FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama took a 21-20 lead midway through the third quarter but couldn't hold it as 17^th ranked Southeastern Louisiana rallied for a 49-28 win over the Lions at Braly Stadium in the season-opener for both teams.
 
The game was tied 14-14 at the half before SELU scored on its first four possessions of the second half and built a 21-point advantage.
 
UNA finished with 404 total yards, rushing for 54 and passing for 350. Southeastern Louisiana had 495 total yards, rushing for 232 and passing for 263.
 
North Alabama quarterback Jaylen Gipson completed 23 of 46 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns in his first start for the Lions. Takairee Kennebrew caught seven passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns.
 
SELU took the early lead with a four-yard touchdown pass from Cole Kelley to Nolan Givan with 43 seconds left in the opening period. Mateo Rengifo added the PAT to make it 7-0.
 
UNA tied the game on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Gipson to Corson Swan at 13:03 of the second quarter. Sam Contorno added the PAT to make it 7-7.
 
Cephus Johnson, III caught a 13-yard pass from Kelley at 6:12 of the second quarter to put SELU up 14-7 before UNA again tied the game, this time on a 40-yard pass from Gipson to Kennebrew. Grayson Easterling's PAT made it 14-14 at 1:39 of the second.
 
Southeastern Louisiana scored on the opening possession of the second half on a one-yard pass from Kelley to Austin Mitchell but the extra point attempt failed. SELU then led 20-14 at 11:40 of the third quarter.
 
North Alabama then took the lead on a 47-yard pass from Gipson to Kennebrew at 9:37 of the third. Easterling's PAT gave the Lions a 21-20 lead.
 
Taron Jones gave SELU the lead at 6:37 of the third quarter on a three-yard run and Kelley hit Givan with a nine-yard TD pass with 13:07 left in the game to make it 35-21. A 41-yard interception return by Ferland Jordan at 12:38 of the fourth extended SELU's lead to 42-21.
 
UNA cut into the lead with 10:21 left in the game on a 24-yard TD pass from Gipson to Kennebrew  to make it 42-28 but SELU added a 15-yard TD run from Johnson to make the final count 49-28.
 
North Alabama hosts Chattanooga on September 11 at Braly Stadium.














 
.