FLORENCE, Ala. – A Darin Smalls interception with 39 seconds left in the game helped Charleston Southern seal a 25-20 win over North Alabama at Bray Stadium.
UNA led 20-19 before the Buccaneers took the lead with a touchdown with 6:57 left to play. North Alabama then had two late opportunities but both ended with interceptions of
Christian Lopez passes in Charleston Southern territory.
With the loss, UNA is now 2-5, while Charleston Southern improved to 2-5.
UNA was out-gained 429 yards to 265 and the Buccaneers held a 14-minute advantage in time of possession.
The Buccaneers rushed for 271 yards and passed for 292, while UNA was held to 59 yards on the ground and 206 through the air. The Lions also turned the ball over three times.
Charleston Southern held a 13-11 lead at the half and pushed it to 16-11 on a Alex Usry 26-yard field goal at 8:24 of the third quarter.
After a 64-yard
Andre Little kickoff return, UNA drove 28 yards for a touchdown to take the lead.
Terence Humphrey scored on a four-yard run but the try-for-two failed. UNA led 17-16 with 7:05 left in the third quarter.
A school-record 52-yard field goal by Usry gave Charleston Southern a 19-17 elad with 14:55 left in the game and UNA's
Joe Gurley answered with a 34-yard field goal at 10:43 to put UNA back on top, 20-19.
The game winning score came on an eight-yard run by Terrence Wilson with 6:57 left.
Lopez threw interceptions at the Charleston Southern 23 and 20 yardlines on UNA's final two possessions.
The Lions got off to a quick 11-0 lead on the Buccaneers with a field goal on their first offensive possession and an interception return for touchdown on Charleston Southern's ensuing possession.
After getting a stop on its first defensive series of the game, UNA marched deep into Charleston Southern territory before
Joe Gurley came on to kick a 30-yard field goal. The kick gave UNA a 3-0 lead at 3:41 of the first quarter.
North Alabama senior linebacker
Jalen Dread picked off a Jack Chambers pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown at 7:32 of the first quarter.
Jack Peavey then passed to
Ja'Won Howell for the two-point conversion and the Lions led 11-0.
Charleston Southern's Alex Usery made a 24-yard field goal with 3:18 remaining in the first quarter to cut UNA's lead to 11-3 and Chambers passed four yards to Garris Schwarting for a touchdown with just 46 seconds left in the period. Usry's PAT made it 11-10.
Charleston Southern took the lead at the 8:58 mark of the second period on a 35-yard field goal by Usry, making it 13-11.
North Alabama used its final possession of the half to move into field goal range by Curley was wide on a 31-yard attempt.
UNA travels to Kennesaw State on October 26.
