LIONS DOMINATE BOLL WEEVILS (BOX SCORE)

FLORENCE -- North Alabama scored a school-record 46 points in the first half and rolled to a 59-21 Gulf South Conference win over Arkansas-Monticello at Braly Stadium. UNA, now 2-0 overall and ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II national poll, allowed UAM scores on the Boll Weevils first two possessions but then stifled Monticello the rest of the way. The Lion offense kicked in in the second quarter, scoring another school-record 31 points in coming back from a 14-13 deficit to take a 46-14 lead at intermission. UNA gained 379 total yards in the first half alone and finished with 450 yards.

UAM scored on second play from scrimmage when Craig Reed raced 65 yards for a touchdown.

UNA answered with a six-play, 52-yard drive to tie it, with DeMarcus Blount going the final eight yards for the score at the 12:35 mark of the first period.

Monticello came right back and scored on a 15-yard TD pass from Cory Allred to Von Mixon and the Lions again answered, scoring in just one play. Blount fired a halfback pass to Marcus Lewis for a 68-yard touchdown pass. Beau Tanner’s PAT was blocked, however, and UNA trailed 14-13 with 8:50 left in the first quarter.

The UNA defense then took over in the second quarter, holding UAM scoreless.

UNA got four touchdowns and two safeties in the quarter. Martin Huggins scored on an 85-yard touchdown pass from Vinnie Salor, Blount scored on an eight-yard run and Chris Gunn scrambled 22 yards for a score to make it 35-14. Dusty Shack then sacked Allred for a safety and UNA returned the free kick to the Boll Weevils 31. Six plays later Randy Vickers scored on a nine-yard run and it was 44-14 with 6:41 left in the game.

After another UNA defensive stand, Monticello’s punter stepped on the back-line of the end zone for another safety and a 46-14 UNA lead.

Tanner provided the only offense in the third quarter, hitting a 31-yard field goal with 10:21 left to make it 49-14.

UAM’s only other score came on a 13-yard Jermaine Madison fumle return at the 11:48 mark of the fourth quarter.

UNA added a four-yard Brioni Rutland TD run and a 28-yard Tanner field goal to make it 59-21.

The Lions are 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Gulf South Conference. UAM is 1-2 and 0-1. The win also gives UNA a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series.

Saylor was 7-for-15 for UNA for 140 yards and one touchdown. Blount had 75 yards rushing on nine carries and scored twice, giving him 43 career touchdowns in just over two years at UNA.

UAM’s Cory Allred was just 16-for-39 for 174 yards.