FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama kept itself in the middle of the Gulf South Conference football race with a 20-7 win over Delta State at Braly Stadium.
Trailing 7-0 early, UNA took a 10-7 lead just before intermission and held the Statesmen scoreless in the second half to secure the win.
North Alabama is now 4-4 overall and tied for second place in the GSC with a 4-2 conference mark. Delta State falls to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the GSC.
UNA starting quarterback
Rico Bruton rushed for 93 yards and one touchdown and threw for 109 yards to pace the Lions to the 10-7 halftime lead before being shaken up at the end of the half. Back-up
Matt Markham came on to rush for 22 yards and threw for 147 yards and a touchdown.
The North Alabama defense held Delta State to just 103 rushing yards on 54 carries for just 1.9 yards per rush. The Statesmen completed just nine of 23 passes with three UNA interceptions.
Delta State's only score came at 7:10 of the first quarter as Breck Ruddik rushed into the end zone from five yards out. Vince Sciorrotta added the extra-point to make it 7-0.
UNA's first score came on a 36-yard
Chandler Carrera field goal with 14 seconds left in the quarter to close the gap to 7-3.
With 3:12 left in the half, Bruton broke up the middle and went 89 yards for a touchdown to give UNA the lead. Carrera's PAT made it 10-7 at the half.
In the third quarter, UNA added a 31-yard Carrera field goal with 6:16 in the priod and a 27-yard TD pass from Markham to
Alex Norwood with 3:09 left.
Delvon Carpenter led UNA's receiving effort with six catches for 124 yards.
North Alabama's defense recorded five sacks and had 14 tackles for loss.
Joshua Amanfo led the effort with 16 tackles, one sack and two and a half tackles for loss.
Christon Taylor had 13 tackles.
North Alabama plays at West Florida on Novemebr 4 at 4 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola.
Freddie Reed
Matt Markham
Delvon Carpenter
Will Evans
Dorsey Norris
Rico Bruton
Dre Hall
UNA Defensive Swarm
