another score. Beck hit
Mico McSwain for a 36-yard gain and Sims
bulled in from the one for his second
touchdown. Spencer’s extra point attempt was
blocked but UNA led 34-3 at the half. The
blocked kick snapped a UNA streak of 79
consecutive made PATs.
The start of the second half was delayed for
almost 15 minutes due to lightning in the
area.
Southern Arkansas came out swinging in the
second half, stuffing UNA’s offense on its
first possession, then driving 65 yards for
its first TD of the season. UNA appeared to
have stopped the SAU drive but the Lions
were offsides on a fourth-and-two play that
gave the Muleriders new life. The Lions were
also called for a 15-yard personal foul
penalty on the drive. Mark Johnson went the
final three yards for the touchdown but
Cuevas extra-point attempt was blocked by
Dominique Duster. The score cut UNA’s lead
to 34-9 with 9:51 left in the third period.
UNA scored just over a minute later as
Jamaal Edwards went around left end from
four yards out for a touchdown. The score
was set up by passes of 31 and 40 yards from
Beck to Parker. Spencer’s PAT made it 41-9
with 8:18 left in the third quarter.
The Lions left themselves plenty of room for
improvement as UNA was penalized 13 times
for 124 yards, allowed six quarterback sacks
and fumbled the ball seven times, losing
two.
UNA finished with 59 yards rushing, 322
yards passing and 381 total yards. SAU was
held to just 44 yards rushing and 83 yards
passing for 127 total yards. Beck was
18-for-27 for 266 yards for UNA and Cory
Eddinger was eight-for-11 for 56 yards.
Hicks finished as UNA’s leading rusher with
four carries for 78 yards. Mico McSwain was
the top receiver with five catches for 65
yards. T.J. Porter had four grabs for 51
yards and Preston Parker had three catches
for 67.
The win was UNA’s seventh straight
season-opening victory and gives the Lions a
34-23-4 all-time record in its 61 alltime
season openers.
North Alabama will host Carson-Newman on
Saturday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. at Braly Stadium
in the Lions’ 2009 home opener and in
Bowden’s home debut at UNA.
