University of North Alabama Athletics

FLORENCE -- With all post-season aspirations wiped away in a last-minute 24-20 loss to fifth ranked
Valdosta State last Saturday, the University of North Alabama football team will turn its attention
to trying to close the 2004 season with wins in its final two games against West Georgia and West Alabama.

The Lions, now 5-3 overall and 4-3 in the Gulf South Conference, were still very much in the race
for an NCAA playoff bid prior to the loss to VSU. In that game, UNA led 13-3 early in the fourth
quarter and 20-17 late in the final period before the Blazers mounted a game-winning rally.
UNA must now turn its attention to the West Georgia Braves who come to Braly Municipal Stadium this
Saturday for a 6 p.m. battle. North Alabama downed the Braves 48-21 in Carrollton last season, has won the last two meetings in the series and has an all-time 12-9 advantage in the
series that dates back to 1982.

The game will be the final home game at Braly Stadium for 14 Lion seniors - Hansell Bearden,
Skipper Best, Tyus Boyd, Ches Dye, Justin Foust, Chris Gunn, Lacy Hill, Martin Huggins, Evan Oglesby,
Jay Snipes, Chad Tidwell, Ken Triplett, Randy Vickers and Alvin Young.

Most of UNA's 2004 seniors helped fashion the greatest turnaround in school history in 2003 in
helping lead the Lions to a 13-1 record after four straight losing seasons. That turn has helped put
the UNA program back in the national spotlight, including keeping the team in the playoff hunt and
national rankings for most of the 2004 season.

Against Valdosta State, UNA held a 13-3 lead early in the fourth quarter on two Beau Tanner field goals
and a Vinnie Saylor touchdown run. But the game turned on a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown
by the Blazers Vincent Brown. VSU then recovered an on-side kick and drove 54 yards for a go-ahead
score. UNA quickly regained the lead on a 47-yard DeMarcus Blount touchdown run but the Blazers drove 78 yards in 11 plays for the game-winning score with 32 seconds left.

Blount's touchdown was the 49th of his career and gives him 298 career points - moving him into second place in GSC history in both categories. His point total also sets a new UNA career scoring mark, breaking the record of 292 set by James Knowles from 1982-85. For the season, UNA is averaging 33 points per game and allowing just 18.4. Blount has rushed for 559 yards and nine TDs and Saylor has thrown for 1,540 yards and 11 scores. West Georgia comes in with a 1-6 record overall and a 1-5 mark in the GSC. The Braves opened 2004 with four straight losses before picking up a 38-20 win at West Alabama. West Georgia has since suffered back-to-back losses to Southern Arkansas and Henderson State. The Braves are led by running back Michael Alexis who has gained 914 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Quarterback Lucas McMichen has thrown for 823 yards and five TDs. The West Georgia defense is allowing 31.1 points and 399.4 yards per game and the offense has turned the ball over 18 times in seven games. Kickoff for Saturday's game is set for 6 p.m. at
Braly Municipal Stadium. Following Saturday's game, UNA closes the regular-season at West Alabama on November 6.