PDF Game Notes

FLORENC, Ala. -- The tenth ranked University of North Alabama football team will open Gulf South Conference play Saturday (Sept. 16) on the road at Valdosta State as both the Lions and Blazers seek their first win of the season.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as the GSC Game of the Week.

UNA dropped its opener on September 1 at home to fifth ranked Texas A&M-Commerce, 8-7 in a defensive struggle. VSU lost on the road at Albany State 29-12. The Lions then had a open date scheduled last weekend and Valdosta State's game with Fort Valley State was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma, giving the Blazers an open date as well.

"Valdosta State is a lot like us," said UNA Head Coach Chris Willis. "We're both coming off losses to good teams and we're both looking for our first win. With a week off, we've both had time to make adjustments and get better so both teams will be ready to play."

With UNA's upcoming move to Division I in 2018, this could likely be the last meeting in what has become the GSC's best football rivalry. As far as regional and national implications are concerned, no Gulf South Conference rivalry can come close to UNA and Valdosta State. This will be the 19th time in the 42 meetings where both teams are nationally ranked. At least one team has been ranked in 30 of the previous 41 meetings. There have been six times that the Lions and Blazers have met in both the regular-season and post-season in the same season (1994, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014).

The Lions and Blazers have each won three Division II National Championships, have made a combined 37 playoff appearances, winning 14 NCAA regional titles and 19 GSC titles. VSU has produced three Harlon Hill Trophy winners and UNA two, both have three inductees in the Division II Football Hall of Fame and one each in the College Football Hall of Fame.

This will be the 31st time in the 42 all-time meetings that at least one of the team's are ranked, and both have been ranked in 18 of the meetings.

"I think this is by far the best football rivalry in the GSC. We have so much history with each other," said Willis. "It's going to be a challenge like always, especially going on the road."

UNA has won nine of the last 11 meetings with Valdosta State and the Lions have won the last five games played in Valdosta by a combined score of 226-89. UNA defeated VSU 62-27 in 2009, 43-20 in the 2010 NCAA playoffs, 30-23 in the 2011, 57-7 in 2013 and 34-12 in 2015. The Blazers last win over UNA on their home field was 37-23 in 2007.

North Alabama will be trying to avoid its first 0-2 start since 2000 when the Lions lost their first three games to open the season against Pittsburg State, Arkansas-Monticello and Delta State. UNA has not lost back-to-back regular-season games since 2013 when the Lions opened with a win over Miles but then dropped close contests to Jacksonville State (24-21, OT) and Delta State (37-34).

Valdosta State out-gained Albany State 311-300 in its opener but turnovers by VSU proved to be the difference in the game. Freshman quarterback Rogan Wells came off the bench to throw two late TD passes and is expected to start against the Lions on Saturday. He finished the game 13-of-24 with one interception and 141 yards. He also rushed for 62 yards.

UNA hopes to improve on its ground game from week one where the Lions picked up just 58 yards. Improving pass protection is also a focus after North Alabama quarterback Blake Hawkins was sacked six times in the opener.