CARROLLTON, Ga. (September 27, 2024) – The University of North Alabama football team will play its first United Athletic Conference road game of the season Saturday against a familiar foe, renewing a rivalry with West Georgia at 1 p.m. in Carrollton, Ga.

For a list of "things to know" for Saturday's game, click here.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION 
North Alabama vs. West Georgia
Date: Saturday, September 28
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Carrollton, Ga. 
Stadium: University Stadium 
Capacity: 10,000
TV: ESPN+ (Logan Maddox, Parker Gore, Carlie Pair)
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM  ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Bryan Neece, Chase Glover)
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Tickets: Click Here
Social Media: @UNAFootball 
 
UNA Game Notes | Opponent Game Notes | UAC Website 
 
 
NOTABLES
ABOUT THE LIONS: North Alabama enters with an 0-5 record, playing five straight opponent that have been either ranked or receiving votes. Three of UNA's past opponents are ranked back-to-back-to-back in the AFCA Coaches Poll, including No. 14 SEMO, No. 15 Illinois State and No. 16 Tarleton State. The Lions are averaging 335 yards per game, including 200 on offense, while opponents are averaging 393 yards with 207 on the ground.
 
ABOUT THE WOLVES: West Georgia has a 1-2 record to open its first season as a member of FCS and the UAC, including a non-conference home win over Samford and conference road losses to Abilene Christian and EKU. The Wolves are averaging right on par with UNA's opponents at 393 yards per game but are allowing 443 yards on defense. UWG has the second ranked passing offense in the UAC with 236 passing yards per game with quarterback Davin Wydner throwing 44-76 for 507 yards and two scores this season.
 
SERIES HISTORY: The Lions have a 22-13 record against West Georgia. UNA dominated the series in Florence with a 13-4 record at Braly Stadium. However, the Wolves have proven tougher at home, with the series tied 9-9 in Carrollton. The Wolves have a three-game home winning streak over UNA, as a win by the Lions would be the first in Carrollton since 2010.
 
MOVING ON UP: UNA and West Georgia were both longtime members of the Gulf South Conference, with the Lions starting in 1971 and the Wolves in 1983. From 1983-2017, the Lions and Wolves played every season as dual members of the Gulf South Conference. Since 1983, the two schools combined for at least a share of 16 GSC Championships and 41 finishes in the top three of the standings. UNA departed for FCS and Division I in 2017, while UWG made the move in 2024. Both are members of the UAC for football and Atlantic Sun Conference for all other sports.
 
BACK IN GEORGIA: This will be the 102nd game between UNA and a team from the state of Georgia. The Lions have a 65-35-1 record against Peach State schools. Of the 101 games, 77 have come against either West Georgia or Valdosta State. The Lions are 47-29-1 against those two opponents. UNA's last win over a Georgia school came in 2018 against Shorter. UNA has lost three straight at UWG and will seek its first win in Carrollton since 2010.
 
LIONS FROM GEORGIA: UNA has seven players from the state of Georgia, including redshirt senior Dakota Warfield of Alpharetta who led the receiving corps last week with six catches for 91 yards. Fellow receiver and return specialist Justin Luke is from Warner Robins, while redshirt freshman quarterback Ty Watkins, who is on the travel roster this week, is from Cumming. Four defensive contributors hail from Georgia, including defensive backs Travis Collier from Atlanta and AJ Seay from Decatur, linebacker Josh Anglin from Buford and defensive end Marlon Krakue from Marietta.
 
DEFENSIVE DIAMONDS: The Lions have three players in the top five of the UAC in total tackles, including redshirt senior Gregory Reddick with 40 tackles over five games, including 22 solo. This also ranks seventh in the nation and among the top-50 players with 8.0 tackles per game. Linebackers Jackson Bratton and Josh Anglin rank fourth in the UAC with 34 tackles each.
 
FRESHMAN PHENOMS: UNA won four straight UAC Freshman of the Week awards to open the season, including Jalen Fletcher in Week 0 against SEMO, Fred Vili against Memphis in Week 1 and Anglin both in Week 2 and Week 3 against Illinois State and UT Martin, respectively.
 
HERE COMES THE PAYNE: Graduate kicker Scott Payne is the UAC leader in field goals, sitting a perfect 5-for-5 with a long of 45 yards. Payne is the only kicker in the conference with multiple makes and no misses. Payne spent four seasons at MTSU as a kickoff specialist and did not attempt a field goal until joining UNA this season as a graduate transfer.
 
NO FLY ZONE: The Lions have the best ranked passing defense in the UAC and are 30th in FCS with just 186 passing yards per game allowed. This is aided by allowing just 50 pass yards last week against No. 16 Tarleton State. On the flip side, UNA's run defense is seventh in the UAC with 207.4 yards per game allowed.
 
FIXING THE TURNOVERS: Entering last week, the Lions suffered more turnovers than any other team in FCS. In the Tarleton State game, redshirt senior TJ Smith earned his first career start and did not commit any turnovers. The Lions had two overall, one on a muffed punt that was reviewed for kick-catch interference and another on a forced desperation throw to the end zone late in the fourth quarter.
 
NEXT ON THE DOCKET: The Lions return home the next two weeks after West Georgia, welcoming Utah Tech on Oct. 5 and Abilene Christian on Oct. 12. The Utah Tech game will kick at 4 p.m. and will serve as the 1994 National Championship team reunion, while the ACU game will be UNA's Homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.