University of North Alabama Athletics

FLORENCE � The University of North Alabama defense dominated much of Saturday's scrimmage at Braly Stadium as the Lions completed their third week of spring workouts. Defensive end Tim Hunt led the charge with three sacks and Donald Tharpe and defensive tackle Dusty Shack added two sacks apiece. Tharpe also added a tackle for a 10-yard loss on an option pitch and even dropped into coverage and broke up a pass. UNA has changed its defensive scheme this spring under new coordinator Karl Morgan. Tharpe said he is enjoying playing in the new 4-3 alignment. �This defense really uses our athletes and maximizes our talents,� he said. �We did a lot of good things defensively today. We still have to do a better job forcing turnovers, but we did a good job getting to the ball.� With No. 1 quarterback Vinnie Saylor out for the rest of spring practice with a shoulder injury, backups Joe Riner and Brett Wilcutt split time running the first-team offense in Saturday�s second scrimmage of the spring. �The defense just wore our offense out,� UNA coach Mark Hudspeth said.
�With Vinnie out, we really struggled at quarterback, and the defense took advantage of it. They brought a lot of pressure, and we didn�t handle it very well.� Riner completed 8-of-12 passes for 69 yards and was intercepted once. He was sacked four times. Wilcutt completed 9-of-15 passes for 71 yards and did not throw an interception. He was also sacked four times. �We just had no consistency at quarterback,� Hudspeth said. �We missed a lot of easy throws. Our protection was not good, but at times the quarterbacks did not get rid of the ball quickly enough. We�ve got to get better quarterback play.� The offense did not even get in field goal range on its first 10 possessions. It finally scored on a 35-yard drive. Riner ran a keeper 30 yards to set up Blount�s 1-yard scoring run. The only other touchdown came late in the scrimmage against the third-team defense. Although he was disappointed in the play of the offense, Hudspeth said the defense showed it has the potential to be an outstanding group in the fall. �Our defense has looked as good as it has in any of the past four springs,� Hudspeth said. �We have tremendous speed on our entire defense, and they also play very physical." UNA will practice Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week before concluding spring practice with the annual Purple/White game at Braly Stadium on Saturday. The game will begin at 10 a.m.