 September
4, 2004
LIONS OPEN SEASON
WITH WIN OVER 12TH RANKED TUSCULUM (BOX
SCORE)
GREENEVILLE,
Tenn. – The fourth ranked North Alabama Lions opened
the 2004 season in impressive style with a solid 28-7 rout of 12th
ranked Tusculum on the road at Pioneer Field. UNA, led by a
dominant defensive effort, built a 28-0 lead, with Tusculum only
able to get on the scoreboard with 1:02 left in the game. The
Lions won their 12th consecutive regular-season game and stunned the
home-standing Pioneers, who had not lost at home since 2002.
UNA quarterback Vinnie Saylor, in his first start for the Lions,
threw for three touchdowns in the win. An early goal-line
stand by the UNA defense set the tone for the Lions. Tusculum
drove to the UNA two-yard line and had a second and goal situation
was denied on three straight plays. On the fourth and goal play,
Evan Oglesby had a break-up in the end zone to stop the scoring
threat. UNA got ts first scoring opportunity when Tusculum
fumbled a 41-yard Lyle Atkinson punt at the three. Courtney Wright
recovered the ball at the one and DeMarcus Blount scored two plays
later to make it 6-0. Beau Tanner’s PAT made it 7-0 at the 14:55
mark of the second quarter. For Blount, it was his 41st career
touchdown, breaking the UNA record of 40 that he had shared with
former Lion quarterback Cody Gross. UNA back-up quarterback
Chris Gunn was inserted on the next possession and moved the ball 77
yards in six plays before fumbling the ball to Tusculum at the
16. The UNA defense held and forced a short punt and he Lions
struck back quickly. On first down, Vinnie Saylor rifled a 42-yard
touchdown pass to Martin Huggins, who out jumped a defender for the
ball and raced to the end zone. Tanner’s PAT made it 14-0 with
9:50 to play in the half. UNA had its longest drive on
the next possession, marching 81 yards in eight plays for the score.
Saylor hit junior Jaron Fountain crossing the middle and Fountain
spun lose from one defender and fought through another to the end
zone. The 29-yard play, along with Tanner’s PAT, made it 21-0 with
2:53 left in the half. The Lions scored on their first
possession of the second half as well, going 65 yards in five plays.
Saylor hit Huggins with a 36-yard pass for the touchdown at the
13:34 mark and Tanner’s PAT made it 28-0. Tusculum’s only
score came with 1:02 left in the game when third-string quarterback
Matt Pound threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Torian Sheppard. Glen
Black’s PAT made the final score 28-7. UNA gained 223 yards
on the ground and passed for another 264 on 84 offensive plays.
Saylor was 12-for-24 for 171 yards, while back-up Chris Gunn was
seven-for-11 for 82 yards. Saylor led UNA on the ground as well with
58 yards rushing. Blount rushed for 49 yards on 14 carries and Gunn
had 33 yards on six carries. Tusculum finished with just two
yards rushing and had 292 yards passing. The Pioneers completed just
31 of 56 pass attempts with one interception. The Lions host
Arkansas-Monticello next Saturday at 6 p.m. |
