FLORENCE – Quarterback Harrison Beck threw for a school record 431 yards and five touchdowns and the University of North Alabama defense forced five turnovers as the Lions celebrated their 2009 Homecoming with a 42-17 rout of Arkansas Tech at Braly Stadium.

Tech entered the game averaging better than 40 points per game but the Lions held the Wonder Boys to just 10 points before allowing a late  score with just 28 seconds to play.

The UNA offense, meanwhile, hit Arkansas Tech for numerous big plays as Beck threw for TDs to four different receivers.

The third ranked Lions, now 6-0 overall, are now alone in first place in the Gulf South Conference with a 4-0 league mark after Ouachita Baptist lost to Arkansas-Monticello.

UNA finished with 496 yards of total offense, picking up 463 through the air and 33 on the ground. Senior receiver Mico McSwain set a UNA record with 210 receiving yards on seven catches. He broke a 29-year old record of 187 yards set by Jerry Hill against Jacksonville State in 1980.

Tech falls to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the GSC with the loss.

After both teams struggled to move the ball in the first half, UNA put together an 11-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Harrison Beck to T.J. Porter. Kenny Spencer’s extra-point gave UNA a 7-0 lead at the 2:11 mark of the first quarter. UNA’s drive was set up by a Svante Davenport interception that ended an ATU scoring threat at the Lions’ 34 yard line.

Arkansas Tech quickly answered with a 10-play, 86-yard drive. Nick Graziano faked a handoff up the middle and then beat the UNA defenders to the left corner of the end zone on a one-yard bootleg run. Travis Cockerham’s PAT tied the game with 13:02 left in the second quarter.

UNA was back in the end zone less than two minutes later as Beck hit a wide-open Kenton Thornton in the back right corner of the end zone from 11 yards out. The TD pass capped a six-play, 79-yard drive in just 1:45. Spencer’s kick made it 14-7 with 11:17 remaining in the half.

An interception by Quinton Andrews at the UNA 40 ended another ATU threat and UNA then marched 60 yards in just four plays for another score. Beck got his third TD pass of the half when he found Preston Parker open for a 13-yard touchdown reception. Spencer’s kick made it 21-7 with 6:31 left in the half.

Cockerham booted a 30-yard field goal for the Wonder Boys with 2:10 left in the half  to close UNA’s lead to 21-10 but the Lions responded with another score of their own. UNA went 71 yards in just seven plays and 1:38 off the clock to score its fourth touchdown on the half. Wes Holland circled right end from six yards out for the TD and Spencer’s kick made it 28-10 with 32 seconds left.  Tech drove into UNA territory and attempted a 39-yard field goal on the final play of the half but it was blocked by UNA’s Albert Russell.

UNA gained 322 yards in the first half, with 286 through the air,  despite being penalized 16 times for 131 yards.

The only score of the third quarter came on a 24-yard TD pass from Beck to Preston Parker with 5:12 left in the quarter. Spencer’s PAT made it 35-10. Then with 14:05 left in the game, McSwain took a short pass from Beck and turned it into a 59-yard TD reception.  Spencer’s kick made it 42-10.

ATU’s Roger Jackson scored on a four-yard TD pass from Kevin Puckett with 28 seconds left in the game to make the final 42-17.

UNA hosts North Greenville next Thursday at Braly Stadium at 7 p.m.