October 2, 2004
NORTH ALABAMA DOMINATES CENTRAL ARKANSAS IN GSC SHOWDOWN (BOX
SCORE)
FLORENCE, Ala. – North Alabama’s
defense completely dominated Central Arkansas and the Lions’ offense
kicked in in the second half as the Lions rolled to a 31-3 win over
the Bears in a key Gulf South Conference showdown at Braly Stadium.
North Alabama, 3-2 overall and 2-2
in the GSC, led 3-0 at the half and added four touchdowns in the
final two quarters for the win.
It was UNA’s 10th straight win at
home and second win this season over a nationally ranked team. The
Bears came into the game with a 4-1 record and ranked 20th in the
NCAA Division II.
UNA’s defensive effort resulted in
the least points scored by Central Arkansas since 1995 and was the
first time the Bears scored less than 10 points since a 35-6 loss to
UNA in 1997. North Alabama finished with 421 total yards, with 153
rushing and 268 passing. UCA was limited to 141 rushing yards and
141 passing, completing just 20 of 41 passes with three
interceptions.
North Alabama had four field goal
attempts in the first half but Beau Tanner was only able to hit on
one, connecting on a 37-yarder with 13 seconds left in the first
quarter.
UNA took the opening possession of
the second half and marched 80 yards for a touchdown. Vinnie Saylor,
who transferred to UNA from Central Arkansas two years ago, hit
Jaron Fountain with a 20-yard touchdown pass. Tanner’s PAT made it
10-0 with 11:54 left in the third quarter.
A 28-yard Garrett Morgan field goal
closed the gap to 10-3 with 2:53 left in the third, but UNA answered
quickly with an 11-yard TD pass from Saylor to Chip Long. Tanner’s
PAT made it 17-3 with 2:00 left in the third.
Just before the end of the third
quarter, UNA’s Anthony Merritt got his second return TD of the
season, taking a punt back 73 yards for the score. The PAT made it
24-3 with four seconds left in the third.
The game’s final score came on a two-yard DeMarcus Blount run with
6:15 left in the game.
It was Blount’s 46th career touchdown.
Randy Banks was a standout on
defense for UNA. Starting in place of the injured Donald Tharpe,
Banks finished with 12 tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception
and two pass break-ups.
North Alabama hosts Southern Arkansas next Saturday at Braly Stadium
at 6 p.m. |
