Lion Football:  04.12.08

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama's first team offense had some impressive moments Saturday but it was the UNA defense that stole the show and posted a 34-24 win in the 2008 Purple-White Game at Braly Stadium.

Led by veteran quarterback A.J. Milwee, the Lions first-team offense scored touchdowns on two long drives with Milwee throwing TD passes to Charles McClain and Ed Gant.

But it was the Lion defense in the purple jerseys that tallied the most points by halting drives and gaining a turnover.

  DEFENSE DOMINATES SATURDAY SCRIMMAGE AT BRALY
 

FLORENCE - The University of North Alabama football team went through a 125-play scrimmage at Braly Stadium Saturday morning with the Lion defenders not allowing a single touchdown.

  LIONS DODGE RAIN TO GET IN THURSDAY WORKOUT
 

FLORENCE -- University of North Alabama head football coach Mark Hudspeth was determined to get in a practice session Thursday and the Lions were able to dodge the rain and get in full two-and-a-half hours on the field.

  INJURIES CONCERN HUDSPETH AS UNA SPRING DRILLS CONTINUE
 

FLORENCE -- Just three practice sessions into the 2008 Spring drills, University of North Alabama Head Coach Mark Hudspeth is already concerned about the Lions mounting injuries.

  LION FOOTBALL OPENS SPRING PRACTICE
 

FLORENCE -- The biggest news on the first day of Spring football practice at the University of North Alabama  was the move of two-time All-Gulf South Conference tight end Covington Wright to offensive tackle.

  UNA ADDS 29 SIGNEES
 

FLORENCE -- University of North Alabama Head Football Coach Mark Hudspeth has announced the signing of 29 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent with the Lion football program. 

  ARRINGTON NAMED OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
 

FLORENCE -- University of North Alabama offensive line coach Alan Arrington has been promoted to offensive coordinator, UNA head football coach Mark Hudspeth announced Wednesday.

  LIONS ADD FOOTBALL SIGNEES
 

The University of North Alabama has added seven transfers to its football program, head coach Mark Hudspeth announced Thursday.  The seven transfers, all from Mississippi Community Colleges, are currently enrolled at UNA and will participate in Spring drills with the Lions in March.

