University of North Alabama Athletics

FLORENCE -- What a difference a week can make for the University of North Alabama football team! Entering last Saturday's game with Central Arkansas, the Lions had lost two straight and were on the verge of elimination from any chance to continue to compete for the Gulf South Conference title and a possible NCAA Division II playoff bid. But with an impressive 31-3 win at home over a 4-1 UCA team, the Lions now stand at 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the GSC with five league games left to play. That comeback road continues this Saturday with another home contest against Southern Arkansas at Braly Stadium at 6 p.m.

A playoff team in 2003, the Muleriders come into this year's game with UNA on a four-game losing skid after the opening the season with two wins. At 2-4 overall and 0-4 in the GSC, Southern Arkansas will be trying to avoid its first losing season since 1996. Against Central Arkansas, UNA avoided the turnovers that had plagued the team in the previous two week's
losses and forced five UCA turnovers on defense. In addition, the UNA defense held the high-powered Bears offensive attack to just 282 total yards, and highly-touted UCA quarterback Zak Clark to just 16-of-32 passing for 75 yards. The Lion offense gained 421 yards, scoring four
second-half touchdowns for the impressive win. It was UNA's 10th straight win at home at Braly Stadium.

Junior running back DeMarcus Blount tied another school record in the win with his 40th career
rushing touchdown. Blount already holds the UNA record for career touchdowns scored with 46, but equalled the rushing TD mark set by former Lion quarterback Cody Gross on a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against UCA. UNA has had to juggle its lineup around a rash of injuries over the last three weeks, particularly on defense, and newcomers like Randy Banks have responded. Banks, a freshman from New Orleans, La., started in place of the injured Donald Tharpe last Saturday and responded with 12 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, two pass break-ups and a tackle for loss. Lion sophomore defensive back Anthony Merritt of Box Springs, Ga., started in the secondary and also gained 100 yards on four punt returns against UCA, including a 73-yard return for a touchdown.

Although Southern Arkansas has lost four straight, the Muleriders have had numerous close calls, like a 28-27 loss to Ouachita Baptist two weeks ago and a 33-31 loss to Arkansas-Monticello last Saturday. The always solid SAU rushing game is still churning out 232 yards per game but Southern has lost 11 fumbles this season. SAU quarterback Damian Melancon leads the offense, rushing for 317 yards and six touchdowns and passing for another 792 yards and six scores. On the flip side, however, SAU is allowing more than 400 yards per game on defense and more
than 32 points per contest. UNA broke a four-year losing skid to Southern Arkansas last season, downing the Muleriders 21-14 in Magnolia during the regular-season and 48-24 in Florence in the first round of the Division II playoffs. Following Saturday's game, UNA travels to Henderson
State, hosts Valdosta State and West Georgia and closes the regular-season at West Alabama.