CLEVELAND, Miss. – The University of North Alabama scored four touchdowns in less than three minutes to blow open a close game as the Lions rolled over Delta State 42-19 in a Gulf South Conference game at Parker Field.
UNA held a slim 14-13 lead late in the first half before scoring with 30 seconds left in the half. The Lion then scored in four plays to open the second half, returned an interception for a touchdown on DSU's first offensive play of the half and drove 28 yards for a score following another interception to make it 49-19.
Jacob Tucker led UNA's attack rushing for 74 yards on 16 carries and throwing for 207 yards and four touchdowns. He completed 13 of 20 passes and the Lions did not turn the ball over.
The Lions gained 497 yards of total offense with 290 rushing yards and 207 passing. DSU picked up 379 yards but turned the ball over four times.
With the win, the seventh ranked Lions improve to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the GSC. Delta State is now 4-5 overall and 3-4 in the GSC.
Delta State drove for a score off the opening kickoff, moving to the UNA nine-yard line before Cody Mills came on to kick a 21-yard field goal. The 11-play drive covered 54 yards and Mills' kick came at the 11:06 mark of the first quarter.
UNA put together its first scoring drive late in the opening quarter as the Lions put together a seven-play, 72-yard drive.
Jacob Tucker hit
Julius Jones with a four-yard touchdown pass and
Kevin Henke's PAT gave UNA a 7-3 lead at the 5:10 mark.
DSU drove to the UNA two-yard line early in the second quarter before Mills was called on to kick a 19-yard field goal that cut UNA's lead to 7-6 at the 12:28 mark of the second.
A 60-yard punt return by
Jaylan Jackson set up UNA's next score. The Lions took just four plays to find the end zone as Tucker rushed for 26 yards and then
Ray Beasley covered the final 11 to the end zone. Henke's kick made it 14-6 at the 10:59 mark of the first half.
DSU answered with a 43-yard, seven-play TD drive after a long kickoff return to close the gap back to a single point. DSU quarterback Tyler Sullivan dumped a screen pass to Chris Robinson, who raced 22-yard for the score. Mills PAT made it 14-13 with 7:59 left in the half.
North Alabama put together another scoring drive before the half as the Lions moved 65 yards in nine plays. Tucker again found Jones for a 24-yard scoring strike. Henke's kick made it 21-13 with 30 seconds left in the half.
UNA drove 65 yards in just four plays to start the second half, with
Damon Cox scoring on a 15-yard run. Henke's kick made it 28-13 at 13:53 of the third quarter.
UNA linebacker
Eddrick Harris picked off a Sullivan pass on the next play from scrimmage and ran 30 yards to the end zone. The kick with 13:37 left in the third made it 35-13.
Five plays later, DSU was picked off again, this time by
Johnnie Anderson, who returned it to the Delta 28. Tucker hit
Jacob Thomas over the middle for a 13-yard touchdown two plays later to make it 42-13 at 12:37 of the third.
D'Juan Bellaire scored on a four-yard run for DSU to snap UNA's scoring run but the Lions
Tyler Smith blocked the PAT to make it 42-19 with 8:51 left in the third.
North Alabama's defense provided a goalline stand late in the third quarter and UNA responded with an 84-yard drive in three plays.
Ray Beasley had a 41-yard run to set up a 28-yard TD pass from Tucker to
Dre Hall. Henke's kick made it 49-19 with 41 seconds left in the third.
North Alabama hosts West Florida on November 5 in the Lions final regular-season home game.