  TWO LIONS NAMED ALL-AMERICAN
  FLORENCE -- A pair of University of football standouts have received All-American recognition for their performances during the 2007 season.
  TWO LIONS SELECTED FOR CACTUS BOWL
  Kingsville, Texas  -- University of North Alabama senior football standouts Jason Messing of Knoxville, Tenn., and Tim Hunt of Mobile, Ala., have been selected to play in the 2008 Valero Cactus Bowl Division II All-Star Game  to be played at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.  
  THREE VSU TOUCHDOWN RETURNS COST LIONS IN 37-23 PLAYOFF LOSS
  VALDOSTA, Ga. –  North Alabama held a seven-point lead with just over 11 minutes left in the game but Valdosta State retuned two punts for touchdowns and got another quick score off a turnover as the Blazers downed the Lions 37-23 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
  THREE FOOTBALL LIONS EARN ALL-SOUTHEAST REGION
  FLORENCE -- Three members of the University of North Alabama football team have been selected for All-Southeast Region honors by Daktronics in voting by the NCAA Division II sports information directors.  UNA senior offensive lineman J.D. Whited of Oneonta, Ala., and senior safety Craig Fox of  Kentwood, La., were named to the first team Daktronics All-Southeast Region team, while sophomore linebacker Michael Johnson of Panama City, Fla., was named second-team all-region.
  LIONS AND BLAZERS SQUARE OFF AT NOON SATURDAY
  FLORENCE – After being held to less than 20 total yards in the second half, the University of North Alabama offense put together a dramatic 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive and pulled out a 20-17 win over Delta State in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
  LATE DRIVE LIFTS LIONS OVER DELTA STATE
  FLORENCE – After being held to less than 20 total yards in the second half, the University of North Alabama offense put together a dramatic 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive and pulled out a 20-17 win over Delta State in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
  MILWEE NAMED FINALIST FOR HARLON HILL TROPHY
  FLORENCE, Ala. --  University of North Alabama junior quarterback A.J. Milwee is one of nine national finalists still in the running for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.
  UNA TO HOST DELTA STATE SATURDAY
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama's drive for a possible NCAA Division II National Championship will continue Saturday when the Lions host Delta State in the second round of the playoffs at Braly Municipal Stadium.
  EIGHT LIONS NAMED ALL-GSC
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama football team earned four first-team All-Gulf South Conference selections and eight overall in voting by the league's head coaches.
  FOOTBALL LIONS EARN 13TH NCAA PLAYOFF BERTH AND FIRST ROUND BYE
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama football team was awarded its 13th NCAA Division II Football playoff appearance Sunday and will receive a bye in the opening round due to a No. 2 seeding in the Southeast Region.  The Lions finished their regular season with a 9-1 record after a 49-20 blow-out of West Alabama at home Saturday. That win was good enough to keep UNA at No. 2 in the Southeast behind top seeded Valdosta State.
  LIONS CLOSE REGULAR-SEASON WITH ROUT OF WEST ALABAMA
  FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama rolled to a 21-0 first quarter lead and went on to close its regular-seasob with a 49-20 rout of West Alabama at Braly Stadium. UNA improved to 9-1 overall with the win and will find out at 10:30 Sunday if it will advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
  LIONS MOVE TO SECOND IN SOUTHEAST REGION
  FLORENCE -- On the strength of a 65-17 pounding of West Georgia on Saturday, the University of North Alabama football team has moved up one spot to second in the latest NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings.
  LIONS ROUT WEST GEORGIA 65-17
  FLORENCE – David McCants scored three touchdowns on the ground and Jason Messing had two TD receptions as the University of North Alabama routed West Georgia 65-17 at Braly Stadium.
  LIONS THIRD IN REGION
  FLORENCE -- Despite a 27-24 road loss at Valdosta State, the University of North Alabama football team is still a solid contender for an NCAA Division II playoff berth at No. 3 in the latest Southeast Region rankings.
  UNA FALLS TO VALDOSTA STATE, 27-24
  VALDOSTA, Ga .—    Valdosta State used a fourth quarter touchdown drive and a defensive stand in the closing minutes to hold off second ranked North Alabama in a 27-24 Gulf South Conference victory at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  UNA led 24-20 in the fourth quarter but the Blazers put together an eight-play, 48-yard drive to take the lead with 5:58 left in the game.
  LIONS LOOK TO REMAIN UNBEATEN AT VALDOSTA STATE
  FLORENCE --  With a win over fifth ranked Delta State behind them, the University of North Alabama Lions will now try to remain unbeaten when they travel to Valdosta, Ga., to face the 11th ranked Valdosta State Blazers Saturday at noon.
  LIONS TAKE OVER TOP SPOT IN SOUTHEAST REGION
  FLORENCE -- With a perfect 7-0 record, and coming off a 28-17 win over fifth ranked Delta State, the University of North Alabama football team moved into the top spot in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings released Monday.
  LIONS STAY PERFECT WITH ROUT OF ARKANSAS MONTICELLO
  MONTICELLO, Ark. – A 37-point first half paved the way as the third ranked University of North Alabama Lions rolled to a 46-27 rout of Arkansas-Monticello at Boll Weevil Stadium.
  LIONS ROMP OUACHITA BAPTIST, 40-7
  FLORENCE -- The third ranked North Alabama Lions used three long plays in the second quarter to break a 7-7 tie and rout Ouachita Baptist 40-7 at Braly Municipal Stadium.  UNA, now 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Gulf South Conference, trailed 7-0 early after Ouachita Baptist scored a first quarter TD on a 26-yard run by Willie Hopson.
  LIONS HOLD OFF ARKANSAS TECH FOR 27-20 WIN
  RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The third ranked North Alabama Lions survived a couple of early turnovers to build a 14-point second half lead , then had to hold off a fourth quarter Arkansas Tech rally as the Lions picked up a 27-20 Gulf South Conference victory.
  THIRD RANKED LIONS ROUT SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
  FLORENCE -- A 99-yard fumble return that halted Southern Arkansas' opening drive set the tone for the night as the third ranked North Alabama Lions downed the Muleriders 27-8 at Braly Stadium.
  THIRD RANKED LIONS ROUT HARDING 58-17
  SEARCY, Ark. – The third ranked University of North Alabama Lions scored touchdowns on eight of their 11 possessions on the way to a 58-17 rout of Harding in the Gulf South Conference opener for both schools.
  LIONS ROUT PIONEERS IN SEASON OPENER
  FLORENCE -- The fourth ranked University of North Alabama Lions scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the season and went on to a 43-24 rout of Tusculum at Braly Municipal Stadium.
  HUDSPETH PLEASED WITH TURNOVER-FREE SCRIMMAGE
 

