FLORENCE – The third ranked University of North Alabama Lions scored on the first possession of the game and never looked back on the way to a 55-7 blowout win over West Georgia in a Gulf South Conference contest at Braly Stadium.

 

UNA, now 4-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play, led 27-7 at the half and outscored the Wolves 28-0 over the final two periods. The Lions finished with 425 yards of total offense and didn’t commit a turnover, while recovering two West Georgia fumbles and blocking a punt for a touchdown.

 

The win was UNA’s 21^st consecutive regular season home win ar Braly Stadium and the Lions’ 14^th straight home win overall. It was also UNA’s fifth straight win over West Georgia. The Wolves fall to 0-4 with the loss and have now lost 18 straight games dating back to 2007.

 

For the fourth straight week the Lions scored on their opening possession, marching 80 yards in 12 plays after taking the opening kickoff.

 

Marcus Sims pushed in from two yards out for his fifth touchdown of the season. Kenny Spencer added the extra point and UNA led 7-0 at the 10:47 mark of the first quarter.

 

The Lions second touchdown came on a 21-yard pass from Harrison Beck to Preston Parker with 3:30 left in the quarter and capped a six-play, 57-yard drive. Spencer’s PAT made it 14-0.

 

Spencer added two field golas in the second quarter when UNA drives stalled. His first was from 20 yards out with 11:44 left in he half. His second was from 26 yards with 9:49 remaining in the second period to make it 20-0.

 

West Georgia got on the scoreboard at the 7:33 mark of the second quarter when Yusuf Holloway fumbled at the UNA one but lineman Spencer Romero recovered in the end zone for a Wolves TD. Adi Brkic booted the PAT to make it 20-7.

 

UNA’s final points of the half came when Jusmon Rivers blocked a Wolves’ punt and Harrison Bryant recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. Spencer’s PAT made it 27-7 at 2:14 of the second period.

 

West Georgia missed on a 25-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the half.

 

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, UNA’s J.J. Johnson pulled the ball away from West Georgia back Yusuf Holloway and returned it to the Wolves’ 19 yard-line. Two plays later Beck hit Charles McClain with a 17-yard scoring pass. Spencer’s PAT made it 34-7 at 14:08 of the third quarter. Beck hit T.J. Porter with a 15-yard TD pass with 9:17 left in the third to push UNA’s lead to 41-7.

 

The Lions tacked on a two-yard TD dive by Jamaal Edwards with 38 seconds left in the third quarter and an 18-yard touchdown scamper by Brandenn Pickett with 7:57 left in the game to make the final count 55-7.

 

Beck completed 20 of 36 passes for 268 yards and three TDs. The Lions had 10 different receivers catch passes in the game, led by Preston Parker with five catches for 51 yards.

 

UNA plays at Harding next Saturday, Sept. 26, in another GSC battle. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.