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   There has been a coaching change at the University of North Alabama and Ryan Held, former associate head coach and offensive coordinator, will be leading the Lions into their game Saturday against the Austin Peay Governors, and for the remainder of the season.

    A collegiate coach since 1997, Held has been a head coach of five different collegiate programs during his career.  
 
    The Lions are 1-7 overall and coming off a 64-29 loss at Central Arkansas.

    But with three games remaining, Held hopes the Lions can close the season with momentum, and on a positive note

       The North Alabama offense has held its own this season, averaging 31.5 points behind a young group of standouts that includes freshman quarterback Noah Walters, sophomore running back ShunDerrick Powell and freshman running back/receiver Demarcus Lacey.

    On the defensive side, UNA is allowing 40.6 points and 478 yards per game.

    That defense will be challenged again against an Austin Peay offense that averages 34 points and 438 yards per game.

    APSU quarterback Mike DiLiello has thrown for 1,170 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for another 433 yards and seven scores.

    The Governors are 5-3 overall but just 1-2 in ASUN Conference play. They are coming off a 40-16 loss at home last weekend to Jacksonville State.

    For the Lions, Powell is already UNA's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015 and just the second since 1997. He has 1,115 yards through eight games and has scored 15 touchdowns.

    He ranks among the FCS leaders in seven categories.

    North Alabama is 13-5 all-time against Austin Peay in football in a series that dates back to 1949, UNA's first season of football.

    Austin Peay won the first two meetings in 1949 and 1950, before the Lions won five straight from 1951-55. After another win by the Governors, UNA won seven straight.

    The series was continuous from 1949-62, then resumed for four years from 1975-78, with UNA winning that last meeting 10-6 in Clarksville.