ROME, Ga. — After snapping a two-game losing skid with a 30-7 Homecoming win over Florida Tech last Saturday, the University of North Alabama hopes to continue to get its 2017 season back on track with a Gulf South Conference road game at Shorter on October 14.

UNA enters the game, set for a [...]]]>

ROME, Ga. — After snapping a two-game losing skid with a 30-7 Homecoming win over Florida Tech last Saturday, the University of North Alabama hopes to continue to get its 2017 season back on track with a Gulf South Conference road game at Shorter on October 14.

UNA enters the game, set for a noon Central kickoff, with a 2-3 overall record and a 2-2 GSC mark. Shorter is 0-6 overall and 0-4 in the GSC.

The Lions have completely dominated the series to this point. UNA is 5-0 all-time against Shorter and has outscored the Hawks 201-14 in the five previous meetings. UNA’s five wins over Shorter have been by scores of 41-0, 41-0, 45-7, 28-7 and 45-0.

UNA can’t take anything for granted against the Hawks, according to head coach Chris Willis, and must be ready for a challenge Saturday.

“We have to continue to improve offensively in not turning the ball over and pass protection, and we have to cut down on penalties,” Willis said. “We have been hurting ourselves and that’s something we need to continue to correct. Shorter is definitely a team that we have to be focused on.”

Both UNA and Shorter have been struggling offensively this season. UNA is ranked 151st in total offense in Division II out of 168 schools. The Lions are ranked 126th in rushing offense and 137th in passing offense. Shorter is 164th in total offense, 166th in rushing offense and 128th in passing offense. Shorter’s 11.0 points per game ranks 166th and UNA is 117th at 21.4.

UNA’s 134 yards of total offense against Florida Tech was the lowest by a UNA team in 70 games, dating back to a 5-0 loss to Valdosta State on October 14, 2010 when the Lions picked up just 101 yards. But despite the low offensive output last week, UNA did not turn the ball over and posted a 30-7 win.

On the defensive side, UNA is ranked 10th in Division II in interceptions with 11 – including four last Saturday against Florida Tech.

On special teams, UNA junior kicker Chandler Carrera has made his last six straight field goal attempts after going 0-for-3 in the Lions’ season-opener and freshman punt returner Dwain Smith is averaging 24.2 yards per return on his five attempts this season, including a 52-yarder against Florida Tech.

Source: University Athletic Dept.

University of North Alabama senior quarterback Jacob Tucker was named the Don Hansen Super Region 2 Offensive Player of the Year and [...]]]>
FLORENCE, Ala. — Nine University of North Alabama student-athletes have received additional post-season awards with the announcement of the 2016 Don Hansen All-Super Region 2 football team and the D2football.com All-America team.

University of North Alabama senior quarterback Jacob Tucker was named the Don Hansen Super Region 2 Offensive Player of the Year and UNA’s Bobby Wallace was named the region’s coach of the year.

Tucker was joined on the first-team of the Don Hansen All-Super Region 2 squad by offensive lineman Stephen Evans defensive back Philbert Martial. UNA wide receiver Dre Hall, kicker Kevin Henke, linebacker Eddrick Harris and defensive back Levi Fell were second-team all-region selections. Defensive linemen E.J. Parnell and Freddie Reed were chosen for third-team honors.

Martial, Evans and Tucker were also honored by D2football.com on its All-America teams.

Martial was a first-team selection, with Evans on the second team. Tucker was an honorable mention All-American.

For Martial and Evans, it was their fourth All-American selection each after they were previously named to the American Football Coaches Association, Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association and Associated Press All-America teams.

2016 UNA FOOTBALL HONORS
TEAM HONORS
* GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
* SUPER REGION 2 CHAMPIONS
* NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALIST
* RANKED NO. 2 IN FINAL AFCA DIVISION II POLL
* RANKED NO. 2 IN FINAL D2.COM POLL

GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Sept. 26 Jacob Tucker
Oct. 24 Jacob Tucker

GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Nov. 14 Philbert Martial

GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Oct. 31 Philbert Martial

ALL-GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
First-Team
Jacob Tucker QB
Stephen Evans OT
Dre Hall WR
Philbert Martial DB
Levi Fell DB
Eddrick Harris LB
Darius Wright LB
Kevin Henke PK
Ryan Harper BT
Second-Team
Julius Jones WR
Freddie Reed DL
Eddquerion Harris DL
E.J. Parnell DL
Philbert Martial RS

GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Jacob Tucker

GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Bobby Wallace

DIVISION II CONFERENCE
COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION
ALL-SUPER REGION 2
First-Team
Philbert Martial DB
Philbert Martial RS
Stephen Evans OT
Jacob Tucker QB
Eddrick Harris LB
Darius Wright LB
Second-Team
Dre Hall WR
E.J. Parnell DL
Kevin Henke PK

DIVISION II CONFERENCE
COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION
SUPER REGION 2
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Jacob Tucker

DON HANSEN
ALL-SUPER REGION 2
First-Team
Philbert Martial DB
Stephen Evans OT
Jacob Tucker QB
Second-Team
Dre Hall WR
Eddrick Harris LB
Levi Fell DB
Kevin Henke PK
Third-Team
E.J. Parnell DL
Freddie Reed DL

DON HANSEN SUPER REGION 2
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Jacob Tucker

AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES
ASSOCIATION REGION 3
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Bobby Wallace

DON HANSEN SUPER REGION 2
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Bobby Wallace

ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-AMERICAN
First-Team
Philbert Martial DB
Second-Team
Stephen Evans OT

AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES
ASSOCIATION ALL-AMERICAN
First-Team
Philbert Martial DB
Second-Team
Stephen Evans OT

DIVISION II CONFERENCE
COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION
ALL-AMERICAN
First-Team
Philbert Martial DB
Stephen Evans OT

D2FOOTBALL.COM ALL-AMERICAN
First-Team
Philbert Martial DB
Second-Team
Stephen Evans OT
Honorable Mention
Jacob Tucker QB
HARLON HILL TROPHY FINALIST:
Jacob Tucker

ACADEMIC
ALL-GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE:
Ryan Harper
DeAndre Harrison
Robert Lane
Sheldon Lewis
Hagan Scott
Jordan Sogers
Jacob Tucker

NCAA ELITE 90 AWARD:
Ryan Harper

The Lions, now 14-7 overall, scored three runs in the first inning and added five [...]]]>

FLORENCE, Ala. — The University of North Alabama took an 8-0 lead after two innings and held on for a 13-8 win over Montevallo in a game that saw a combined 30 hits, eight walks and eight hit batters.

The Lions, now 14-7 overall, scored three runs in the first inning and added five in the second for the 8-0 lead. Montevallo got a run in the third and three in the fourth to cut the lead in half but UNA answered with two more in the bottom of the fourth to make it 10-4. Montevallo got a run ine the fifth, UNA got a run in the sixth and each team added a run in the seventh to make it 12-6. Montevallo got two more in the eighth to make it 12-8 before the Lions added the final run in the bottom of the eighth.

Montevallo falls to 14-12 with the loss.

UNA starter Dylan Stewart pitched three and a third innings, allowing three runs on three hits before being pulled in the fourth inning. Austin Carpenter (2-1) came on and pitched two thirds of an inning to earn the win. Chris Sparkman, Devan Traglia and Blake Talley all followed in relief for the Lions.

Kevin Hall led UNA at the plater, going four-for-five with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Dylan Calhoun had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run, Kyle Hubbuch had three hits, two runs scored and three RBI and Kyle Crabtree scored three times.

UNA resumes Gulf South Conference play Saturday with a three-game series at West Alabama.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., – The University of North Alabama women’s basketball team let a two-point lead at the break slip away on the road as Christian Brothers used a solid second half to record an 81-69 Gulf South Conference victory Saturday afternoon. UNA falls to 2-12 with the loss with a [...]]]>

#5 KeKe Gunter

MEMPHIS, Tenn., – The University of North Alabama women’s basketball team let a two-point lead at the break slip away on the road as Christian Brothers used a solid second half to record an 81-69 Gulf South Conference victory Saturday afternoon. UNA falls to 2-12 with the loss with a 1-8 conference record.

After trailing by as many as seven points in the first quarter, the Lions took a 40-38 lead into the half. CBU (6-7 overall, 4-5 GSC) was able to tie the game at 42-42 early in the third quarter before using an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. UNA with 4:37 without a basket, but stayed within striking distance. A free throw by Kierra Groce at the end of the third quarter made the score 55-52.

The Lady Bucs were able to put the game out of reach by outscoring UNA 26-17 in the final period. CBU shot 63.6 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter while the Lions hit just 31.2 percent, including an 0-for-10 showing from three-point range.

Newcomer Alexus Patterson led UNA with 18 points. KeKe Gunter added 10 points for the Lions. CBU standout Samantha Reeves led all scorers on the day with 26 points.

UNA will play at Union on Monday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on the UU campus in Jackson, Tenn.