FLORENCE, Ala. (September 20, 2024) – The University of North Alabama football team will begin United Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. against nationally-ranked Tarleton State inside Braly Stadium in Florence, Ala. This also marks annual Family Weekend for UNA.
For a list of "things to know" for Saturday's game,
click here.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
North Alabama vs. Tarleton State
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Florence, Alabama
Stadium: Braly Stadium
Capacity: 14,215
TV: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Bryan Neece)
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM (Jordan Campbell, Jacob Tucker, Chase Glover)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
Social Media:
@UNAFootball
UNA Game Notes |
Opponent Game Notes |
UAC Website
NOTABLES
ABOUT THE LIONS: North Alabama enters with an 0-4 record following a 43-28 road loss to UT Martin to conclude non-conference play. Despite playing without starting quarterback
Ari Patu, the Lions jumped out to an 18-0 lead in the first quarter behind two touchdown passes from
DC Tabscott to seventh year-senior
Takairee Kenebrew and a 45-yard field goal by
Scott Payne. Plagued by turnovers, the Lions were unable to hold the lead as UT Martin cut it to 25-20 at halftime and outscored UNA 23-3 in the second half.
ABOUT THE TEXANS: Tarleton State enters with a 2-1 record and comes in off a bye week. Before the bye week, the Texans picked up wins over McNeese State and Houston Christian, sandwiching a loss to FBS opponent Baylor. Tarleton State is ranked No. 16 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and No. 17 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. Dating back to last season, the Texans have won six of their last seven games. Last time out, Tarleton was led by two 100-yard rushers in seniors Derrel Kelley III and UAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Kayvon Britten, leading their team to a 35-18 road win at Houston Christian.
SERIES HISTORY: The Lions and Texans will meet for just the fifth time in history. Tarleton State has won three of the four meetings, including wins in 2012, 2022 and 2023. In all three losses, UNA scored at least 28 points. However, UNA's win over Tarleton State came in 2013, as the Lions rolled the Texans by a 44-7 final in Stephenville, Texas. Tarleton State has a 2-0 record at Braly Stadium.
MESSING WITH TEXAS: Saturday will mark the 14th meeting between UNA and a school from the state of Texas. The Lions are 8-5 against the Lone Star State, including a 6-0 record against former Division II rival Texas A&M Kingsville, who met UNA in the 1994 Division II National Championship. UNA also owns one win each over Tarleton State and Abilene Christian. The Lions also faced Texas A&M Commerce during their final Division II season in 2017.
WEEK ZERO PARTICIPANTS: UNA and Tarleton State were involved in two of just seven games during Week 0 this season. The Lions played at the FCS Kickoff against SEMO on ESPN, while Tarleton State hosted McNeese State on ESPN2. UNA and Tarleton State were the only two teams representing the same conference on Week 0, as both are part of the UAC through the ASUN-WAC partnership.
NO CUPCAKES: For the eighth straight game, UNA will battle an opponent that is either ranked or receiving votes. This includes the last three games of last season against No. 20 Austin Peay, No. 25 Central Arkansas, FBS No. 4 Florida State. This season, UNA has already played SEMO (receiving votes), Memphis (receiving votes), No. 21 Illinois State, UT Martin (receiving votes) and now No. 16 Tarleton State.
TOUGH SLEDDING: Last season, UNA had the second toughest strength of schedule in the nation, according to the NCAA cumulative metric based on win percentage. The Massey ratings currently have UNA with the 26th toughest schedule of 129 teams this season.
DEFENSIVE DIAMONDS: The Lions have three players ranked among the top 10 in the UAC in total tackles, led by redshirt senior safety
Gregory Reddick with a league-best 35 tackles — good enough for 8.8 per game. Redshirt senior
Jackson Bratton, a transfer from Alabama and UAB, ranks fourth in the league with 29 tackles, while true freshman
Josh Anglin ranks sixth with 28.
FRESHMAN PHENOMS: UNA has won more Freshman of the Week awards than any other program in the nation this season, winning four straight weeks. Running back
Jalen Fletcher won in Week 0 against SEMO, while defensive lineman
Fred Vili won it in Week 1 at Memphis. The last two weeks have belonged to Anglin, who became the only player to win back-to-back in league history. Adding
Jyheam Ingram into the mix from last season, UNA has won the award five times since the league began in 2023. No other school has won it more than three times.
HERE COMES THE PAYNE: Graduate transfer kicker
Scott Payne is currently the UAC leader in field goal makes and percentage. He is currently 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, including a 45-yarder and 23-yarder last week at UT Martin. Payne is the only UAC player with multiple makes without a miss and is one of two players with at least three field goals. His 45-yarder is the fourth longest in UNA's Division I history.
RETURN GAME: The Lions lead the UAC and rank 29th in FCS with 23.1 kick return yards per game on 10 return attempts. Graduate transfer
Logan Collier, a former NAIA All-American return specialist, has nine of those returns to average 23.4 yards per return.
FIXING THE TURNOVERS: Despite ranking fourth in the UAC in total offense with 323.3 yards per game, the Lions have been plagued by turnovers this season. UNA has thrown the most interceptions in FCS (8) and has the sixth-most fumbles (5). On the flipside, the Lions have forced three interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense.
LIONS FROM TEXAS: UNA has two players from the state of Texas, including redshirt junior defensive back Michael Jordan (Houston) and sophomore running back
Dennis Moody (Frisco). Moody led the Lions in rushing last week with six carries for 53 yards, including a long of 26.
NEXT ON THE DOCKET: The Lions renew a classic rivalry next week as they travel to West Georgia on Sept. 28. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Carrollton, Ga. The Lions and Wolves will meet for the first time since 2017, which was UNA's last season in Division II. Both were long-time members of the Gulf South Conference before joining the UAC, as the Lions were charter members of the GSC in 1970 and the Wolves later joined in 1983.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
