ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The University of North Alabama rallied to take the lead at the end of the first half and the UNA offense kicked into high gear over the final two periods as the Lions recorded a 43-26 win in their Gulf South Conference opener against Henderson State.

 

UNA trailed for the first time this season when the Reddies went up 12-7 late in the first quarter but the Lions rallied to take a 22-20 lead at intermission. The Lions scored on their first two possessions of the second half and added a fourth quarter TD to secure the win.

 

The win was UNA’s 14^th straight over Henderson State, 20^th consecutive win over GSC schools from the state of Arkansas and seventh straight win in a GSC opener.

 

The third ranked Lions, now 3-0 overall, finished with 516 yards of total offense. Quarterback Harrison Beck was 31-of-47 passing for 362 yards and one touchdown. Senior running back Tim Hicks had the best night of his career with 104 yards rushing on 10 carries and senior receiver T.J. Porter had 10 receptions for 97 yards. Henderson State, now 0-3 overall, rushed for 127 yards and passed for 189. HSU quarterback Roch Charpentier completed 20 of 34 passes for 189 yards and four TDs but was picked off three times.

 

For the third straight game the Lions scored the first time they had the football as the UNA offense marched 66 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. A 20-yard run by Tim Hicks and a 23-yard pass from Harrison Beck to Mico McSwain helped set up the score. Marcus Sims powered in for the final two yards and the touchdown. Kenny Spencer’s PAT gave UNA a 7-0 lead at the 10:40 mark of the first quarter.

 

Henderson State answered immediately with a touchdown drive of its own. The Reddies went 71 yards in nine plays for the score, marking the first points UNA has allowed in the first quarter this season. Roch Charpentier was hit as he tied to pass but the ball fluttered three yards into the end zone and into the hands of Andy Anderson. Blake Allen’s extra-point attempt hit the upright and UNA still led 7-6 at the 6:10 mark of the first quarter.

 

Beck was intercepted on UNA’s next possession and the Reddies were back in the end zone just four plays later. On a fourth-and-two call at the UNA 43 yard-line, Charpentier dumped a screen to Stefon Ceaser who went 43 yards down the right sideline to the end zone. On the try-for-two, Charpentier was picked off and UNA’s Quinton Andrews returned it the length of the field for a defensive extra-point for the Lions. The score closed Henderson’s lead to 12-9 at 4:03 in the first quarter.

Following the ensuing kickoff, UNA went 58 yards in 10 plays for a go-ahead touchdown. Beck hit T.J. Porter on a middle screen for the final seven yards and the TD. Spencer’s PAT gave UNA a 16-12 lead at 14:24 of the second quarter.

 

Henderson State came back with an 11-play, 75-yard drive to retake the lead. Charpentier hit Michael Buse with a 13-yard pass for the score. Charpentier hit Charles Lewis with the two-point conversion and HSU led 20-16 with 8:04 left in the half.

 

The Lions appeared to be ready to quickly take the lead back but Tim Hicks was stripped of the ball just short of the goal-line and it went out the back of the end zone, ending the threat.

 

UNA’s defense forced a punt on the next possession and the Lions got a 25-yard field goal from Spencer with 1:22 left in the half to close the score to 20-19. After a Jason Tate interception on the next HSU possession, UNA moved to the Henderson four yard-line before settling for a 28-yard Spencer field goal with 10 seconds left in the half, giving North Alabama a 22-20 lead.

 

UNA added to its lead on the first possession of the second half. Aided by a pair of 15-yard penalties against the Reddies, UNA went 60 yards in seven plays for the score. Beck went over the top of the line from one yard out for the touchdown. Spencer’s PAT gave UNA a 29-20 lead with 11:46 left in the third period.

The Lions forced an HSU punt and quickly put the ball back in the end zone. The Lions marched 80 yards in nine plays for its fourth TD of the night. A 41-yard run by Hicks put UNA deep in HSU territory and Jamaal Edwards went the final three yards to the end zone. Spencer’s kick extended UNA’s lead to 36-20 with 6:09 left in the third quarter.

 

North Alabama was again on the move at the end of the third quarter but a Beck pass was picked off at the Reddie’s 15-yard line by Brian McKnight. The UNA defense got tha ball back three plays later as Jason Tate made a huge hit on a Reddie receiver and Brandon Fanney caught the deflected pass for his first interception of the season. UNA moved to the HSU 28 before the drive stalled and Spencer was wide left on a 45-yard field goal attempt with 12:01 remaining in the game.

 

The Reddies used the momentum of the missed field goal for a scoring opportunity of their own. The drive was capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Charpentier to Chris Evering with 10:33 left in the game. UNA stuffed the Reddies on the try for two but Henderson State had cut UNA’s lead to just 10 points at 36-26.

North Alabama put the game on ice on its next possession, however, burning almost seven minutes off the clock on a 14-play, 79-yard drive. Wes Holland scored on a four-yard run to cap the drive and Spencer’s PAT made it 43-26 with 3:45 left in the game.

 

On the next possession Henderson State threw long over the middle but a tremendous hit by Andrews jarred the ball from the HSU receiver and it was picked off by UNA’s Nicholas Walker.

 

The 362 passing yards by UNA was the ninth best output in school history.

 

UNA returns home on Sept. 19 to host West Georgia at 6 p.m. at Braly Stadium.