Oct. 5, 2002

Southern Arkansas Outscores North Alabama 43-33

Florence, Ala.-Southern Arkansas University spoiled Homecoming for the University of North Alabama here Saturday, outscoring the Lions 43-33 as both offenses dominated the opposing defense. The Gulf South Conference win improves the Muleriders to 2-1 in conference play and to 3-2 overall while the Lions fell to 0-3 in league play and to 1-4 for the season.

The ‘Riders took a 16-0 lead early in the second quarter and it appeared a rout might be in the making. However, the underdog Lions took advantage of SAU miscues to score twice late in the period to close the margin to 16-14 at halftime.

The ‘Riders needed only six plays to cover 42 yards on their first possession following a Lion fumble to take the lead for good. Quarterback Ted Williams capped the drive with a one-yard sneak into the end zone and Thomas LaToof kicked SAU out front 7-0, 10:08 left in the first quarter.

After the ‘Rider defense forced a punt on UNA’s next possession, Williams scampered 49 yards on a keeper but LaToof’s PAT was blocked, leaving it 13-0 with 6:48 still in the first period. LaToof’s 39-yard field goal made it 16-0, 12:41 to go on the second quarter.

Tailback Randy Vickers finished an 11-play drive from midfield for UNA by diving into the end zone from the one with Travis Johnston converting, 16-7 at the 7:01 mark. A 15-yard pass from quarterback Will Hall to wide receiver Brian Hester with only eight ticks left beat the halftime clock and Johnston’s kick closed it to 16-14. This drive covered only 35 yards and took eight plays.

SAU desperately needed to recapture the momentum at the start of the third quarter and the ‘Rider offense accomplished this on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Williams to wide receiver Nik Lewis. LaToof converted SAU ahead 23-14. The march took seven plays to cover 78 yards. Time on the clock was 11:20.

Back came UNA with running back DeMarcus Blount capping a 65-yard 11-play drive by scoring from the three. After Johnston’s kick, it was back close, 23-21, 7:18 left in the third stanza.

Nineteen seconds later, SAU was back in the end zone when running back Torrance Jones scored from the 16 to finish a three-play 73-yard drive. LaToof tacked on the extra point to make it 30-21. The ‘Riders finally got some breathing room again when fullback Larnelle Sinegal blasted over from three-yards out to close a 16-play, time-consuming 80-yard drive. After a missed extra point, SAU led 36-21 with 10:59 left in the fourth quarter.

It appeared the ‘Riders again had the game blown open after recovering a UNA fumble on the Lion 43. SAU backup quarterback, freshman Damian Melancon fired a perfect 43-yard strike to Lewis, who caught his second touchdown pass of the day. LaToof’s toe made it 43-21 with 10:25 remaining.

To the credit of UNA, they came back to score two more touchdowns before it ended. Wide receiver Marcus Lewis was wide open in the end zone to haul in a 36-yard pass from Hall to end an 80-yard drive that took five plays. The Lions went for a two-point conversion but Hall’s pass was batted down, 43-27, nine minutes left. With only 2:04 to go, Hall found wide receiver Martin Huggins all alone for a 25-yard touchdown. Hall’s bid for a 2-point conversion failed.

UNA had 27 first downs to 23 for SAU, SAU rushed for 317 yards and UNA had 109, UNA passed for 398 yards and SAU 135, the Lions had a whopping 507 yards total offense on 76 plays and SAU 452 on 64 plays, SAU had 10 penalties for 65 yards and UNA eight for 77, both lost three of four fumbles and offenses were so dominant that SAU punted only once late in the final quarter and that came because of a recovered fumble that lost yards and UNA had only two punts.

Williams rushed for 88 yards on 17 plays and scored twice, Hill had 79 yards on eight carries and Jones 65 yards on 10 totes and a touchdown for the ‘Riders. Blount had 32 yards on eight carries and a score for UNA. Hall completed 30 of 42 passes for 398 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new school record for UNA. Williams was six of eight for 99 yards and a touchdown and Melancon was two for two for 36 yards and a touchdown for SAU. M. Lewis caught 10 passes for 150 yards and Darrius Hoskins six for 115 yards for the Lions and N. Lewis hauled in four catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns for the ‘Riders. SAU’s Tony Grecco’s only punt went for 49 yards and UNA’s Drew Carter punted twice for a 29.5 average. Patrick Wilson returned two kickoffs for 60 yards and Donald Butler returned two for SAU for 38 yards.

Safety Brian Davis had 13 tackles, six solos, one forced fumble and a fumble return for no yards to lead SAU. Linebacker Keenan Washington had 11 tackles, five unassisted, a tackle for a loss of four yards and a forced fumble. Linebacker Jay Snipes led UNA with nine tackles, six of them solo.