University of North Alabama Athletics

FLORENCE -- Everything is on the line for the University of North Alabama football team Saturday
as the Lions host the Valdosta State Blazers in a battle of nationally ranked teams at Braly Stadium.
UNA, ranked 23rd in the NCAA Division II poll, has overcome two early season losses to win three
straight and comes into the game 5-2 overall and 4-2 in the Gulf South Conference. The Lions need a win over the fifth ranked Blazers to keep their hopes of an NCAA Division II playoff berth alive.
Valdosta State comes in with a 6-1 record, having won six straight since suffering a season-opening
loss at Albany State. The Blazers are 6-0 in the GSC and are still pursuing a conference title and
playoff bid.

Last season North Alabama knocked off the then No. 1 ranked Blazers 17-10 in Valdosta, snapping a
three-game winning streak for VSU in the series and several lengthy Blazer winning streaks in
regular-season and home games. There have been numerous big games in this series that dates all the way back to 1982 when VSU began its football program - and this year's contest
should be another historic chapter.

VSU has been led this season by Florida State transfer Fabian Walker. Through the first seven
games of the season Walker has thrown for 1,577 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He has
completed 154 of 222 passes with just four interceptions and completed a record 21 straight
passes in a win over Henderson State. Tyran Robinson keys the ground game with 642 yards
rushing on 111 carries. Overall, VSU is scoring 32.6 points per game and gaining 402.3 total yards per game. UNA's offense has been impressive when it hangs on to the football. The Lions had five turnovers in each of the team's two losses. Against Henderson State last Saturday, the Lions
struggled offensively early on - turning the ball over three times. But UNA was ignited in the second
half by back-up quarterback Chris Gunn. He entered the game with UNA trailing 10-6 in the third quarter and led three touchdown drives, throwing for touchdowns of 42 and eight yards to Jaron Fountain and rushing for an 11-yard TD.

Sophomore Anthony Merritt also helped UNA secure the win with a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown that was his third return TD of the season. The UNA defense allowed 394 yards rushing to the Reddies but kept Henderson State out of the end zone the remainder of the day after allowing a touchdown on the game's first possession. For the season, UNA is averaging 34.9 points per
game while allowing just 17.6. UNA has an all-time 36-17-1 record in Homecoming games, including a 31-12 win over Central Arkansas last season. The only previous time that UNA played Valdosta State for Homecoming resulted in a 26-9 UNA win in 1995.

Kickoff for Saturday's game is set for 6 p.m. at Braly Municipal Stadium. Following Saturday's game, UNA again plays at home against West Georgia and closes the regular-season at West Alabama.