FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs with a 50-7 home win over Newberry at Braly Municipal Stadium.
 
With the win, UNA ups its record to 9-2 overall and will host Tuskegee on November 28 at Braly Stadium in the second round. Newberry closes its season at 7-5.
 
Newberry scored on the first play from scrimmage but would not score again as the Lions put up 50 unanswered points on the way to the win. The Lions led 22-7 at the half and outscored the Wolves 28-0 over the final two quarters.
 
UNA quarterback Luke Wingo completed 13 of 16 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Lions attack. He hit Jaylan Jackson with a 66-yard TD pass and had touchdown tosses of 47 and 51 to Dre Hall.
 
The Lions finished with 478 total yards, rushing for 137 and passing for 341.
 
The North Alabama defense held Newberry to 279 total yards with 126 rushing and 153 passing. The Lions picked off three passes and recovered a fumble and the UNA offense did not turn the ball over for the first time this season.
 
Newberry struck first, scoring on the first play from scrimmage. Receiver Jalen Cook took a handoff to his right and then fired a 63-yard touchdown pass to Cole Watson. Ryan Janssen added the extra-point and the Wolves led 7-0 just 18 seconds into the game.
 
North Alabama tied the game almost as quickly. On the Lions' third play from scrimmage, quarterback Luke Wingo hit Jaylan Jackson cutting across the middle and he took the ball 66 yards to the end zone. Kevin Henke's PAT made it 7-7 at 13:26 of the first quarter.
 
UNA took a 10-7 lead later in the first quarter on a 43-yard Henke field goal at the 5:05 mark of the period.
 
The Lions added two touchdowns in the second quarter to extend their lead to 22-7 at intermission. Jacob Tucker scored the first on a two-yard run with 13:37 left in the half. It capped a short 20-yard drive after a 37-yard punt return by Philbert Martial. Henke's PAT was blocked and UNA led 16-7. Dre Hall then pulled in a 47-yard pass from Wingo for a score with 2:16 left in the half. Henke's kick was again blocked but UNA led 22-7.
 
UNA added to its lead just three plays into the second half as Wingo hit Hall with a 51-yard TD pass at the 14:28 mark. Henke's PAT made it 29-7.
 
Lamonte Thompson then scored on a one-yard run at 11:22 of the third quarter to extend it to 36-7.
 
A six-yard TD pass from Wingo to Trayon Tate at 1:21 of the third made it 43-7 and an 11-yard Tucker run with 5:26 left in the game made the final count 50-7.


Lamonte Thompson


Trayon Tate


Levi Fell


C.J. Jackson


Floyd Jones


Victor Jenkins and Freddie Reed


Dre Hall


Luke Wingo


Tyler Smith


Marcus Robinson


Jaylan Jackson


Philbert Martial