FLORENCE -- The defense dominated early, the offense put on a show late and the University of North Alabama football team ran 123 plays without a turnover Saturday in a scrimmage at Braly Stadium.

  LIONS RANKED FOURTH IN NATION
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama football team will begin its quest for an NCAA Division II National title as the No. 4 team in the nation. Coming off an 11-1 season that saw the Lions win the Gulf South Conference title and advance to the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs, UNA is ranked fourth in the preseason poll released Wednesday by the American Football Coaches Association.
  NEWCOMERS SHINE IN FIRST UNA SCRIMMAGE
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama's first scrimmage of the fall Saturday at Veteran's Park gave several newcomers a chance to make themselves known to the Lion coaching staff.
  LIONS FIRST DAY IN PADS IS PRODUCTIVE
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama's first day in pads was a productive one but heat was again a factor, according to UNA Head Football Coach Mark Hudspeth.
  UNA HAS GOOD, BUT HOT FIRST DAY
  FLORENCE -- The first day of practice for the University of North Alabama football team was a productive but extremely hot day, according to head coach Mark Hudspeth.
  LIONS OPEN PRE-SEASON PRACTICE WITH CONDITIONING WORK
 

FLORENCE  — The University of North Alabama football team took to the practice field for the first time Sunday for pre-season conditioning tests in 100-plus degree weather.

  LIONS OPEN PRE-SEASON PRACTICE WITH CONDITIONING WORK
 

FLORENCE  — The University of North Alabama football team took to the practice field for the first time Sunday for pre-season conditioning tests in 100-plus degree weather.

  LION FOOTBALL TEAM TO REPORT FRIDAY
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama football team will begin it's defense of the 2006 Gulf South Conference championship Friday when the Lions report to begin preseason workouts.
  LIONS PICKED TO WIN GSC FOOTBALL CROWN AGAIN
  Birmingham, AL—The University of North Alabama football team has been picked as the pre-season favorite to win another Gulf South Conference football crown in 2007 in voting by the league's head coaches.  UNA received six first-place votes and 95 total points in the voting.
  DEFENDING GSC CHAMPS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER BANNER SEASON
  Florence, AL—With more than 40 lettermen and 13 starters back from a team that reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2006, the University of North Alabama football team hopes to again make a run at another Gulf South Conference championship and an NCAA Division II championship in 2007.
  MERRITT SIGNS WITH NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
 

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- University of North Alabama All-American receiver and kick returner Anthony Merritt of Columbus, Ga., has signed a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League.

  LIONS HOLD SECOND SCRIMMAGE OF SPRING
 

FLORENCE -- After a week off for Spring break, the University of North Alabama football team returned to the practice field and held its second scrimmage of the spring Thursday at Braly Stadium.

  DEFENSE LEADS THE WAY IN LION SCRIMMAGE
 

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama football team reached the mid-point of its 2007 Spring Workouts Thursday with a scrimmage at Braly Stadium that was largely dominated by the defense. 

