FLORENCE, Ala. – Luke Wingo threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns to lead the University of North Alabama to a 43-17 rout of Delta State in a steady rain at Braly Stadium.
 
All 17 of Delta State's points came as a result of UNA turnovers as the Lions' defense kept the DSU offense bottled up most of the day. The Statesmen finished the game just 19-of-45 passing for 177 yards and DSU had just 42 yards rushing.
 
The Statesmen jumped out to a 10-6 lead before UNA mounted five straight scoring drives before the half for a 36-10 halftime advantage.
 
With the win, UNA improves to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Delta State falls to 5-4 overall and 1-4 in league play.
 
North Alabama finished the day with 555 total yards, rushing for 191 and throwing for 364.
 
UNA fumbled the ball away on its opening possession and DSU took over at the Lions 12-yard line. Tyler Cameron passed to Darius Powell for a touchdown on the first play and DSU led 7-0 at the 13:53 mark of the first period.
 
The Lions mounted a scoring drive on the ensuing possession and covered 64 yards in six play. Wingo rushed eight yards for the touchdown but the extra-point attempt was wide after a high snap. UNA trailed 7-6 at 11:58 of the first quarter.
 
Wingo was intercepted late in the first quarter and DSU's Richard Nash brought it back to the UNA 11. After the North Alabama defense held, Vince Sciorrotta kicked a 26-yard field goal to make it 10-6 with 30 seconds left in the period.
 
The Lions then took to the air as Wingo hit Dre Hall with a 38-yard touchdown pass at 14:30 of the second quarter, Jarret Smith with a 60-yard scoring pass at the 13:47 mark and Lee Mayhal with a 16-yard TD pass at 7:58 to extend UNA's lead to 27-10. An eight-yard Lamonte Thompson run with 2:31 left in the half and a 46-yard Kevin Henke field goal as time expired in the half gave the Lions a 36-10 halftime advantage.
 
After a scoreless third quarter, UNA got on the board again on the first play of the final period on a 29-yard run by Diamond Simmons.
 
UNA then drove to the DSU one-yard line in the final minute of the game but a jarring hit by De'Koven Ware forced a fumble and Tayvon Benjamin picked it up and went 95 yards for a Delta State touchdown.
 
 
The Lions play at Shorter on November 7 at 12:30 Central.