UNA Game Notes
USM Game Notes

FLORENCE, Ala. -- Coming off back to back open dates, the University of North Alabama football team will face its first opponent since October 17 when the Lions travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday to face the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at M.M. Roberts Stadium at 2 p.m.

UNA, 0-2 this season, lost 24-17 at home to Jacksonville State in its last outing, while the 1-5 Golden Eagles dropped a 30-6 home decision to Rice on Saturday night, under their third different head coach of the season.

USM assistant head coach Tim Billings took over for Scotty Walden last week against Rice after Walden announced Tuesday he was taking the head coaching job at Austin Peay. Walden had been serving as the Golden Eagles' interim head coach since Jay Hopson resigned following a loss to South Alabama in the team's opener on Sept 3. Billings oversaw the Eagles in their loss at Liberty after Walden tested positive for COVID-19. Billings will serve as interim coach the remainder of the season.

USM will be the second of three FBS teams that the Lions will face in 2020, after playing just four FBS schools in the previous 71 seasons of football at the school. UNA is 2-3 all-time against FBS schools, including a 28-7 loss at Liberty to open the 2020 season. The Lions will close their fall slate at unbeaten and nationally ranked BYU on November 21.

North Alabama is in its third season as an FCS member in the school's transition to Division I. The Lions will not be eligible to compete for a Big South Conference football title or an NCAA post-season berth until 2022.

UNA has an open date between each of its games this fall and has had two open dates prior to the USM game.

UNA Head Football Coach Chris Willis said his team is excited to finally be back in a game week mode.

" First of all, we couldn't be more blessed than just having the chance to play football this season," said Willis. "Going into the season we knew the strength of schedule would be against us, playing three FBS teams, but our players have embraced that challenge.

"We've had two really good weeks of practice and you can tell our guys are ready to play some football," Willis added "They came in yesterday and the energy level was high and we had a great Sunday practice.  

"Against Southern Mississippi, we will have to compete like we have the first two games. We had great effort against Liberty but made a couple of mistakes and didn't take advantage of opportunities when we had them. Against Jacksonville State, we eliminated most of the mistakes but couldn't get a couple of key stops when we needed them. This week, we're going to throw everything that we have at this game and feel like we have an opportunity to have some success."

Saturday's game will be  North Alabama's first football contest ever against Southern Mississippi, and the first time that UNA has played in Hattiesburg. The Golden Eagles will be playing their fifth home game in seven contests this season but they are 0-4 so far at home.

UNA's last road win came in its 2019 season-finale at Gardner-Webb, 34-30.

The Golden Eagles struggles have been on defense where they are allowing allowing 41 points and 485 yards per game, while the offense is scoring 26.2 per contest.

UNA has struggled to run the football, averaging just 63 yards per game so far in 2020, but the Lions passing game has been efficient and consistent.

The UNA defense has kept the Lions in both games so far in 2020.

Southern Mississippi will be the fourth school from the state of Mississippi that North Alabama has played in football. UNA is 34-26-1 against Delta State, 19-14-2 against Mississippi College and 1-0 against Jackson State.

The last time that North Alabama played a game in the state of Mississippi, the Lions defeated Jackson State 24-7 at Veteran's Stadum on October 20, 2018. UNA built a 24-0 lead before allowing a JSU fourth quarter touchdown. The Lions' defense allowed just 163 total yards, while UNA rushed for 167 and passed for 212. Christian Lopez threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.