  LIONS ANNOUNCE 2007 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama has announced its 2007 football schedule that UNA Athletic Director Dr. Joel Erdmann says includes one of the most attractive home schedules in several years.
  LIONS GETTING READY TO BEGIN SPRING WORKOUTS
  FLORENCE -- Having made a run at the NCAA Division II Football Championship in three of the last four seasons, the University of North Alabama football team will officially begin that quest for the 2007 national title on March 11 when the Lions open Spring football drills.
  UNA FOOTBALL RANKS FOURTH NATIONALLY IN ATTENDANCE
l INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- NCAA football attendance set a new standard during the 2006 season with record attendance, and the University of North Alabama did its part, ranking fourth nationally among all Division II schools.  Overall, the 615 NCAA schools combined for a total gate of 47,909,313, shattering the 2003 record by 1,764,774 fans.
  LIONS ADD SOLID FOOTBALL SIGNING CLASS
l FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama football program signed a solid class of newcomers Wednesday to National Letters of Intent that included 22 high school signees and eight transfers. The Lions also signed three mid-year transfers who will take part in the team’s 2007 Spring Practice.
  MERRITT NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICAN
l After completing a record-breaking career as a wide receiver and return specialists, North Alabama senior Anthony Merritt became just the 13th Lion player to be named an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) First-Team All-American.
  HUDSPETH NAMED REGION 2 COACH OF THE YEAR BY AFCA
l FLORENCE -- For the second time in four years, University of North Alabama head football coach Mark Hudspeth has been selected NCAA Division II Region 2 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.
  STATESMEN CONTROL LIONS IN NCAA QUARTERFINAL
l FLORENCE – A dominating performance by Delta State’s defense and an offensive effort that put up 496 yards led the Statesmen to a 27-10 win over North Alabama in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Braly Stadium.
  TWO LIONS NAMED ALL REGION
l FLORENCE -- A pair of University of North Alabama football standouts have been selected for All-Southeast Region honors by the NCAA Division II sports information directors.  UNA senior center JoJo Bates of Birmingham, Ala., and senior receiver/kick returner Anthony Merritt were selected for first-team honors on the Daktronics All-Southeast Region team.
  MILWEE LEADS LIONS TO 38-20 PLAYOFF WIN
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FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama raced to a 24-7 lead and then held off a tough Newberry charge in the second half as the Lions downed the Indians 38-20 in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs at Braly Municipal Stadium.

  LIONS DOMINATE ALL-GSC FOOTBALL TEAM
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Birmingham, AL—Gulf South Conference Football Champion North Alabama leads the way on the 2006 All-GSC team, landing ten players on the first-team and two on the second-team.

  LIONS RECEIVE FIRST ROUND BYE
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The undefeated University of North Alabama football team received a No. 2 seed in the Southeast Region and a bye in the opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs when the pairings were announced Sunday.

  PACKER NAMED GSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- University of North Alabama senior running back Eric Packer of Pine Hill, Ala., has been named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Lions' 45-3 win at West Alabama.

  LIONS DROP WEST ALABAMA; WIN GSC CHAMPIONSHIP
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LIVINGSTON, Ala. – North Alabama scored early and often in a 45-3 win over West Alabama Saturday at Tiger Stadium to secure the fourth perfect regular-season in school history and earn an out-right Gulf South Conference championship.

  UNA MAINTAINS SECOND SPOT IN REGION
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FLORENCE -- In the all-important NCAA Division II Southeast Regional rankings, the University of North Alabama maintained its No. 2 position heading into the final weekend of the regular-season.

  UNA WINS 26-16 OVER WEST GEORGIA
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CARROLLTON, Ga. – It wasn’t pretty but the third ranked North Alabama Lions got the job done at Grisham Stadium as UNA downed the West Georgia Wolves 26-16.

  UNA DOWNS BLAZERS IN OVERTIME TO STAY PERFECT
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FLORENCE – Tim Hicks scored on a one-yard run in overtime and North Alabama’s Craig Fox picked off a Valdosta State pass on the Blazers’  possession as the Lions picked up a huge 31-24 victory over VSU at Braly Stadium.

