No. 22 Carson-Newman Falls at No. 4 North Alabama, 31-14
FLORENCE, Ala. - The fourth ranked University of North Alabama Lions built a 21-3 lead and held off No. 22 Carson-Newman for a 31-14 win at Braly Stadium.
FLORENCE, Ala. - The fourth ranked University of North Alabama
Lions built a 21-3 lead and held off No. 22 Carson-Newman for a
31-14 win at Braly Stadium.
UNA, now 2-0, gave up 422 yards to Carson-Newman's offense but held
the Eagles to just one touchdown and two field goals. North
Alabama's offense relied almost completely on the pass as
quarterback Harrison Beck completed 25 of 45 passes for 288 yards
and two touchdowns. The Lions gained just 44 yards rushing for 332
total yards.
With the win UNA improves to 8-1 all-time against Carson-Newman
(0-2) and the Eagles fall to 0-8 all-time at Braly Stadium.
UNA scored the first time it got the ball for the second week in a
row. Linebacker Michael Johnson picked off an Alex Good pass on the
fourth play from scrimmage and returned it to the Eagles' 36
yard-line. The Lions then put together a seven-play touchdown drive
that ended on four-yard TD toss from Harrison Beck to Kenton
Thornton. Kenny Spencer's extra point made it 7-0 with 10:55 left
in the opening period.
UNA's second score came early in the second period as Beck pushed
his way into the end zone on a one-yard quarterback sneak. The play
capped a seven-play, 47-yard drive. Spencer's PAT made it 14-0 with
10:00 left in the half.
Carson-Newman finally got on the scoreboard with 2:38 left in the
first half as Carlos Lopez booted a 37-yard field goal to make it
14-3.
Following the Eagles' score, UNA's Preston Parker returned the
kickoff 85 yards to the Carson-Newman six yard-line. Two plays
later Marcus Sims dove into the end zone from three yards out for
his third TD of the season. Spencer added the PAT and UNA led
21-3.
On the last possession of the half, Carson-Newman managed to drive
to the UNA five before the Lions' defense held. Lopez then hit his
second field goal of the night from 22 yards out. The kick came on
the final play of the half and cut UNA's lead to 21-6 at
intermission.
Carson-Newman made it a game in the third quarter when the Eagles
put together a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Reggie Melton capped
the drive with a one-yard run and Nate Inman then rushed in for a
two-point conversion to make it 21-14 with 7:28 left in the period.
UNA came right back with a 10-play, 80-yard drive of its own. Beck
connected with Preston Parker over the middle for a 25-yard
touchdown and Spencer's PAT made it 28-14. The final score of the
game came with 14:50 left as Spencer hit a 31-yard field goal.
Mike Johnson led UNA's defensive effort with 14 tackles.
The Eagles return to action on Thursday against Campbellsville in
their home opener. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Burke-Tarr Stadium.