  LIONS JUMP IN REGIONAL POLL
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FLORENCE -- With a solid win over 15th ranked Delta State on the road Saturday, the University of North Alabama football team jumped two spots in the latest NCAA Division II Southeast Region football poll to second. UNA, now 7-0 overall, was ranked fourth in the regional poll last week.

  UNA GETS BIG WIN OVER NATIONALL RANKED STATESMEN
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CLEVELAND, Miss. -- North Alabama’s defense allowed the high powered Delta State offense just three first downs in the final 30 minutes and held on as the No. 3 ranked Lions downed the #16 Statesmen 17-10 at Parker Field.

  LIONS TAKE OVER GSC LEAD
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FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama scored early and often in a 47-7 rout of Arkansas-Monticello Saturday, and in the process the Lions took over sole possession of first place in the Gulf South Conference standings. 

  LIONS REMAIN UNBEATEN, ROUT OBU 47-10
 

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – North Alabama got off to a blazing start and survived a turnover riddled second quarter to remain unbeaten with a 47-10 rout of Ouachita Baptist at A.U. Williams Field. UNA, now 5-0 overall, 4-0 in the Gulf South Conference and ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division II, built a 19-0 lead with scores on three of its first four possessions. Ouachita Baptist battled back with a touchdown and a field goal in the last five minutes of the half, aided by a pair of interceptions, to close the halftime score to 19-10.

  LIONS PULL AWAY FROM ARKANSAS TECH, 38-14
 

FLORENCE – Backup quarterback Dusty Goodwin threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 3 North Alabama to a 41-14 win over Harding Thursday night in front of 11,051 fans at Braly Stadium.  Facing a Harding squad that was averaging better than 36 points per game, it was the North Alabama offense that lit up the scoreboard, racing to a 34-0 lead.

  LIONS GET IMPRESSIVE WIN IN GSC OPENER
 

FLORENCE – Backup quarterback Dusty Goodwin threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 3 North Alabama to a 41-14 win over Harding Thursday night in front of 11,051 fans at Braly Stadium.  Facing a Harding squad that was averaging better than 36 points per game, it was the North Alabama offense that lit up the scoreboard, racing to a 34-0 lead.

  UNA GETS 22-10 WIN IN SECOND HALF RALLY
  GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – A.J. Milwee passed for three touchdowns in the second half to bring third ranked North Alabama back from a halftime deficit and lead the Lions to a 22-10 road win at Tusculum.  Milwee, in his first start for the Lions, was just 7-of-13
passing in the first half for 83 yards but was able to open things up in the third quarter. He finished the game 15-of-28 for 203 yards and three touchdowns
  LIONS RANKED THIRD IN AFCA POLL
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama football team will enter the 2006 season ranked No. 3 in the nation in the NCAA Division II in the official poll released by the American Football Coaches Association. UNA finished the 2005 season at 11-3 overall, reached the semifinals of the Division II playoffs and ranked fourth in the final national poll.
  LIONS PICKED TO WIN GSC.  VALDOSTA ST. PICKED SECOND
  Birmingham - The University of North Alabama has been picked as the favorite to win the 2006 Gulf South Conference football title in a pre-season poll of the league's head coaches. UNA snapped Valdosta State's four-year pre-season No. 1 run, nipping VSU as the 2006 GSC Football pre-season favorite, 95-92. UNA tops the pre-season poll for the first time since 1998 behind six first-place votes.
  2006 NORTH ALABAMA FOOTBALL PREVIEW
  With more than 30 lettermen and 11 starters back from a team that reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2005, the University of North Alabama football team hopes to again make a run at the Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II championships in 2006. 
  LIONS NAME 2006 FOOTBALL CAPTAINS
  FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama football team has elected Donald Tharpe and JoJo Bates as its permanent team captains heading into the 2006 season.  Tharpe, a three-year starter at linebacker for the Lions, is a native of Pensacola, Fla.  Bates, a three-year letterman and two-year starter, is a native of Mt. Olive, Ala. The Lions are coming of an 11-3 season in  2005 that saw UNA advance all the way to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs. UNA opens its season on Sept. 9 at Tusculum.
  

   

       

 

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